Exploring Immersive Education, Building Connections, Model Schools, and Additional Insights at the DMV Leadership Conference

The Tech & Learning Regional Leadership Summit, held at the Maritime Conference Centre in Baltimore, brought together school and district leaders to discuss and engage with the latest trends in education technology.

The day began with an icebreaker called "KarAIoke," developed by Carl Hooker, which involved guessing popular songs based on AI-generated images. This fun and interactive activity set the tone for a day filled with insightful discussions and presentations.

One of the key topics of discussion was the shift from generalist AI to specialist AI, as discussed by ISTE CEO Richard Culatta. Culatta emphasized the importance of AI becoming more specialized and tailored to specific tasks, which could lead to more efficient and effective solutions in education.

Another focus of the summit was underconnectivity, ensuring that all students have the right device to handle robust computing and enough processing power. This is a crucial concern for the future as technology continues to play an increasingly important role in education.

Cybersecurity was another major concern discussed at the summit. Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN, highlighted the challenges of cybersecurity in K-12, with ransomware attacks being a major concern. CoSN provides resources to help districts address these concerns and has created a K-12 generative AI readiness checklist and toolkit. The leader who developed this resource is Dr. Chris Hoadley.

Esports also played a significant role in the summit, with an esports presentation by Tarrin Morgan from Morgan State University and CEO of REALdigitizED. Esports was highlighted as an alignment between student wellness, career readiness, and academic success. Participation in esports has been shown to benefit students with emotional, mental, and physical wellness, analytical and critical thinking, increased hand-eye coordination, leadership skills, effective communication, networking, adaptability, strategic planning, computer fluency, and extended STEM career opportunities.

Model school presentations showcased eco-friendly materials, state-of-the-art tech tables, and a focus on developing students' soft-skills, cultural competence, and engagement with community and industry partners. These presentations provided a glimpse into the future of education, with a focus on preparing students for success in a rapidly changing world.

Dr. Amy Jackson and Krystle Pearson discussed shifts in instructional coaching in the post-pandemic era. They suggested change management using Kotter's method, intentional long-term planning, modeling digital pedagogy, collaborative learning, and capacity building.

The Innovative Leader Award was also presented at the summit, recognizing outstanding leaders in education. Amanda Lanza and Valerie Schaffer were recognized for Best Example of Innovative Digital Curriculum, Godfrey Rangasammy and Jessica Leedy for Best Example of Providing Equity & Access, and Chad McGaha for Innovative Chief Technology Officer.

Finally, Dr. Godfrey Rangasammy and Jessica Leedy from Prince George's County School District discussed changing the STEM status quo through an equity lens by working toward justice-centered and multilingual science education. This focus on equity and accessibility is crucial for ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed in STEM fields.

The Tech & Learning Regional Leadership Summit was a unique opportunity to learn, network, and be on the edge of all things new in edtech. Attendees left with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, ready to implement these emerging trends in their own schools and districts.

Exploring Immersive Education, Building Connections, Model Schools, and Additional Insights at the DMV Leadership Conference