04 Nov2024
By AACTE
AACTE recently partnered with the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) to identify members with responsibility over teacher education and to encourage those members to participate in surveys and interviews about how teacher preparation programs are currently integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their curricula and instruction.
The final report offers early insights into how schools of education are thinking about AI and offers recommendations for key stakeholders to accelerate AI integration and instruction within teacher preparation.
03 Sep2024
By Louisiana Department of Education
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is equipping educators with resources to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. The LDOE has developed a comprehensive new guide on the safe, ethical, and effective use of AI. Based on recommendations from the LDOE’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force, the guidance can be used by school systems to create their own AI policies.
“As the impact of artificial intelligence grows, it’s important we provide information on effective and safe utilization,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, Ed.D. “I’m excited to share the first edition of a living document we will update as this transformative technology evolves.”
06 May2024
By Nicole Dunn
Trusted by over 200 institutions nationwide, ATLAS is the ultimate resource for educator preparation professionals developed by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. With over 1,400 meticulously curated video cases spanning subjects, grades, and school settings, ATLAS provides a comprehensive view of effective teaching practices.
In a new webinar, Tools and Methods for Enhancing Candidates’ Practicum Learning on May 13, attendees will delve into real-world experiences from faculty members at Austin Peay State University (APSU), showcasing how ATLAS has transformed their teaching practices. Additionally, they will learn how ATLAS seamlessly integrates into practicum experiences, offering crucial support to both faculty and candidates.
02 May2024
By Anne Tapp Jaksa
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education continues to reshape teaching and learning landscapes. Our commitment to understanding this transformation is exemplified through our ongoing research, focused on the perceptions and experiences of PK-12 and post-secondary educators with AI tools. As AI’s influence grows, it is crucial to gather and analyze insights from those at the forefront of educational innovation — our pre-service and in-service educators and school administrators.
In a recent study, a majority of educational stakeholders expressed favorable views toward AI tools (Impact Research, 2023b). Yet, detailed understanding of how these tools are being utilized and their impacts remains limited. Surveys tailored to capture the nuanced experiences and perceptions of undergraduate and graduate students within educator preparation programs (EPPs) will explore these dynamics further, providing a comparative analysis with high school students’ AI engagement (Schiel, Bobek, & Schnieders, 2023).
01 May2024
By Brooke Evans
On May 9, from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. ET, the recipient of the 2024 Best Practice Award for the Innovative Use of Technology, the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will present their Empowered Educator Program for 21st Century Teaching (E2) as part of AACTE’s Lunch & Learn series. During this virtual event, “Unlocking Digital Pedagogy through the Empowered Educator Program at UTRGV,” faculty will focus on E2’s ability to equip teacher candidates with essential skills for modern education.
The Best Practice Award for the Innovative Use of Technology award, overseen by AACTE’s Committee on Innovation and Technology, recognizes an innovative use of educational technologies in a school, college, or department of education and highlights initiatives that creatively infuse technology into the curriculum, transcending conventional teaching methods and bringing about transformative changes in educational practices.
22 Apr2024
By Valerie Hill-Jackson
To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the Journal of Teacher Education (JTE) is seeking proposals for a special issue on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Volume 76, issue three. Generative AI is an artificial intelligence model that can create new content, mimicking certain styles or patterns in existing data. While AI has been part of the educational landscape for an extended period, generative AI is a relative newcomer. As a consumer product, generative AI broke into the mainstream with the release of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) in November 2022. Since then, educators have been grappling with its implications for learning in K-12 and, as a result, in teacher education.
Advancing the conversation and the knowledge base around generative AI in education aligns with AACTE’s position to advance the quality of Educator preparation and enhance the educational experience for all students.
16 Apr2024
By Megan Simpson and Payton Baggett
The immersive capabilities of virtual reality — once thought to be just for gamers — are making their way into classrooms nationwide. Thanks to a generous gift from Furniture Connection, these technological innovations are now available for college students at Austin Peay State University (APSU).
University officials ushered in a new era in teacher preparation with the grand opening of the Furniture Connection EdTech Studio on March 11. This state-of-the-art space, located within the Eriksson College of Education, represents a leap forward in equipping aspiring educators with the latest educational technologies and immersive learning experiences.
The Furniture Connection EdTech Studio is a comprehensive learning hub that allows pre-service teachers to gain hands-on experience using virtual reality (VR) headsets, 3D printers, LEGO® Education sets, robotics, coding devices, and other cutting-edge tools.
09 Apr2024
By Jon Margerum-Leys and Peña L. Bedesem
At the AACTE 2024 Annual Meeting in February, incoming AACTE Committee on Innovation and Technology members Peña Bedesem (Kent State University) and Jon Margerum-Leys (Oakland University) attended the Featured session “AI Integration in Education: Bridging the Gap for Future Educators.” In the following article, they recap the panelists’ presentation.
