Education Technology

A Mediaplanet Guide to Creating More Engaging Learning Environments

Education Technology

Steve Wozniak The co-founder of Apple shares the benefits of sparking a love of STEM at an early age

Cool Cat Teacher Vicki Davis shows how to apply common sense AI in the classroom eLuma Online Therapy expands mental health offering to help districts meet student needs

JUNE 2021 | EDUCATIONANDCAREERNEWS.COM

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where students get to choose how to demonstrate what they know. They can write, create a podcast or video, or bypass technology altogether. For example, students can build a 3D model in Tinkercad or use recycled items to make a model. The bottom line is that multiple means of action and expression are encouraged.

How ISTE Is Helping Educators and Students Connect During COVID-19 For teachers looking for ways to make distance learning more accessible, knowing what technology is available can make a world of difference in reducing the digital divide.

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ccording to Torrey Trust, Ph.D., an associate professor of learning technology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, “The point of public education is to try to provide equal footing. It doesn’t have to be perfect in this emergency situation, but I want to see educators be creative in these times. Instead of shutting down, use technology as a resource.

“I’m hoping we can shift to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), whether hightech or low-tech, because it will be so beneficial for mak-

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ing more inclusive learning environments at home, as well as when students get back to the classroom.”

Multiple means of representation Instructors can offer students the option of watching videos, listening to audio, or reading text using Microsoft Immersive Reader. Students can also engage in virtual tours, augmented reality, and digital 3D. Finding new ways to keep kids engaged Flexibility is key when dealing with students who require a more hands-on approach or a

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project-based activity. Developing a HyperDoc or creating digital documents with links to all the resources a student may need can be effective. Allowing students to use parents’ cell phones to take pictures of their surroundings, which can be emailed to the teacher, is another useful activity.

Learn more about the Insight Public Sector 2020 Edtech Forum as education and edtech professionals come together to tell their stories — and help each other adapt.

Thinking outside the box Teachers should be willing to design open-ended activities

Using openly licensed materials Educators should investigate resources that are available in the public domain or introduced with a public license.

To determine if something is an Open E Resource (OER), they can check for the Creative Commons License. The Mason OER Metafinder, OER Commons, or OASIS database will help find one to fit certain lesson plans. These resources are free and can be tailored to meet specific needs.

Reaching out to students Teachers should remember that a lot of kids are experiencing anxiety during the pandemic and may need a source of comfort. Whether taking time out for a special video morning or sending them a personalized text or email, letting them know someone cares is essential.

Amusing TikToks or clever memes can help reduce the stress and tension during these difficult times. Whatever the

source, most students will appreciate the effort.

Designing for accessibility Instructors should make sure assigned videos have closed captions. If not, they can create their own. If an audio file lacks transcripts, a student volunteer can develop them. Most apps, including Google Docs, have instructions for making materials used more accessible.

Being in touch with other educators The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has created a COVID-19 Educator Help Desk to share advice with instructors about online learning, and provide answers to pressing questions. Trust says ISTE Commons is an excellent source to discover what fellow educators are doing.

“Educators need to get connected in these spaces,” she said. “The ideas, resources and tools that are shared is what will inspire your creative thinking and push your teaching to the next level. Educators have been given a difficult challenge, and they are going into these communities online and figuring it out. When they come back to the classroom, I hope that willingness to try technology will come back with them.” n

Cindy Riley

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The Traditional Office Is Dead The advantages of a hybrid, flexible approach to today’s workplaces has become apparent — and hard to deny.

The global pandemic may have forced companies to dive into remote work and hybrid office models, but the forced experiment has proven to be a success.

In fact, 83 percent of employers categorize their shift to remote work as “successful.” The takeaway is clear: The question isn’t if companies will embrace the hybrid office, but rather when the transition will be complete.

“Hybrid teams have become table stakes,” says Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs, a leading collaborative technology company. “Flexibility in where and how they work is now what employees expect. Our day-today work lives have been fundamentally altered, and there’s no going back.”

Hybrid here to stay It’s clear that fears surrounding employee productivity in remote scenarios were unfounded.

Owl Labs recently conducted a survey that found 75 percent of remote employees maintained or increased their productivity while working remotely.

With remote work here to stay, the traditional workspace will have to evolve. “Offices will serve as destinations for collaboration,” Weishaupt predicts.

“Employees will return to work

in waves, if at all. A desk per employee is an idea of the past.

And all spaces will need to be wired for collaboration as the expectation that all teams will be in the office, all at the same time is no longer a reality.”

The right tech Weishaupt thinks the shift to hybrid offices has many benefits to offer. “Think: a larger recruitment pool, employee retention, a recruitment tactic, and company cost-savings. After realizing the benefits and choosing to implement hybrid work policies, companies will now need to solve for keeping employees connected, productive, and collaborative, wherever they may be,” he says.

Ensuring that employees will still be able to engage, collaborate, and easily share knowledge

will require a new approach to the physical office space — but also a new investment in technology.

Owl Labs has deep experience in building collaborative technology, with much work in 2020 rooted in education. “In the education sector, face-toface interaction was crucial,” Weishaupt notes. “Engaging students, many K-12, can be a challenge on a ‘normal’ day in-classroom. Administrators, teachers, and IT leaned on the Meeting Owl technology to bridge the in-classroom and virtual learning divide. The feedback was overwhelming: students could see their peers, virtual students could easily and actively participate, and teachers could continue teaching the way they have always taught, rather than having to focus on

where the camera was in the classroom.”

Remote-first Weishaupt says companies exploring hybrid workplace policies need to think about three key aspects.

“Be remote-first,” he says.

“Think about those that might not be in the room, to ensure they can actively participate and that no good idea is left unturned. Set new expectations. Allow employees to work from where [they are] most productive and implement clear hybrid policies.”

The final key is choosing the right technology. “Communication tools and video technology are the new key drivers to successful teams,” Weishaupt says.

Owl Labs makes several immersive, collaborative video products that offer 360-degree

perspectives, like the Meeting Owl Pro, which was named one of the Best Inventions of 2020 by TIME Magazine. “That creates active collaboration for teams, leading to more engagement and deeper thinking,” notes Weishaupt. “Our 360-degree camera, mic, and speaker powered by our proprietary technology autofocuses on who is speaking in a room or space resulting in a near face-to-face experience.”

From Weishaupt’s perspective, the shift to embrace hybrid work is all an upside.

