With new features, AI may ‘challenge what it means to be an educator’

[EdSurge PreK-12]

View in browser     |   No. 640  |   6/13/24   |   Subscribe to this newsletter This issue is sponsored by Young people are experiencing alarming rates of psychological distress, with mental health challenges that the U.S. Surgeon general has called “real,” “widespread” and “devastating.”   Schools have struggled to keep up with student demand for more support. They're trying modern tools like texting hotlines and teletherapy as well as more traditional well-being boosters like after-school programs and one-on-one mentoring.    Teens and young adults are taking matters into their own hands, in some cases. They’re stepping up to help their peers or students a little younger than themselves with letter-writing campaigns that ease loneliness and to volunteer as social service navigators.   This is happening — and is necessary — in part because, across the country, there are too few mental health specialists to serve the growing number of adolescents who need their services: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than a third of the country lives in an area where there is a shortage of mental health professionals.    Across our newsroom, reporters, columnists and contributors have jumped in to cover this critical issue facing children and schools.    To make these stories easier for readers to find, here we've collected EdSurge articles about K-12 mental health that outline problems, explore solutions and offer the perspectives of experts. 📣 TOP STORIES   HELP AT HOME: For decades, home visiting programs have supported families across the U.S., promoting positive parenting practices that foster a safe, nurturing environment for children. In recent years, a number of these programs have seen an opportunity to reach more children by adapting their services to meet the needs and priorities of home-based child care providers. We look at how these models work and talk to child care providers who have benefited from them.   KEEPING UP WITH AI: Educators may need to spend some of the summer catching up with the latest AI tools that have been announced in recent weeks, which teaching experts say will further disrupt teaching in the fall. But some of the tools could save educators time. The following is a message from our sponsor Connectivity is essential in today’s digital-first world and T-Mobile is doing their part to help close the digital divide. The Un-carrier has connected nearly 6M students across the U.S. and invested $6.4B through Project 10Million and other education initiatives. We also support Welcome.US, a digital equity initiative that connects immigrants and refugees with crucial supplies and services needed to start their new lives in the U.S. Learn more here. 🎧 ON THE PODCAST   COLLEGE WITHIN A HIGH SCHOOL?: As more students question the value of college, more high schools are bringing college options into their walls. In the latest installment of our Doubting College series, we visit a high school where students can earn a two-year degree. 🗞️ IN OTHER NEWS   FEELING ‘FINE’?: Parents say one of the biggest barriers to getting kids help with mental health is that their child says, “I’m fine,” when they’re really not. We talked to Action for Healthy Kids about the implications of this trend for schools and families.   PROFS CALL FOR ‘RESTRAINED AI’: Could AI help students improve their writing without totally taking over the process? Two English professors have outlined a vision of “restrained generative AI,” and they’ve built a software tool to test their idea for using technology to turn notes into prose. 🔗 WHAT WE'RE READING   Young kids are struggling with skills like listening, sharing and using scissors. (Education Week)   These parents are pledging to keep their kids phone-free. (The New York Times)   When California schools summon police. (EdSource)   📈 STORY IN A STAT About one-third   That’s the portion of parents of school-aged children who can identify what it means to be “chronically absent” from school, according to a new poll from NPR/Ipsos, in line with the general population’s familiarity with the term. Chronic absenteeism — defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year — has become one of the single most acute K-12 education issues since the pandemic, but a lack of awareness about it among the public may hamper efforts to address it.  Post a job | See all jobs CS Instructional Design | CodeMonkey Studios | Multiple or Remote CodeMonkey is looking for a freelancer in game development and education to develop monthly courses for children that teach game creation using block programming and fundamental coding concepts.   Curriculum Developer, High School Middle School | CodeHS | Chicago, IL As a Curriculum Developer, you'll be responsible for helping to build and maintain high quality computer science curriculum for students. You will be focused on creating materials, resources, lessons plans, alignment to standards, and more.   Customer Service Manager | inquirED |  Remote As the Customer Service Manager, you will oversee the customer service operations, ensuring external and internal stakeholders receive timely, accurate, and empathetic assistance.   Territory Sales Manager | Committee for Children | Austin, TX or Remote Are you looking for purpose-driven work where Education Partnerships make a positive impact on communities around the world? If so, then Committee for Children is an amazing place to grow your career as a Territory Sales Manager.   Regional Partnership Manager | ISTE - ASCD | Multiple As a strategic relationship builder, you will be responsible for cultivating long term alliances, and championing new projects with existing partners or discovering new partners to expand the partner ecosystem.   Events See all events and meetups   EDTECH WORLD FORUM 2024 | June 20 - 21 | London, UK EdTech World Forum 2024 https://edtechconferences.london is one of leading education technology EdTech events. EdTech World Forum aims to be a leading global education conference in London. For more info visit: https://edtechconferences.london   ISTELive 24 | June 23 - 26 | Denver, CO At ISTELive 24, June 23-26 in Denver and online, you’ll scale to new learning heights during 900+ strategy-packed sessions that will help you continue to move mountains for students.   EdLeader21 Network Annual Event | October 21 -  23 | Indianapolis, IN EdLeader21 Annual Event by Battelle for Kids is an engaging and inspiring experience exclusively for network member districts to accelerate future-ready learning for every student in the only national network dedicated to Portrait of a Graduate. THANKS FOR READING   ➔ Got any feedback? We love hearing from readers. Shoot us a note, critiques, a joke—whatever you’ve got! ➔ Interested in reaching our readers? Sponsor this newsletter. EdSurge is a nonprofit newsroom reporting on the powerful forces, fascinating people and innovative practices shaping teaching and learning. 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