Kriti PatelTLDR: Chronic absenteeism in U.S. schools has increased during the pandemic, with about 14.7 million students missing at least 10% of their school days. To combat this issue, educators are turning to technology to support personalized learning and address the underlying challenges that contribute to attendance issues.
In a roundtable discussion, education experts Marie Saleh, Marissa Johnston, and Christy Spivey explored the role of technology in education and addressed key areas such as the shift to more tech-integrated, student-centric approaches, the use of data analytics and AI to identify and support at-risk students, and the challenges and opportunities in implementing educational technology.
Key Points:
- Chronic absenteeism in U.S. schools has increased during the pandemic, with about 14.7 million students missing at least 10% of their school days.
- Technology can play a role in addressing chronic absenteeism by supporting personalized learning and addressing underlying challenges.
- The shift to more tech-integrated, student-centric approaches in education is crucial.
- Data analytics and AI can be used to identify and support at-risk students.
- Trust issues, data management, and socio-economic factors are important considerations in implementing educational technology.
Chronic absenteeism in U.S. schools has notably increased, with about 14.7 million students, or 29.7%, missing at least 10% of their school days during the 2021-2022 academic year, a significant rise from pre-pandemic levels. This issue, impacting student learning and performance, stems from a variety of causes including transportation issues and personal circumstances. To combat this, schools and communities are focusing on understanding these causes and implementing individualized support and intervention strategies.
Chronic absenteeism is a complex issue, reflecting an array of educational, socio-economic, and community factors. It’s more than just missing school; it’s a sign of larger systemic problems like lack of student engagement, insufficient support for educators, and a gap between schools and their communities. Considering the rising chronic absenteeism rates and the diverse factors contributing to it, how can educators leverage technology most effectively to not only support personalized learning but also proactively address underlying socio-economic and community-related challenges that contribute to attendance issues?
In the current Experts Talk roundtable episode, host Daniel Litwin, the Voice of B2B, actively explores this crucial topic in education. Marie Saleh, Former Educator, “The Edtech Guru” & Design Educator at Canva, Marissa Johnston, the Former Educator & Education Consultant at Firefly Tutors and Christy Spivey, the Former Educator & SVP of Customer Success, Istation. They focus on how technology plays a role in enhancing educational outcomes and efficiency, discussing various aspects and strategies for its effective implementation in the educational sector.
The discussion encompassed several key areas:
- Evolution from Traditional to Innovative Education Models: The panelists discussed the shift from conventional teaching methods to more tech-integrated, student-centric approaches.
- Technology’s Role in Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: They examined how educational technology, particularly data analytics and AI, is used to identify and support at-risk students.
- Challenges and Opportunities in EdTech Implementation: The discussion also covered trust issues, data management, and the necessity of considering socio-economic factors in students’ education.
About the Guests:
Leena Marie Saleh, a former educator and a design educator at Canva, brings a unique perspective on integrating technology into education. Her expertise in edtech, combined with her background in teaching, positions her ideally to discuss the intersection of technology and education, especially in enhancing student engagement and reducing absenteeism.
Marissa Johnston, with her experience as a former educator and an education consultant at Firefly Tutors, provides insights into the practical application of technology in education. Her focus is on student-centric approaches and personalized learning.
Christy Spivey, a former educator and current SVP of Customer Success at Istation, has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in educational technology. Her experience in developing and implementing edtech solutions offers valuable perspectives on how technology can revolutionize education.