“When companies implement a remote-first mindset, employees will feel the inclusivity outside in, and be energized to actively contribute,” he says.

“We know the deep connection video can provide both professionally and personally. With the right tools and technology, your team’s collaboration can thrive. Tech shouldn’t be limiting or obtrusive, but rather additive and serve as the foundation for deeply connecting experiences.” n Jeff Somers

To learn more about offerings from Owl Labs for empowering a hybrid workforce, visit https://owllabs.com/

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that had previously been part of the district’s digital transformation team offered products that their students, staff, and families were familiar with and could easily navigate.

At a time of new learning for all, successful districts minimized changes and focused on strategies they knew were already working for their students, staff, and families. Districts in need of digital content had the perfect opportunity to pilot new products with minimal expenses due to generous offers by vendors.

Why This Is Education Technology’s Moment to Shine

The support The pandemic forced parents, grandparents, older siblings, and others into the new role of teacher’s assistant. Thinking strategically about this dynamic and the unique needs of families is critical to a district’s success.

Throughout this pandemic, we all needed a glimmer of hope. Educators have seized the moment to make sure learning occurred for students at home and in person.

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ducators worked hard to ensure students had devices and access, that they interacted with engaging content, and that learning could be personalized. One cannot help but appreciate the value of educators’ dedication during the pandemic for providing both in-person and distance learning for students and staff, especially as our communities were faced with a challenge like no other.

Using educational technology to extend learning has been a benefit for children and staff.

The essentials When undergoing a digital transfor-

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mation, it is essential that all students have devices, access, and a single sign-on solution. We have worried less about which device will be used and instead have focused on ensuring access, ease of use, and reliable connectivity.

Whether using tablets, Chromebooks, or laptops, students and staff benefit greatly from a single sign-on solution. Single sign-on allows teachers and students to spend more time learning and less time logging in. Single sign-on also allows students to easily log in on any device and not have to be concerned about remembering numerous passwords.

Devices, when coupled with excel-

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lent teaching, are key learning tools and should remain with students on a daily basis, even during vacation weeks and summer break.

The digital content High-quality digital content embedded into core curriculum can have a strong impact on student learning and growth.

Districts that experienced the greatest success during the pandemic avoided the urge to adopt all the new digital content that was generously being offered for free. They stayed focused on their core digital partners and explored areas for expansion with them. Digital content partners

Looking forward While the pandemic has certainly presented numerous challenges to our students, staff, and families, the crisis has also provided an opportunity for educational decision-makers to rethink teaching and learning, parental and family involvement, and the role of education technology.

No one will ever question the need for devices, access, single sign-on, or high-quality digital content again.

Educators have shown that by extending learning via education technology, we can continue to provide a high-quality education for all learners, whether in person or at home. These lessons leave us inspired about the role education technology will play in defining the future of education. n Mark D. Benigni, Ed.D., Superintendent, Meriden, CT Public Schools; PresidentElect, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents

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5 Student Engagement Factors to Consider for Reopening Instructure surveyed K-12 educators and parents across the United States to hear their thoughts on student engagement and technology use during COVID-19. The research revealed several suggested focus areas for schools and districts as everyone heads back to class this fall.

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he last year has challenged teachers, schools, and families to adapt to unprecedented changes to teaching and learning. While we’ve examined the challenges of the pandemic, questions remain: What does the future of education look like?

And how will the last year impact teaching and learning moving forward?

We have marveled at the heroic commitment and efforts of educators as they worked to keep students learning. Teachers adapted to the reality of teaching online, adopted new tools, stayed connected to students, and remained dedicated to each students’ success. Parents and students persevered too, and perceptions around remote learning began to shift.

As a company focused on elevating learning and amplifying teaching, we work to ensure educators have the tools they need to engage students and improve learning outcomes.

However, the definition of student engagement evolved during the last year, as teachers found new ways to connect with students.

Working with Hanover Research, we recently surveyed educators and parents on the impact of COVID-19 and perceptions around student success. The consensus?

Despite last year’s challenges, everyone is more open to new ways to teach and learn.

What do the findings tell us?

1. Technology supports connectedness Ongoing technology use will be essential to supporting classroom activities and ensuring students stay engaged and parents stay informed, both in and outside the classroom. According to educators we surveyed, technology will become increasingly important (81 percent) as remote learning continues to impact classroom practices in the future (67 percent).

2. We have work to do to achieve equity The pandemic didn’t create

inequity, it exposed it. Too many students still don’t have equal access to essential technologies. According to the National Education Association, an estimated one-quarter of all school-aged children live in households without broadband access or a web-enabled device. Our survey respondents echoed this challenge, as educators reported that hardware acquisition would be a priority for future funding. This is especially true as creating a familiar “digital classroom” helps ensure equitable access for students whenever and wherever they learn.

3. Engagement should be at the top of everyone’s list For students to be successful, they need to be engaged. Educators (92 percent) identified student engagement as the leading metric of student success and expect it to grow in importance (73 percent) next year. But how do we engage students in a way that makes learning personal?

The right technology, coupled with innovative instruc-

tional strategies, is the start to providing personalized learning, measuring student engagement, and recreating classroom experiences — all essential to ensuring students remain engaged while learning remotely.

4. Time to ditch the hyperfocus on test scores While kids continue to feel pressure around high-stakes tests, their perceived value has decreased dramatically.

According to the research, in terms of measuring student success, respondents perceive standardized test scores as the least important among fourteen factors, at only 29 percent.

When it comes to formative assessment or assessment for learning, however, things look different. To check students’ understanding, 76 percent of educators delivered formative assessments during remote learning. If we want to keep students on track, we need a fundamental shift in thinking, towards embracing an actionable approach to assessment that’s part of the regular instructional cycle.

5. Nothing rivals connection with a quality teacher Parents surveyed point to high-quality instruction (85 percent) as the most important factor impacting their child’s success. Looking at social emotional factors, educators (99 percent) and parents (91 percent) rated “the student’s relationship with teachers” as the top factor. This reinforces what we know to be true: nothing replaces a teacher that cares about their students. This makes supporting teachers with professional development more critical than ever.

The last year has taxed educators, families, and students alike, and I want to offer my sincerest thank you to each of them. Especially educators: Thank you, for remembering to put students first and for your ongoing efforts.

