Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.
Summer is a great time not only to recharge your batteries, but plan for the year ahead — all while juggling the responsibilities of summer learning and more. Here are some news stories to keep you up to date.
The Local News
In TCEA’s home state of Texas, test results and funding sources are shaping the school year ahead.
- Earlier this week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced the results of this year’s math and English STAAR tests. With learning disrupted due to the coronavirus, consequences for schools and students were lessened this year. [Texas Tribune]
- You can read TCEA’s response to this year’s scores here.
- Meanwhile, more than $11 billion in funding has been released for Texas schools through the ESSER program. Learn how you can effectively use that funding here.
The Tech Sector
After months of remote learning worldwide, ways of using ed tech are getting more scrutiny as best practices are being developed established and investments are being made.
- TechCrunch reviews the big changes and big money in ed tech. [TechCrunch]
- Philanthropists are also making investments in ed tech, including finding ways to develop social-emotional learning. [EdSurge]
Topping Up Our Batteries
It’s vital for educators to take a breath after so many stressful months. Here’s some insight for those having trouble unwinding.
- The Harvard Graduate School of Education shares several perspective pieces on how to relax during the summer (with plenty of resources), five steps to rejuvenation, and even a summertime playbook for teachers. [Useable Knowledge]
- We also have some helpful summer resources from TCEA, from tips on taking summer trips and enjoying your time (somewhat) off, to podcasts on summer-centric topics like educator self-care and summertime professional learning.
… And Finally
A question surrounding a student’s behavior made it all the way to the Supreme Court this month, as the court ruled in favor of a student’s free speech rights in the case Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. [Education Week]
Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels
