There is a significant shortage of full-time teachers around the country these days. So, to keep classrooms staffed, schools use substitute teachers to fill in for teachers when they are sick or can’t come to school. However, substitute teaching jobs are tough to recruit for, manage, and fill. One complication is that quite often, a teacher absence isn’t discovered until that morning when schools scramble to post an opening. This uncontrollable and unavoidable reality coupled with the dramatic shortage of substitutes who are qualified and ready to go is a significant problem in our nation’s schools.

The process of how to fill short-term or even long-term teacher absences with substitute teachers has not changed in 50+ years. Even the modern communication modes of emails, text messages and robo-phone calls are not any more effective at solving the problem for the angst-driven and uncertain process of finding substitute teachers.

Enter Swing. Swing brings a 21st century solution to a 20th century problem. Swing leverages social communities and technology to not only improve communication but put power back into the hands of substitutes and the schools that need them. Instead of scrambling to find anyone who will answer the phone – or for the sub – being completely in the dark about if there is only one opening today or ten, now both stakeholders have power: schools have power to match the best person for a particular need, and subs have the power to pick the best job for their day or week ahead.

For these reasons and more, Swing Education earned a Cool Tool Award (finalist) for “Best Administrative Solution” as part of The EdTech Awards 2024 from EdTech Digest. Learn more. 

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A well-known edtech presenter shares her journey in creating a meaningful book for educators.  

GUEST COLUMN | by Rachelle Dené Poth

I have always enjoyed being able to share ideas of what I’m doing in my classroom or something that I have learned with other educators and with my students so that I can also learn from them. For years I was writing blogs or presenting at conferences about what I was using in my classroom, whether it be a method or a certain digital tool. And I found that to be quite easy because I was just talking from experience. I was not stretching myself enough professionally. 

However, in August of 2017, as I had been a blogger for Getting Smart for a little while, I saw writing themes for the upcoming year, and AI was one of the themes for January 2018. It piqued my interest and instantly, I had thoughts of what I imagined AI to be. Learning about and sharing about AI over the past nearly seven years has been a rewarding experience and a great learning journey. 

A Bit More Confident

After writing that first AI blog and taking a tremendous course provided by ISTE, I felt a bit more confident diving into teaching about AI in my classroom and decided to submit a presentation at a conference—still not very knowledgeable about it, but wanting to also help other educators. Over the years, I would write and research and learn and write again. I would share that with educators that I came in contact with and have always really enjoyed it and walk away having learned something new, too. One day, somebody asked me why I didn’t think about writing a book about AI, and I started to, but I took a pause to work on my doctoral studies, which also coincidentally focused on artificial intelligence and the need for professional development. 

I’m glad that I waited so that I could provide what I believe to be the best resource for educators of any level to build confidence and comfort in bringing AI into any classroom. The book revolves around providing educators with accessible and practical tools to teach AI. I’m thankful to have students who are willing to try new ideas, and I’m also happy that I’m able to take the time to explore different tools for educators so that the big concerns when it comes to things like ethics, for example, are made easier to have actionable steps to take in our practice but also to help our students to learn about ethics and the many issues and challenges that come with emerging technology especially.

‘…I could provide what I believe to be the best resource for educators of any level to build confidence and comfort in bringing AI into any classroom.’ 

My Hope for Educators, What to Expect

My hope is that this book will be the one that educators feel they can pick up and find any idea for their work with students or colleagues, or if at an administrative level, that will help to guide them in their work with teachers and help them feel more confident in bringing AI to the classroom. 

So what can you expect from “How To Teach AI: Weaving Strategies and Activities Into Any Content Area”? The book provides an overview of what AI is and how it works, where we see it, why we need to know about it, the prediction for the future need for skills in these areas, and why educators need to understand it and be proactive and intentional about choosing how to leverage AI in our schools. 

In “How To Teach AI,” I’ve done my best to help educators figure out how to go about doing this. There are seven chapters in the book, which progress from an overview of AI, the ethical implications of AI, the impact of AI in education and the world, and how to prepare ourselves and our students and the best practices to do so. 

The book includes a larger chapter focused on ethics with many resources for educators to explore and then dives into ways that educators can use a variety of tools to enhance their practice, increase productivity and efficiency, and, most importantly, help students become the creators and innovators and know how to ethically, safely and responsibly use the tools available. 

The book offers a lot of insight into actionable steps and some considerations when putting AI into the hands of our students. How can we shift from having conversations about AI to teaching students how to use it as an enhancer and not a replacement for their learning process? Finally, there are many resources available from organizations that are invested in providing educators with the current and essential materials they need to get started, including sample guidelines, policies, activities, and tools to use in the classroom. 