Visit instructure.com/ k12research to get further insights from the Instructure State of Teaching and Learning research. n Trenton Goble, VP of K12 Strategy, Instructure This article was paid for by Instructure.

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3 Ways to Support STEM Learning this Summer From navigating distanced learning and new educational technologies, to adhering to new safety protocols, the pandemic has created challenges for many students, parents, and educators this past year. And, unfortunately, this has led to unfinished learning across subject areas, including in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Now, with many students on summer break, it will be up to parents to keep their children engaged in STEM learning over the next few months in order to set them up for success in the fall.

Below are three ways parents can help accelerate learning and prepare their children for the rigors of the coming school year, all while making STEM learning an enjoyable and hands-on experience for all involved!

1. Utilize video Let’s be honest, how many times have you had to ask your child to limit their non-school related screen time and turn off YouTube? Videos have a way of captivating children and well-vetted ones can certainly be a great learning tool.

There are a lot of great educational videos available that students can watch to see experiments in action and to learn about myriad scientific concepts, ranging from physics to chemistry to Earth science and everything in between.

2. Understand the syllabus As a parent, one of the best ways to support your children leading up to and during the school year is by understanding exactly what students are expected to learn and when they are expected to learn it.

Having a baseline understanding of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a set of expectations for what children should know and be able to do at each grade, as well as other state-level standards used, will go a long way in helping children catch up as needed and be prepared for grade-level success.

3. Make it fun Whether the learning is happening in the classroom or at home, or if experimentation is taking place in the lab or outside, STEM learning should be fun and all about making real-world connections. So if you are on a family vacation to an amusement park this summer, take the opportunity to teach children about the physics of a rollercoaster.

Even as you and your children hopefully take a muchneeded break this summer, remember there are many readily available, cost-effective resources and easy ways to support STEM exploration and, most importantly, keep the learning going.

Mike Lavelle, CEO, Flinn Scientific

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5 Ways to Advocate for Better Technology for Teachers and Students In today’s learning environment, technology and education are a package deal. This was especially true over the past year when so many schools had to shift to online learning to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While technology provides great opportunities for teaching and learning, many teachers lack the connectivity they need to instruct and support student learning, and students do not have the proper technology to continue their studies. The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated inequities in our public education system, particularly when it comes to accessing the internet and dependable devices.

The tools they need It is critical for every teacher and student to be equipped with the appropriate tools they need to teach and learn, and access the wealth of online learning materials available. It is vital that we

Leslie Boggs President, National PTA take immediate steps to make a dedicated financial investment that will close our nation’s connectivity gap.

We must advocate at the federal, state, and local levels to make these robust and equitable investments in education and technology. Here are five ways you can advocate for change: 1. Learn more about the barriers to access in your community by visiting EveryStudentConnected.org.

2. P articipate in district and school board meetings, and speak about the issue.

3. S end emails and letters, and make phone calls to decision-makers.

4. C onduct meetings with decision-makers and their staff.

5. U se social media and work with traditional media outlets to get your message out, garner support, and mobilize.

When speaking with school district leaders, school board members, and local, state, and federal lawmakers, ask them how your school district’s technology plan ensures all teachers and students have equitable access to technology and broadband. If there is no sufficient plan in place, ask what steps they’re taking to ensure every child and teacher has access to the technology and connectivity needed to teach and learn in a virtual setting.

It is our duty to raise our voices to ensure every teacher and student has access to technology, and the opportunities that help them teach, learn, grow, and thrive. We can work together, especially during this challenging time, to ensure our teachers and students are well equipped to have a successful school year. n

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The EdTech Company Empowering Students and Educators The COVID-19 pandemic may have highlighted gaps in education and accelerated its digital transformation, but Infobase — a leading cloud-based educational solutions provider — has long been at the forefront of dynamic, digital learning and was well-prepared for the changing needs of its users.

elebrating its 80th anniversary this year, Infobase focuses on curating, creating, and delivering engaging content — integrated with powerful digital tools and technology — on timely topics for learning.

With educational offerings that include streaming video subscriptions, reference databases, and eBook collections, Infobase continues to prioritize making its content as searchable, interactive, and adaptable as possible, whether it will be used inside a classroom or remotely.

“We’ve been well-positioned to support our customers to consume our content the way that they need, and to deliver that personalized experience to students where they are,” says Paul Skordilis, Infobase’s president and CEO. “Everybody learns differently, it’s not onesize-fits-all.”

“Our flexible tools and delivery options turn our curated content into personalized, adaptable learning pathways, with outcome-based assessment and real-time analytics that position our users for success,” says Alex Pereira, Infobase’s CTO.

Solutions Infobase has empowered more than 70 million learners to achieve academic and professional success through trustworthy content delivered flexibly.

“We don’t just have products, we have solutions for the lifelong learner,” says Natalie Murray, product manager at Infobase. “From as early as pre-K and kindergarten, students start using our solutions to learn in the classroom, outside of the classroom at their public library, continuing through high school and

higher ed. Then even later on in the corporate environment or through use in their personal life, they’ll probably use one of Infobase’s many solutions.”

Infobase’s content integrates seamlessly with other platforms, such as Google Classroom, Blackboard, or other proprietary learning management systems. This flexibility is what Pereira calls an “agnostic plug-and-play.”

Empowering educators Even before the pandemic, Infobase was already listening to the voice of the customer

and providing a more unified experience, making sure its content was easy to use, with reliable technology in a flexible, one-stop format.

Pereira says the pandemic removed the safety net for educators and pushed them to try new things, such as using more digital tools. The technology was already available for teachers, but not everyone was implementing it yet.

“It’s forced everyone into this new world order, and it’s battle tested all of our tool sets, features, and educational platform,” he says.

The future “I definitely think hybrid and remote learning is here to stay,” says Murray. “It provides more equity in that no matter where you’re located, you can access a world-class education if you have an internet connection or access to your public library.”

She thinks teachers’ roles will be less didactic in the future and move more toward being facilitators. Students will learn 21st century skills like technology and media literacy, as well as life skills including initiative, curiosity, and self-sufficiency.

“Stop thinking we’re so stuck in doing things the same way,” says Skordilis. “If we can have a real conversation about what our ultimate end goal is, I think we can collaborate with our customers and our future prospects in a way that could be really game changing for the learner.” n

Kristen Castillo

To learn more about Infobase, visit www.infobase.com

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What the Future of Learning Technology Will Look Like Post-Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic is the largest education crisis of the last century. While many are rightfully worried about interrupted learning and students who have experienced tremendous trauma, there are some bright spots that have staying power when learning returns to normal.

