The education landscape of 2023 was marked by various K-12 innovations, including examining the impact of artificial intelligence in education and continued demand for personalized learning that honors and supports learner variability. As this year comes to a close, we want to take a look back at 12 Digital Promise highlights and moments that reflect the experiences of our partners, learners, and educators across research, practice, and technology.
Here are 12 education stories that our readers and staff enjoyed.
1. Breaking With the Past: Embracing Digital Transformation in Education
Our report, “Breaking with the Past: Embracing Digital Transformation in Education,” examines how the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to teaching and learning compares to more learner-centered, personalized frameworks; why we need to transition to them at scale; and how digital technologies can enable that scaling.
2. Digital Promise Launches Future Lab
This fall, Digital Promise launched FutureLab, a new initiative to investigate transformative approaches to teaching and learning. In the year ahead, we look forward to collaborating with visionary educators, technologists, and researchers to prioritize equity-centered innovations.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations
In May, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology released the report, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Teaching and Learning.” The report, which includes contributions from Digital Promise, addresses the need for sharing knowledge and developing policies for AI in education.
4. Highlighting Black-led Organizations
In recognition of Juneteenth and Digital Promise’s continued commitment to uplifting diverse voices, we amplified Black-led organizations that Digital Promise has partnered with/are currently partnering/supporting.
5. Celebrating the Immigrant Experience with President and CEO Jean-Claude Brizard
The Carnegie Corporation of New York honored Jean-Claude Brizard, president and CEO of Digital Promise, in the July class of 2023 Great Immigrants Great Americans campaign. Jean-Claude shares details from his life in Haiti and his personal immigration experience.
6. Inspiring Innovation in Talladega Through an Integrated Computational Thinking Pathway
Computational thinking (CT) is an interrelated set of skills and practices that support problem solving and equip students to participate in an increasingly computational world. In this blog post, we explore how Drew Middle School in Talladega, Alabama, embeds CT Pathways.
7. Reflections From 10 Years of Verizon Innovative Learning Schools
This year, Digital Promise celebrated the 10th anniversary of its partnership with Verizon for the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program, which works with schools and districts to get internet-connected devices into the hands of students. Read reflections from veteran team members.
8. Challenge Based Learning at Ciena Solutions Challenge Model Schools
The Ciena Solutions Challenge is a global design challenge inviting students and teachers to design solutions to real problems and take action to build a better world. Watch how teachers and students at Notre Dame High School, Ridgemont High School, and St. Patrick’s High School in Ottawa, Ontario, use Challenge Based Learning to foster student-driven learning and take action on issues such as clean water and affordable nutrition.
9. New Certification Recognizes Credentialing Technologies that Support Learners’ Journeys
A learning and employment record (LER) is a digital record of an individual’s skills, experiences, and credentials. This year, Digital Promise announced the launch of a second certification for LERs. Learn more about this new product certification and which technologies have earned this new certification.
10. Launching Recruitment and Retention Solutions Designed by Teachers of Color
The decline of teachers of color in today’s schools impacts everyone. In our report, “Recruitment and Retention: Pilot Solutions Designed by Teachers of Color,” we feature solutions co-designed by teachers of color to address this pressing issue.
11. Edcamp: Professional Development for Teachers by Teachers
Edcamps are a participatory professional development event organized by teacher volunteers in which educators lead their own learning experiences. If you have questions about the Edcamp model and are interested in organizing an Edcamp for your professional learning community, please email us at edcamp@digitalpromise.org.
12. Five Powerful Moments from Our 2023 Convening on Inclusive Innovation and Education R&D
In October, the Center for Inclusive Innovation, in collaboration with the League of Innovative Schools, convened education leaders and students to explore ways to transform teaching and learning through Inclusive Innovation. Take a look at some powerful perspectives that emerged throughout the event.
As we enter 2024, let’s continue to collaborate and create solutions to advance teaching and learning and expand opportunity for all learners. Explore more of our work.
