5 K–12 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2022 – EdTech Magazine: Focus on K-12
While some IT administrators worry about the safety of moving their data to the cloud, working with a third party on security services can bring confidence to the use associated with this solution, Miller says.
“We used to store all of our data in-house in file cabinets, and it was easy enough for someone to take a file and walk out and have that information, ” Miller says. “Tech directors are realizing that it might not necessitate someone in-house managing that if they can ensure that the companies they’ve partnered with are usually adhering in order to the strictest guidelines. ”
3. Cybersecurity Helps Schools Defend Against Growing Threats
Cybersecurity is such a hot topic within K–12 education that it’s garnered federal attention. The K–12 Cybersecurity Act is the first cybersecurity-focused law for K–12 institutions, signed by President Joe Biden in October. Its signing initiated a federal review of cyberthreats against districts, threats that have increased greatly since the shift to remote learning in 2020.
Some of the particular most popular cybersecurity tools to surface in response to these cyberattacks are next-generation protections powered by AI and ML. These include endpoint protection solutions and next-generation firewalls . Security orchestration, automation plus response tools specifically use automation to detect and remediate possible cybersecurity breaches. The automated component inside SOAR helps make cybersecurity more manageable with regard to understaffed IT teams in K–12 environments.
School districts are also being urged to incorporate multifactor authentication . Compared with other organizations, K–12 districts have got been slower to implement this answer, says Doug Levin, national director regarding K12 SIX. Levin cites leadership hesitation as one of the primary hurdles IT managers face in implementing MFA, which he notes is strongly recommended by his organization plus the FBI.
MORE ON EDTECH: Protect your district from bad password hygiene.
“Ultimately, it is the single best protection against the vast majority of phishing and social engineering attacks against school districts, ” he says. “School districts are usually particularly vulnerable to password reuse and password sharing. And, as a result, having another layer associated with defense there is really critical for them. ”
4. Asynchronous Learning Gives Students More Freedom
With the shift in order to remote learning came the particular inclination intended for students to complete lessons and turn in projects on their own time. Asynchronous studying, particularly to get older students, allows for a lot more freedom plus flexibility in the school day .
Although many students are back within the classroom and remote control learning isn’t a necessity for most, a few schools still offer asynchronous learning models. Being able to complete schoolwork on their own time, without being held to the 7 a. m. – 3 p. m. schedule, allows college students to get jobs, participate in internships and even help their families simply by taking care of younger siblings.
EXPLORE: Asynchronous understanding gains popularity following the pandemic.
While most popular with high college students, younger students can benefit from this learning model as well. “Management of your own learning is something that learners of all age ages really need to learn, and they understand it pretty quickly, ” says Mickey Revenaugh, vice president pertaining to business development and global online learning at Pearson Online Academy.
The additional freedom and self-sufficiency that comes with asynchronous learning doesn’t render educators obsolete. Rather, teachers can guide students through material when they struggle and assist each learner achieve a higher level of understanding regarding the content.
five. Esports Programs Gain the Foothold in K–12
Esports programs are usually growing inside K–12 districts as the particular competitions expand globally. The esports ecosystem is projected to reach $1. 8 billion in revenue by 2022. Schools are helping college students prepare for this particular lucrative field by starting their own esports programs at the K–12 level.
Similar to traditional sports, esports teams compete in tournaments and championships meant for prizes plus prestige. There are scholarships designed for esports athletes at colleges and universities, and especially talented players can join a professional team .
Esports isn’t only about playing video games, however. Other students can support the group as content creators, organizers, strategists and entrepreneurs .
LEARN MORE: Level up your program with tech that will supports the team behind the team.
Not everyone on an esports team aspires to make a career of playing. Teams are usually growing inside school areas not just for the career possibilities, but because esports fosters a safe and diverse community associated with students who may not otherwise join the club or program in their school. The groups promote student engagement and can lead to educational and personal success.
Which of these trends is your area planning to explore in 2022? Follow EdTech upon Twitter at @EdTech_K12 using the hashtag #K12TechTrends22 to learn more about popular academic technology almost all year.