PRE-K – HIGH SCHOOL
SECONDARY EDUCATION
The first public school opened in the United States in 1635,
and the Boston Latin School remains the nation’s oldest public
school. Early education didn’t focus on math or science, but
on the virtues of family, religion and community. Nearly 400
years later, schools are harnessing the fundamental principles
of community, and although it may look very different in this
day and age, a strong focus is being put on the importance of
creating a safe school culture and tapping into technology for
limitless learning.
In 2019, students, parents, teachers, and administrators are
seeing changes both inside and outside of the classroom. One
of the biggest changes in recent years comes in the form of
technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to change
education tools and is expected to increase in implementation in
U.S. classrooms by 47.5% in the next three years, according to the
Artificial Intelligence Market in the U.S. Education Sector report.
In addition to AI, other technologies are providing students with
the opportunity to connect with classmates in other countries,
giving teachers the ability to educate a virtual classroom from
the comfort of their own home, and expanding access to
applications that were once inaccessible.
Another key focus in education this year is on ensuring
that students feel safe, connected, supported, and challenged
through a variety of different ways. School culture and safety
are being addressed and adapted based on recent school safety
concerns across the country. Teachers, administrators, families,
and community groups are putting a critical focus on social-
emotional learning activities to facilitate a better look into dealing
with anger management, conflict resolution, empathy, and other
important life skills. School is often the only place where social
and emotional learning deficiencies can be addressed; therefore
teaching students these invaluable life skills ultimately prepares
them to become active members of society. This is another
pivotal point in a teacher’s role in the classroom.
Teachers continue to play an integral role in the lives of
students, one that cannot be replaced with even the most
advanced type of technology. This isn’t to say that the way
we taught even 15 years ago is suitable. Teachers’ roles are
continually changing, and their need to adapt is critical to
students’ success. School administrators must also support and
train educators with the tools and techniques they are being
given to ensure successful integration in the classroom.
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It was recently reported that teenagers spend nine hours a day
with technology. Whether in the form of social media, listening
to music, playing games, or texting with friends, technology plays
an integral role in their lives. Educators have taken note and are
now reaching teenagers where they are spending a majority of
their time. Digital tools are providing teachers with the
opportunity to incorporate personalized learning to students in a
way that benefits them. For example, AI is being used to allow for
greater individualized and differentiated learning to be conducted
by teachers. Applications that provide learning and testing for
students can identify opportunities for them to excel, flag
potential gaps in understanding, and provide feedback on
learning progress.
One exciting feature that will dramatically enhance technology
capabilities in the classroom is the integration of 5G technology.
Predicted to be ubiquitous by 2020, 5G technology allows for
data speeds almost 1,000 percent faster than 4G, empowering
educators with the ability to provide a seamless platform for
limitless learning. 5G will allow for applications to run without
fail or interruption, download speeds to increase dramatically,
and a significantly greater number of devices to be able to
connect without delays. Just another exciting way technology is
expected to enhance learning.
EARLY EDUCATION
The next generation is starting to have children. This
generation grew up in the 1980s and early 1990s, when