While there was previously a push to give students access to technology in and out of school, the pandemic accelerated these efforts. We now have great examples of how to properly close the digital learning gap and provide students with internet access and technology using public/private partnerships.

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For example, we at Digital Promise have partnered with Verizon on the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools initiative to provide devices with monthly data plans to students and teachers at select under-resourced schools across the country.

In addition, teachers have experienced the power (and challenge) of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning. Enhancing digital curriculum and ways to connect intervention, just-in-time assessment, and pedagogy will take a stronger hold.

Online teacher professional development opportunities will likely continue to grow now that teachers have experienced it out of necessity.

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In 2020, we saw a significant increase in teachers earning micro-credentials, or digital certifications that can be earned once a skill is proven. State departments of education are recognizing these earned micro-credentials through salary increases and career advancement opportunities, and we expect to see even more in the future.

Wellness A lot of attention has also been focused on student and teacher well-being.

There is greater awareness of the importance of designing schools and systems with a whole-child approach, along with greater demand for understanding learner variability; the idea that all stu-

dents differ in how they learn. Tools and technologies that can address trauma and social emotional learning will continue to be part of the work we do as educators, technologists, and learning and developmental scientists.

Parents have had a once-in-a-lifetime view of the classroom and many will still want this access. We expect to see more tools for communication with parents, as well as learning management systems that provide more access and agency to students as they manage their own learning.

The pandemic gave us a clear view of the connection between education, healthcare, housing, and the many other systems that support positive student outcomes. With all sectors working together, we can come out on the other side with a few key strategies that may just stick around when COVID-19 is in the rearview mirror. n Jean-Claude Brizard, President and CEO, Digital Promise

This article was paid for by Digital Promise.

Using Common Sense AI to Improve Learning Connections between students and teachers matter, and both need simple connections with every tool that supports learning.

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pps must integrate to educate. One click.

Simple to use.

What are some of education technology’s limitations?

Even with roster sharing tools, teachers must reenter the same content in multiple apps. Students often don’t know what to do after logging in. Parents message teachers late at night for help. The lack of response annoys parents. The late-night notifications annoy everyone. Everyone has a device that is always connected, but no one communicates.

Where do humans and electronics

efficiently coexist? Manufacturing robotic co-workers (AKA co-bots) that extend high into the air or lift heavy loads that could cause human injuries.

In airplanes, autopilots keep the flight on course during long stretches.

Common sense AI in education In the classroom, instead of adding another person, we need a technology teaching assistant (TTA) to connect every technology and make it available anywhere on any device for anyone involved.

Instead of replacing talented teachers, technology can free them to build

relationships and teach. If my textbook content flowed into any edtech tool with a click, results could feed into one simple dashboard that shows me how students are doing.

I could start my teaching day with the TTA briefing me about the results of last night’s homework, yesterday’s tests, how kids are performing, and a reminder that the science project is due next week. Then it would suggest reminding everyone about it.

Students don’t need to work harder; they need a distraction-free, customized, simple platform that partners with teachers to personalize

learning and achieve progress. Imagine that review material was everywhere. If the student prefers to review orally, the TTA jumps to the student’s Alexa or Siri for a session. It reads the teacher’s feedback on today’s lesson, reminds the child of next week’s science project, and lets their parents know they need glue sticks.

Better connected We don’t need more technology; we need connected technology. Integrate to educate. Stop building islands. Start building a community of learning.

We don’t need AI to improve learning. We need plain old common sense.

Integrate to educate; that’s the way forward. Then edtech can help us build healthy, positive learning relationships, which our students need now more than ever. n

Vicki Davis, Creator, Cool Cat Teacher Blog and 10 Minute Teacher Podcast; Full-Time Teacher in Albany, Ga.

Collaborate in real time with an online whiteboard Try it free today invision.com/freehand

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How EdTech Factors Into Education’s New Normal Steve Isaacs Education Program Manager, Epic Games

Dan Cavalli Chief Sales Officer, Flinn Scientific

John Wheeler CEO, Vernier Software & Technology

Keri Brown Creator, Enchanted Kinder Garden Blog

By shifting thinking and learning the right lessons from the pandemic, educators can use technology to move forward and personalize learning in creative ways.

Where do you see education technology heading post-pandemic?

which are great for what they do well, but at the same time are very limited.

Steve Isaacs: We have learned a lot during the pandemic about challenges with regards to educational technology.

Access and equity are huge issues that were exemplified during the pandemic. At the same time, we made some strides in providing support.

Many school districts provided devices for at-home use, as well as internet access where needed. As a result, I believe we better understand the importance of ensuring everyone has access to the tools they need at home and at school. My hope for the future (and sooner the better) is for us to move toward the use of virtual machines as an edtech solution. Schools have invested a lot of money in 1:1 devices,

What is the biggest trend you have seen in the education technology space during the pandemic?

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Dan Cavalli: Small, innovative technology companies have stepped up to address student engagement, hybrid collaboration, and various learning styles. They adjusted the delivery of their content to meet the needs of educators during remote and hybrid learning, and this delivery will remain post-pandemic as students now have more access to technology.

How has technology helped empower the education space to most effectively elevate classroom

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engagement, foster collaboration, encourage creativity, and increase student comprehension and performance?

John Wheeler: We are in a new space in regards to the use of digital tools to teach our students. During the yearand-a-half of school closures and remote learning, we have learned some valuable lessons and now have data on what works and what doesn’t.

In science education, one lesson is that we must continue to create digital solutions to help students explore scientific concepts and acquire critical thinking skills through hands-on exploration. For example, in the old days, technology was used for memorization exercises, however, we now know the best use of technology is to apply and

explore more deeply learned concepts. This can — and has to — be taken to another realm where we understand that not all students will be together in the classroom.

This time has also reinforced that technology itself does not and cannot replace the educator. The human components of this equation — students and educators — must be present. Technology can be used to personalize the learning by creating scaffolds that allow advanced students to continue their experimentation and their learning, and support those who need more help.

Keri Brown: With the increased use of technology during the pandemic, teachers were able to have more time to think about how technology can be integrated into the lessons in a meaningful way.