By incorporating guided instructions, example activities, and a variety of learning resources in the classroom, educators can create meaningful experiences that will best prepare students and themselves.

Why AI? Keeping it Relevant

In writing a book about AI, an area that is changing so rapidly, I was quite mindful of keeping it as evergreen as possible while yet offering suggestions for tools or resources to start in the classroom. A feature that I really love about this book is that I’ve created a QR code that readers can scan to find up-to-date resources as things happen, new features are added, tools change, articles come out, or news breaks. The QR code goes to a Wakelet, so if you’ve never heard of or used Wakelet, then now is your chance to learn another great tool for educators.

Why AI? Because it is all around us, and it is not going away. The World Economic Forum has AI and Big Data listed as number three on the Top Ten Skills Job Outlook for 2027. It is an area of tremendous interest, and with 7 years of experience in this area, I want to help other educators dive in, especially as we see it impacting education and the world faster than ever before. 

I’ve done countless trainings in my own school district, one-on-one, with large groups of the whole district. Over the years, I have traveled or done virtual workshops ranging from two to eight 8 hours, locally, nationally and nationally. I would love to work with more educators and help them to get started and of course, I’m going to keep learning myself. We can’t ever stop, and now with all of the increasing uses of AI in our work and, more importantly, in the world that we are preparing our students for, we have to know how to best provide opportunities to help them be successful. 

We have to teach them about protecting their data and being safe and secure when interacting online, especially with AI-powered systems. Many employers are seeking employees with skills in artificial intelligence, and educators beginning from preschool through 12th grade and onto higher education, need to provide learning experiences for all students.  

Connect with Me

Copies of the book are available via ISTE, Amazon, or through my website or book order form. I am scheduling AI training workshops with schools around the country, both in person and virtually. I also provide training on AI and the Law. You can connect with me via my socials or my contact form. 

Thank you to Victor Rivero for the opportunity to share my latest and ninth book, one that I am truly proud of. I am thankful for the whole ISTE team and some educators who contributed their own experiences, insights, and even cautions about bringing this powerful technology that we are still learning about into our classrooms. 

I hope that you will grab a copy of this book, share it with colleagues, and leave your feedback. Let me know what your thoughts are, what you tried, how it went, and, maybe most importantly—how I can improve and offer more support to you. Thank you.

—

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. She has more than seven years of teaching and presenting on AI in her classroom and working with educators worldwide. She is the author of nine books including her most recent “How to Teach AI: Weaving Strategies and Activities Into Any Content Area.” Connect with Rachelle via bit.ly/thriveineduPD See her books here: bit.ly/pothbooks and find her writings here: www.Rdene915.com

The post How To Teach AI appeared first on EdTech Digest.

Here’s a cool tool you can use to help you find inspiration and enjoyment: The Schoolyard Podcast is a new show from School Specialty and teacher Nancy Chung. Twice each month, host Chung, also known as @FancyNancyin5th on Instagram and TikTok, will be joined by industry experts, fellow educators, and subject matter experts from School Specialty to dive into educational trends, seasonally relevant topics, and emerging and proven solutions to create an entertaining and educational listening experience.

Chung is a fun-loving 5th-grade teacher, former robotics coach, and content creator from Orange County, California, in her 26th year of teaching. She is passionate about sharing her ideas on creative projects, designing intentional learning spaces, teaching highly engaging lessons, building meaningful relationships, and cultivating a community that sparks discovery and inclusion.

Each episode will begin with a thought-provoking introduction by Chung, followed by a conversation between Chung and the episode’s guest. In the final segment, launching in episode 5 and dubbed “Tag, You’re It!,” Chung and the featured guest will answer a question submitted by a listener by tagging @SchoolSpecialty with #schoolyardtagyoureit and their question on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter. Listeners who have their question answered on the air will receive a free Schoolyard Podcast t-shirt. 

The first five episodes explore:

1. “How to Make Space for Wellness and Social-emotional Learning” with Sue Ann Highland, PhD, national education strategist with School Specialty;
2. “Esports is Like a Magnet!” with Claire LaBeaux from the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF);
3. “Extended Learning for Every Student” with Nicole Hill, a former educator, principal, and current subject matter expert with School Specialty;
4. “Setting the tone for Back to School” with Instagram influencers Stephanie Osmundson and Loreal Hemenway, collectively known as @happilyeverelementary; and
5. “Surprising Benefits of Robotics in Schools & Where to Start” with Naomi Hartl, science and STEM subject matter expert with School Specialty.

The first five episodes are available now on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Samsung Podcasts, Podcast Index, and Listen Notes. Learn more.

The post The Schoolyard Podcast from School Specialty and Nancy Chung appeared first on EdTech Digest.