☠️The Dark Side of Edtech: Staff Cuts and Vanishing Investors Signal a Reckoning - This Week in EdTech #002
Find out what's going on in EdTech.
Welcome to another edition of This Week in EdTech.
I'm thrilled to have you along for the journey as we embark on exploring the dynamic world of education technology together. With each weekly issue, I'll aim to deliver a digest of the latest edtech developments.
TODAY’S MENU
The Spotlight
Other edtech news this week
5 ed-tech tools to enhance teaching and learning
AI tutorial
My favourite educational resources of the week
The Spotlight
School Staff Replaced by Robot Overlords - Dystopian Dream or Money-Saving Innovation?
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD in Texas, USA, has gained attention for an unusual initiative - using student-programmed robots to handle essential facilities tasks like lawn mowing.
On the surface, the program led by CTO Kyle Berger creatively tackles understaffing through technology. High school students gain hands-on learning in computer science by coding robots for tasks like mowing fields. This gives overburdened maintenance crews relief without outsourcing jobs.
As an edtech leader, I commend the authentic technical skills students build. Coding a grass-cutting robot requires real mastery of programming. This hands-on work could inspire new passions for young minds debating career paths. Schools worldwide should take note of this engaging model for early STEM exposure.
There are also very real benefits for staff. Having students handle repairs offloads IT ticket burdens so professionals can devote energy to high-value initiatives. Other departments likewise gain capacity back. In a budget-constrained reality, this program maximizes limited resources.
However, we must be wary of over-automation purely to cut costs rather than intentionally enrich learning. Maintenance duties should still provide employment, even if augmented by robotic helpers. Smart technology implementation uplifts human work rather than replacing people.
If this delicate balance is struck, initiatives like Grapevine-Colleyville’s demonstrate how students, staff, and administrators can all gain through creative problem-solving. But people must stay at the center in this machine age.
This pioneering tale offers an enlightening blueprint for holistic, student-centered change.
Other EdTech News
Bye-bye Byju’s?: Investors abandon ship on Indian edtech as Byju's debacle sours funding dreams.
New AI tools: Chegg, Quizlet, and Flatiron launch new AI tools
Edtech companies raise some money: Edtech funding from across the world.
5 EdTech Tools to Enhance Teaching and Learning
Gimkit: Transform your classroom into an engaging game-show arena with Gimkit. Through answering questions on laptops or phones, students compete in 'kits.'
Newsela: Discover the power of Newsela's dynamic articles, where teachers can tailor news content based on students' lexile levels, fostering a personalized learning experience.
Parlay: Elevate classroom discussions with Parlay, enabling student-led discourse with a diverse array of globally crafted discussion topics.
Floop: Unleash the potential of Floop to offer students a guided feedback experience. Employ drag-and-drop comment banks and location-specific feedback to empower students in constructive peer review.
Desmos: Engage students in a world of mathematical exploration using Desmos. Unlock the free suite of math software tools, including graphic and scientific calculators.
AI TUTORIAL
Resource Discovery for Specific Topics
Prompt: Compile a list of online resources, interactive exercises, and practice activities for teaching intermediate-level students the nuances of Spanish grammar, particularly focusing on subjunctive mood and conditional tenses.
MY FAVOURITE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OF THE WEEK
Guiding AI With Wisdom: Navigating Ethical Waters in Education
How To Remember Everything You Learn
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you learned something new and useful. Before you go:
Subscribe if you haven’t.
Share this post to help other educational stakeholders stay informed.
Check out our referral program. Refer and get rewarded.
PS: I am presently offering free consultations and training sessions on implementing AI solutions for educational institutions and companies from now till the end of this month. These pro bono services are available either on-site or online.
Do you know anyone who needs these services? If ‘Yes’, kindly copy and share my calendar booking link with them so we can schedule a meeting to plan the training. Everything is 100% free of charge.
Here it is: https://zcal.co/bechemayuk
The Value Junction is free for everyone. But you can decide to support my work with a one-time donation if you find value in this content. Thank you so much!