My own personal classroom students shifted their engagement in a different way. As a kindergarten teacher, I do a lot of singing and dancing to help my students stay engaged in the classroom. Through remote learning, I had to shift the focus to things they could see from their screen.

We used a lot more songs that included video.

My students did way more creative writing and drawing because the amount of things I sent home was limited compared to how easily I could give new materials each day in person. The use of different technologies plugged into my computer helped to aid in teaching them different skills.

Without the use of so many different devices and learning platforms, my kindergarten students would not be where they are today. n

Why Cyber Criminals Are Targeting Students & Teachers

Since schools moved to remote learning in spring 2020, cybersecurity incidents have become breaking news stories.

We hear daily stories about security breaches (“zoom bombings”) of video conferencing classes, hacks of online learning platforms, phishing scams of students, and ransom attacks on school districts.

Attacks have resulted in well-publicized shutdowns of school districts in Alabama, Nevada, Florida, New York,

and more. The Louisiana governor declared a state of emergency after a virus disabled three school districts’ computers.

Because school systems are responsible for protecting vast amounts of confidential student and employee data, cyber criminals are targeting our students and teachers.

Why is this happening now?

Even before COVID, schools were a tempting target for cybercriminals. Remote learning has only made it easier for

bad actors. With teachers and students working at home, often on their own devices and networks, they are frequently distracted and they are letting their guard down.

This spring, there was a reported 6,000 percent increase in COVID-related email spam. Students and educators are falling victim to a growing trend of COVIDthemed malware. According to the MS-ISAC Center for Internet Security, schools were the most impacted governmental sector for ransomware

demanding payment for stolen student and employee data.

What can we do?

We must make cybersecurity awareness education a top priority. Often learners, and even teachers and parents, do not understand how to protect their information. Being a good digital citizen means understanding and practicing safe, secure digital habits.

How do you start a discussion about cybersecurity? Keep it simple. To effectively raise awareness, users need to con-

nect with messages that are personal and easily actionable.

Using negative and fear-based messaging can turn people off. Relying on overly technical language can leave people feeling that the messages don’t apply to them.

To avoid phishing attempts, encourage people to look at the actual email address (not the person’s name) that’s sending the message.

Second, we must ensure our school networks have current detection and prevention technologies. Unfortunately, the Federal Communications Commission decided the E-rate program — the largest federal funding source for education technology — should not cover the most essential cybersecurity costs.

And while cybersecurity is the highest-ranked priority, according to CoSN’s national IT survey, less than 1 in 5 school districts have an employee whose primary responsibility is cybersecurity.

This is a new and challenging moment. Resources are stretched and time is short.

We can and must ensure students have a safe and secure learning environment, and that means we must invest in cybersecurity. n Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)

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Putting Effective Education Strategies Into Action A tool is only useful when used correctly, but “pop” research and flashy marketing can sometimes lead teachers astray.

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hether it’s the latest gadget buy, or something just feels right, instructional strategies abound, as do digital tools. The problem is, many of the tools we use in classrooms fail to accelerate student growth. Luckily, we can determine when technologies work best; when you match your tools to evidence-based strategies. Those strategies, then, work best when they match your learning intentions.

Let’s review the three types of learning intentions: Surface learning “I had no idea the jigsaw approach worked so well. I’ll use it with my science class more often now that I know,” a middle school science teacher recently told me. Approaches like the jigsaw method, mnemonics, and vocabulary programs are surface learning strategies. That is, they are instructional strategies that focus on

introducing new skills and content.

Deep learning For this learning intention, it’s all about relationships. New skills and content can often sit unused in our brain, like disconnected silos. Deep learning strategies focus on building relationships between new skills and knowledge. Those strategies include classroom discussion, reciprocal teaching, concept mapping, and others.

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Transfer learning The third learning intention is applying what you’ve learned to new situations.

Strategies like problem-solving teaching (AKA problem-based learning with strong knowledge foundation) and service learning comprise this learning intention.

Each strategy, no matter the learning intention, focuses on accelerating student growth. Each approach also has an effect size that measures its potential to do this.

We’ve only scratched the surface for learning intentions and instructional strategies that work. You can see how you can connect feedback, formative assessment, and technology by using the free, easy-to-access app TCEA Strategies That Work.

Putting effective strategies into action means using the right evidence-based strategy at the right time, then matching digital tools to strategies that work. n Miguel Guhlin, Director of Professional Development, TCEA

The Many Ways EdTech Has Created Future Learning Opportunities Nadav Reis Program Manager of Educational Partnerships, InVision

Cheryl Miller CMO, Promethean

Frank Weishaupt CEO, Owl Labs

Vicki Davis Creator, Cool Cat Teacher Blog and 10 Minute Teacher Podcast

Laurie Katz Content Director, Infobase

The COVID-19 pandemic caused much disruption in the educational space, but also created new opportunities made possible by education technology.

How can we make sure students receive a personalized hybrid learning experience?

Nadav Reis: Even while meeting remotely, teachers still want to engage with students in a meaningful way. Since it is so easy to hide behind a computer screen, teachers need to set clear expectations from the beginning of the course. Are students expected to have their cameras and microphones on? Are students expected to raise their hands to ask questions?

When students understand what is expected of them, teachers can start to build a rapport with each student. When that happens, remote learning doesn’t feel so far away, even if you are halfway across the world.

Cheryl Miller: Keeping students engaged and ensuring they have a personalized learning experience while attending school through a hybrid learning model is extremely important. The technology we have access to includes analytics, AI, the ability to track how students react to online quizzes, tests, assignments, and much more.

Teachers are receiving realtime feedback and responses much quicker than if they were tracking manually.

Through those assessments, educators can make informed decisions about what’s working and what’s not for their students as individuals.

It’s becoming even more real-time through the digital curriculum and digital ways of teaching. Long term, I believe there will be a positive outcome for students because educators

have access to more advanced technology that can help them evaluate and personalize each student’s experience.

Where do you see education technology heading post-pandemic?

Frank Weishaupt: The pandemic shed light on some shortfalls in some industries, education being one. We see educational technology having staying power for a handful of reasons, and democratization of education is the first. Each student has the right to learn no matter their location, and technology is the foundation that powers learning from anywhere.

Inclusivity is another major shift in education. Some students with physical disabilities or mental illness may need more flexibility in where they

learn, without the ability to make it to a physical space every day. With the rise of technology, we now can support these students and make them a part of the conversation, rather than feeling left behind.