AACTE at its best has always brought together viewpoints representing philosophy, innovation, and implementation. The featured panel on artificial intelligence (AI) integration certainly did that. Moderator David Slykhuis, Ph.D., (Valdosta State University) led a wide-ranging conversation among Arizona State’s Punya Mishra, Ph.D., Marie Heath, Ed.D., (Loyola Marymount); and Diane Lauer, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer of St. Vrain Valley Schools in Colorado.
While all three panelists brought expertise regarding artificial intelligence, each offered a unique perspective. Mishra served as the proponent of innovation, Lauer the experienced implementer, and Heath the philosophical conscience of the group.
25 Mar2024
By Nicole Dunn
Are you looking to elevate your teaching practice to new heights? Look no further than ATLAS — the ultimate resource for educator preparation professionals. More than 200 institutions utilize ATLAS, a resource created by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. As a member of AACTE, you have the exclusive opportunity to access ATLAS at a discounted rate of 20% on both individual and institutional subscriptions — but time is running out. Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer, as the discount expires June 30.
11 Mar2024
By Brooke Evans
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. ET, members are invited to attend the AACTE Lunch & Learn: Designing a Syllabus Using Generative AI.
In this session led by AACTE Innovation and Technology member, Laurie Bobley, Ed.D., of Touro University, attendees will explore how to develop an effective, standards-based syllabus using generative AI and the potential limitations surrounding this emerging technology.
22 Feb2024
By UNLV News Center
As more Nevada teachers join the workforce to shape and educate the youth in the state, and as technology continues to advance, it is important to build confidence in educators who teach STEM. Enter the Nevada STEM Co-Lab Project.
A collaborative partnership between the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) College of Education and Center for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering; the Desert Research Institute (DRI); and the National Institute for the Advancement of Education — the Nevada STEM Co-Lab project aims to bridge formal and informal education in Nevada communities by providing access to curriculum-centered STEM activities and training for educators.
“This project has been a nice collaboration between UNLV and DRI. It was a successful partnership and is paving the way for additional proposals and ongoing collaboration,” said Hasan Deniz, a science education professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning.
The project comes from a congressionally directed STEM grant with three important parts. “The overall grant was to support the development of the STEM Co-Lab, or the technology learning space in our Las Vegas DRI campus, as well as the development of 16 new Green Boxes covering kindergarten through fifth grade,” said Emily McDonald-Williams, STEM Education program manager for DRI.
13 Feb2024
By Anne Tapp Jaksa and Jill Waliczek
Amidst the growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, it is essential to understand how P-12 and post-secondary students, teachers, and school administrators perceive and utilize these technologies (ISTE, 2023). A July 2023 survey indicated that a majority of students, parents, and teachers viewed AI tools favorably (Impact Research, 2023b). However, the specific ways in which students engage with AI tools and their perceptions remain underexplored.
To address this gap, Saginaw Valley State University has developed surveys to collect undergraduate pre-service teachers, graduate in-service teachers, and school administrators’ perceptions and experiences with AI tools. The surveys were modeled after and will be compared to a similar survey of students in grades 10 through 12 (Schiel, Bobek, & Schnieders, 2023). The surveys delve into various aspects of AI in education, including usage patterns, the impact of AI tools on creativity and academic performance, and attitudes toward their integration into the school environment. By gathering insights directly from educator preparation program (EPP) students, we aim to better support their educational journey and inform educational practices.
13 Feb2024
By AACTE
Get ready to embark on a journey that will transform how you approach teacher preparation. The upcoming AACTE 2024 Annual Meeting is set to feature a hands-on exploration of ATLAS, an online video library by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. In this AACTE Learning Lab, participants will uncover the multitude of ways ATLAS is being utilized by educator preparation programs (EPPs) to enhance teacher candidates’ exposure to effective teaching and cultivate their reflective abilities.
29 Jan2024
Lunch & Learn with Guy Trainin
By Brooke Evans
AACTE is pleased to offer Lunch & Learns: professional development opportunities for members. These 30-minute sessions are designed to provide you with an immediate tool or strategy to apply to your work. Can’t make it virtually? All Lunch & Learns will be available on-demand for AACTE members. Watch them during your lunch break or whenever it is convenient for you.
By AACTE member request, Guy Trainin will be back for the next part of his series on Thursday, February 8 from 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET to present Part II, More Lesson Planning: Discussing Generative AI Tools for Teacher Educators.
29 Jan2024
By U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) today released the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design and Use Divides. First released in fulfillment of the 2000 Educate America Act, NETP has been updated multiple times since its original release, most recently in 2016.
“From the American Rescue Plan to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and more, the Biden-Harris Administration has made bold investments aimed at closing the digital divide and ensuring all students can equitably access the latest digital tools and technology,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “As we work to Raise the Bar in education, it’s essential we focus on empowering teachers to become designers of active learning, using technology in effective ways to engage and inspire students. The 2024 National Educational Technology Plan is a forward-thinking approach to reframing and realizing the potential of educational technology to enhance the instructional core, reduce achievement gaps, and improve student learning in our schools.
