Future-Proofing Your District | eSchool News

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Source link As districts across the country shift to meet the changing needs of modern education, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) have become essential components to maintain the high standards of 21st century learning. With these advancements come a world of opportunity for district-wide initiatives, and with appropriate implementation, districts can effectively future-proof their educational environments.

When looking to ensure their district is up-to-date and ready for the future, districts should consider developing a digital roadmap – a plan of action to implement and utilize effective technologies as to better serve their students and community. Such a roadmap should focus on creating an infrastructure to support any technological investments, such as a data warehouse and open APIs, so that the district can securely store and access large amounts of data. By using this data to better understand their stakeholders, districts can identify and prioritize areas that need improvement.

In addition to creating a strong infrastructure, districts should evaluate any existing hardware and software needs, as well as reviewing privacy requirements. Choosing to invest in hardware and software that will enable technologies such as AI and VR, deemed as forward-thinking, will allow for interactive activities to take place in the classroom or beyond. For example, AI can help teachers to personalize instruction for students, while VR can extend the learning environment to unfamiliar places not limited by physical boundaries.

Districts should also consider their policies for professional development. With new technologies comes the need for staff training, particularly in terms of safety, security, privacy, and best practices. Equipping staff with the proper skills and resources needed to use new technologies effectively can help foster a secure and productive learning environment.

Finally, districts need to remember that future-proofing is an ongoing process. This includes staying up-to-date with emerging trends, and regularly assessing security on a local and global scale to ensure that any data stored is safe and secure. By creating an innovative plan and gaining an understanding of how to implement and maximize the potential of new technologies, districts can maintain their competitive edge in the years to come.

Future-proofing districts is no easy task. However, by taking the initiative to create a digital roadmap and a plan of action to support the district, staff training, and updated technologies, districts can position themselves to make a positive impact in the lives of students now and in the future.