What is the biggest trend you have seen in the education technology space during the pandemic?

Vicki Davis: Sadly, while many apps are now being used, the reality of disengaged students has come to the forefront. Additionally, some experts argue that students are unable to show the self-control required to focus on schoolwork. I believe computers and phones should have a “school” mode, which enables the use of educational tools while filtering out apps of mass distraction.

Students need technology,

however, technology depends too much on the weak executive functioning of still-developing kids who use technology more for entertainment than education. We are at a point of growth where we see that technology can be useful, but we question how useful it is in its present state.

Laurie Katz: The beginning of the pandemic saw challenges and hurdles for educators as they were forced, with no notice, to create new ways of teaching through digital platforms, engaging with the class material, and connecting with the class. Now educators are harnessing those same digital tools and technology platforms to achieve exciting levels of freedom, flexibility, and personalization that I believe are here to stay. There’s no more one-sizefits-all model of instruction. n

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The Life-Changing Power of Career Pathways PHOTO: WOZ ED

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there will be 15 percent more American STEM jobs by 2029.

Apple co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak and Woz ED CEO Karen Young explain how this can create an opportunity to break the poverty cycle through K-12 education.

How does the digital divide during the early years of K-12 students affect their lives as professional adults?

If learners miss the opportunity to develop an engineering mindset and computational thinking, they are less

likely to benefit from technology as a consumer and/or contributor. We need to bridge the gap between current instructional design and the skills employers seek. It isn’t just about providing devices but teaching them to use technology in ways that will benefit them in the future.

What are you and your organization doing to help give access to underserved communities when it comes to education technology?

We analyzed the barriers to technology integration in underserved schools and built solutions into the product

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How Schools Can Move From PlaceBased to Passion-Led Education Practically overnight, K12 education changed with the shift to remote learning. Schools that innovated quickly found opportunities to do things differently and disrupt place-based education.

At the start of the 2020 school year, Dan Jennings, the technology, data, and testing Coordinator of Hagerman Municipal Schools, a small, rural school district in New Mexico, faced a problem: with no return to in-person schooling on the horizon, students weren’t completing their work.

“There’s something about being physically with students that makes it easier to get the kids to do their work,” Jennings said.

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He knew that elective classes, when tied to students’ interests, have a powerful, positive impact on student motivation. And they needed motivation more than ever. At the same time, the district’s small size meant it could not afford to hire enough teachers to match the interests of their students in elective classes.

Interest-based learning Jennings turned to Outschool — an innovative online platform with 100,000+ small-group, expert-led classes for kids ages 3-18 — to offer students the chance to take classes of their choice as an incentive for staying on track with their work.

“I said, ‘Kids, if you’re on track, you

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can explore this menu of really cool topics,’” Jennings said.

With this, Jennings essentially dissolved the boundaries of Hagerman Municipal Schools by allowing students to follow their passions wherever they may lead. For some, those passions have led to taking Outschool classes on coding, ukulele, yoga, and cooking, taught by expert teachers halfway across the country. For others, their passions inspire their choice of academic-focused classes for extra support, like chemistry through the potions and spells of Harry Potter.

“We told the kids, ‘You pick the class, we’ll work your schedule out. Go play in the playground of learning,’” Jennings said.

Where some schools saw only the

loss of in-person learning, Jennings saw the opportunity for learning that was not just anytime, anywhere, but that could also be taught by anyone, even if they didn’t teach in his small district.

Outschool, Fast Company’s #1 Most Innovative Company in Education in 2021, is an innovative marketplace of high-quality, live, small-group classes for students ages 3-18. We help schools and districts significantly expand their elective course catalog and academic support capacity. Learn more about Outschool’s partnerships with schools and districts at outschool.com/for-schools. n Amy Yamner Jenkins, Head of Schools & Distribution, Outschool This article was paid for by Outschool.

design. We can prepare a teacher to facilitate this work in two hours or less.

Our current education system is pressured to help children get the right answer as quickly as possible. That is not how engineers work. Mistakes don’t equate to failure; they are a critical piece of learning. STEM education is an important tool for breaking the cycle of generational poverty.

Who has stood out as a leading advocate for increasing access to technology?

Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub is an outstanding example. Dr. Kathleen Schofield incorporates an approach to this work and touches every level from legislation to the classroom. This approach has led to equitable access and opportunities during the school day,

leading to increases in graduation rates and achievement.

How does access to technology early in life open various opportunities?

Can you share insight as to what those opportunities look like as an alternative to going to college?

It benefits our young people whether they write the next great novel or create an innovation that changes the world like Woz did. A tech worker is always in beta. Learning how to learn in this context produces adults who can assimilate advances and fuel innovation.

Elon Musk said he didn’t care if you graduated from high school if you have a deep understanding of AI. Let’s start building understanding in kindergarten and build on that foundation for 12 years.

Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, and Steve Jobs did not graduate from college. Woz graduated 10 years after founding Apple.

A college degree is no longer a guarantee of success nor relevant to some career endeavors.

Sixty-one percent of those polled by BestColleges said they would go back and change their majors if they could. Woz believes children should discover what they love and are good at in a context of future work opportunities.

Why is it important to expose students to non-traditional career paths at a young age and open their education toolkit to other subjects beyond the traditional core curriculum?

Students who lack rich, early learning experiences are likely to struggle

with traditional subject matter. STEM is cognitively complex yet engaging.

Students master geometric concepts when piloting a drone, learn algorithmic thinking through block-based coding, and build an authentic context for calculus through data analysis.

What does a successful plan look like for an underserved school to get technology?

The pandemic improved access to devices but infrastructure is far behind. Federal funds can be used for STEM programs, but are typically used for remedial reading and math instruction. In 2018, teachers in K-3 reported spending 18 minutes a week teaching science. Perhaps we should reexamine the efficacy of our current practice and the relationship to the workplace. n

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Why Education Needs Human Capital Management Twenty-twenty challenged the education community in unique ways. As the country emerges from the pandemic and we look forward to the 2021-22 year, schools will be facing new and different hurdles.

Remote schooling challenged many kids, but new research from McKinsey & Company suggests at-risk student populations are most impacted. Some students fell off the radar entirely, and many in special education experienced gaps in services.

Across the country, rates of anxiety and depression in students have been rising.

In the midst of all of this, there continues to be a teacher shortage. How can schools address these challenges? One answer is

simple, but not easy: ensure that teachers receive the resources and support they need to be effective. Teachers have an enormous impact on student achievement, more than perhaps any other factor, according to a report from the RAND Corporation. Yet it’s often difficult for districts to hire, engage, and retain high-quality teachers and staff. Hiring and retaining qualified teachers is getting harder. U.S. Department of Education data shows that fewer teachers are entering the profession each year, so districts end up competing with one another for talent.

Holistic management Managing limited resources and making informed decisions around talent

are more important than ever. In the past, school district department offices, including human resources, business, and professional development, may have worked separately, focusing on different aspects of the employee journey. In the future, the most successful districts will use holistic human capital management (HCM) strategies to proactively recruit, hire, and onboard great teachers, offer professional learning to support growth, find qualified substitutes when teachers are absent, manage compensation packages, and increase retention. What does effective HCM look like in practice? In our increasingly digital world, putting connected software systems in place is a vital step, making it possible

to work effectively across departments with a focus on the whole employee. A connected HCM system makes it easier to mitigate risk and stay compliant with state and local regulations, and makes data accessible, enabling more informed decision-making. Ultimately, innovative HCM systems let administrators and district leaders spend more time supporting the teachers and staff who have such a significant impact on the lives of individual students. Learn more by visiting www.FrontlineEducation.com n Elizabeth Combs, Managing Director, Frontline Research & Learning Institute This article was paid for by Frontline Education.

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Focusing on the Essentials of EdTech for Technology Integration When it comes to technology integration, there are a few ways to simplify how you use digital tools in the classroom and focus on what’s important. As an edtech and curriculum consultant, host of the Easy EdTech Podcast, the voice behind ClassTechTips.com, and an author for ASCD, Monica Burns, Ed.D., shared her unique insights.

What are some trends you have seen in professional learning and education technology throughout the pandemic?

One common thread in the virtual professional learning I’ve led is more time allocated for follow-up as opposed to a one-time workshop.

Professional learning has made significant shifts this year. As someone who has spent much of the past few years running through airports in between facilitating workshops at schools, the shift to virtual was quick but I believe is here to stay as a hybrid model.

Professional learning around technology integration requires coaching, feedback, and opportunities to try, regroup, and reflect.

What are the top ways technology has made education simpler for both students and teachers?

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Organization: When using a platform or central hub, organizing content for students so it’s easy for them to find and use can make the process of distributing resources to students simpler.

Differentiation: When distributing content to students, differentiated

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resources that are high-interest and at an appropriate instructional level for students are available on many different platforms, and can be shared with specific students or small groups in online spaces.

Assessment: When checking for understanding, tools that capture student voice recordings, like Flipgrid or Seesaw, can help teachers hear from more students, including students who might struggle to share in more traditional ways.

technology to meet the needs of your students?

hybrid learning through the pandemic?

Creating relevant learning experiences for students can help them engage in academic content. This could include providing options for them to create short vertical videos (like the ones featured on TikTok) to give a summary of a book they’ve read, or creating graphics (like the visuals on Instagram) to share a lab safety tip when they prepare for a science experiment.

How do you create an engaging learning experience through

What tips and advice do you have for educators handling distance or

One of my biggest tips is to “embrace your place;” take a look at the central hub or platform a school or district has asked you to use, like MS Teams, Schoology, or Google Classroom. Look for activities that compliment a space you already use instead of asking students to log in to multiple places or jump around from tool to tool. As you and your students begin to build confidence and proficiency in one space, then it might be time to layer on a new tech-friendly learning activity. n

5 Ways to Leverage Technology for Social Emotional Learning PHOTO: MOVE THIS WORLD

Use your time in-person to do the things you can only do in-person, like building social skills or creative play time, and save your online activities for the things you can only do online, like independent learning.

As we look ahead to the 2021-22 school year, there is an overwhelming focus on the academic learning gaps our students face. However, our priority when it comes to getting back to school needs to be clear: Social emotional learning (SEL) is the foundation of all learning, and students need immediate, direct support for their social and emotional well-being.

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echnology has helped us maintain relationships, process our feelings, and express ourselves during the pandemic. As we return to classrooms, here are five ways to leverage technology for social emotional learning: 1. Video-based lessons Use the power of video to prioritize SEL that is S.A.F.E. (sequenced, active, focused, and explicit) for students and families. Video-based lessons provide educators with the resources to implement SEL with fidelity.

In math and reading, for example, we learn the basics first and build on those to master more complicated skills.

Similarly, students need a strong SEL foundation through a curriculum that grows with them year after year. With multimedia-based programs like Move This World, students can practice SEL at school and at home.

2.Avoid passive approaches Provide opportunities for active engagement. Consuming media or using technology does not have to be passive. In fact, student learning deepens when students have the

opportunity to move and interact with each other through media-based lessons. Video and audio content can prompt students to explore their space, engage with each other, and practice breathing exercises to teach emotional regulation.

3. Come together with tech Use technology to strengthen existing relationships. Many schools have created stronger relationships with families this year since parents and caregivers were critical to remote learning. As we return to classrooms, schools can continue to use technology to maintain close relationships

with families, offering parents and caregivers the opportunity to connect over Zoom, incorporating families into classroom learning activities, and providing digital learning resources for home.

4. Be efficient Use technology to maximize time. Be specific and intentional with your time online so you can make the most of your time offline. Digital learning resources have proven invaluable this year, but think critically about what you’re asking students to do online and what you’re giving them the opportunity to explore offline, too.

5. Go screen-free Technology can be screenfree, too. There are many types of technology we can use that don’t require sitting stagnant in front of a screen.

Interactive podcasts and audio experiences can inspire us to play, connect, and create. The Emotion Motion Podcast for young learners and their families uses interactive storytelling to teach emotional regulation strategies and reinforce SEL skills.

The pandemic has changed the way we socialize, play, and learn. Through the challenges of the past year, we have discovered new ways to leverage technology to help us intentionally build relationships, explore our own feelings, and express ourselves in healthy ways.

As we rebuild our schools, let’s take these lessons with us to create stronger, more connected relationships and communities. With Move This World, PreK-12 teachers can access new SEL multimedia content every day of the school year. n Sara Potler LaHayne, Founder & CEO, Move This World

This article was paid for by Move This World. www.movethisworld.com

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Personalizing Hybrid Learning for Each Student Mark Gruzin CEO, Frontline Education

Sara Potler LaHayne Founder & CEO, Move This World

Jeremy Glauser Founder & CEO, eLuma Online Therapy

Amy Yamner Jenkins Head of Schools and Distribution, Outschool

Our panel of experts shares how edtech evolved and made a difference throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and what technologies and techniques educators should keep using in the future.

How can we make sure students receive a personalized hybrid learning experience?

Mark Gruzin: Personalized learning is not a new challenge, although the need has intensified during the pandemic, putting teachers into extraordinary circumstances.

While there is no one answer, additional teacher support provides great opportunities.

Ensuring individual student success requires that teachers have the necessary resources and strategies to manage their instructional environments and foster student learning.

Where do you see education technology heading post-pandemic?

Sara Potler LaHayne: Social emotional learning has always been the foundation for all learning, and educational technology is helping educators

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and families better understand that. The cognitive benefits of social emotional learning are critical for child development, but are especially impactful when making up for lost learning time, learning after experiencing trauma, and learning in new environments.

What is the biggest trend you have seen in the education technology space during the pandemic?

Jeremy Glauser: The incredible appetite for technology centered on communication, engagement, and effective reporting on student performance. We have realized the incredible capabilities that we currently have at our disposal, and identified the areas in which we lack. We are hyper-focused on continuing to build out a purpose-built therapeutic experience within school systems that provide everything from the delivery

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of services, documentation, reporting, and family communication to allow districts to support all levels of student needs.

Amy Jenkins: Schools are seeking and implementing edtech that focuses on engagement — from tools designed to make learning more interactive, to classes taught live and online. While previous use of edtech was often about catching students up (or helping them to accelerate), we saw a shift to thinking about how edtech can also engage students, help them to build connections with others, and get more excited about learning.

SL: One of the biggest trends I’ve seen is that everyone is talking about social emotional learning, but not many people deeply understand what it is or how to do it. Adding a module about empathy is not enough. Students need a robust,

experiential, and evidencebased social emotional learning curriculum that grows with them year after year.

How has technology helped empower the education space to most effectively elevate classroom engagement, foster collaboration, encourage creativity, and increase student comprehension and performance?

MG: Technology has introduced many benefits to the teaching and learning experience.

A primary advantage is the ability for teachers to individualize instruction in ways that are only possible with instructional programs, student management systems, and data analytics tools. The combination of these innovations empowers teachers to provide real-time feedback, and monitor and react to student progress through

formative and summative assessments.

AJ: One of the greatest benefits of the increased use of technology has been the creativity it inspired and the ways in which teachers opened up how students demonstrate mastery. Yes, students are still taking tests and writing papers, but they are also more likely to be shooting videos, creating interactive presentations, building websites, creating skits, and beyond.

JG: Historically, we have educated students in a way that does not embrace the fact that youth today are digital natives. In doing so, we have done them a disservice. Use the technology students are familiar and comfortable with to be more engaged, collaborate more effectively, and foster creativity in the context of their world. n

Closing the Digital Homework Gap Digital tools have become a no-brainer in classrooms, but what happens when students need access to those same digital tools at home?

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nfortunately, for nearly 3 million students, it means they may not be able to complete their homework assignments simply because they do not have home internet access. According to an Associated Press analysis of census data, these students are more likely to be students of color and students from low-income families.

Recent data from EducationSuperHighway shows that 99 percent of U.S. K–12 school districts now have access to highspeed internet. This means there is enough bandwidth for digital learning in every classroom, every day.

DLDay Of course, this was not always the case. When the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) started Digital Learning Day (DLDay) in 2012, technology in classrooms was a new, and even controversial, idea. The first DLDay was about creating a safe place for educators to innovate with technology and explore the possibilities of how it could change learning.

Fast forward and we have just had the 10th annual DLDay on February 27, 2021. In 2019, we had more than 2,300 events on our DLDay map, providing a

ers and solar panels to school buses parked in trailer parks and nearby reservations where students live so they can stay connected and complete their homework.

Meanwhile, Santa Ana Unified School District in California, honored with an Excellence and Innovation Award during DLDay 2016, worked with city offices to increase open wireless access in public spaces and outfitted the exterior of schools to broadcast filtered wireless access into surrounding homes.

window directly into different types of classrooms across the country — from Tacoma, Washington, to Savannah, Georgia.

There is never a shortage of examples of how schools are transforming teaching and learning with digital tools.

On DLDay, you’ll see students programming robots, creating stop-motion animated videos, and printing 3D versions of art projects. However, the best examples come from

educators using digital tools to enhance everyday classroom activities to help students build important skills including collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. We’ve seen technology enhance peer reviews and feedback, career exploration, student resume building, and project research.

A staple of learning There’s no question that education technology generally has

become a staple of 21st-century learning experiences, but it also threatens to widen an existing divide between students who have home internet access and those who don’t.

To close this gap, schools and districts have developed creative ways to provide students with internet access beyond school hours.

For example, Coachella Valley Unified School District in California added Wi-Fi rout-

An urgent problem While these creative solutions are working, closing the digital gap is an urgent issue of equity.

It’s also an economic issue. How can students who can’t complete basic homework assignments be prepared to compete in an increasingly competitive world? Most importantly, though, it’s a moral issue.

We have a responsibility to knock down barriers and prepare our kids to succeed in whatever future they choose.

Simply stated, we must provide opportunities we want for our own children. n

Deb Delisle, President and CEO, Alliance for Excellent Education

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Addressing Student Mental Health Post-COVID The Challenge The global pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, but our school-aged children have been tremendously affected. Isolation, loneliness, and uncertainty have been experienced by all of them.

Safety concerns, financial instability, and food insecurity have been experienced by many of them.

As a result, studies estimate that 1 in 5 children are in need of mental health support. Of those, only 20% will receive the help they need.1

The Solution eLuma Online Therapy is committed to partnering with schools and districts to ensure that students in need of mental health services receive the help they need.

By offering an integrated approach to therapy, supporting the student, family, and school staff, eLuma is determined to change the statistics- and help each and every child achieve his or her full potential.

1 Weir, K. (2020, September 1). Safeguarding student mental health. Monitor on Psychology, 51(6), 46. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/09/safeguarding-mental-health

eLuma is driven to help millions of people around the world change their lives for the better by facilitating easy access to affordable, high-quality and specialized online therapy services.

To learn more about how eLuma is making a difference, visit elumatherapy.com