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Below is a special edition of ISTE+ASCD SmartBrief featuring content about ISTELive 26 and the 2026 ASCD Annual Conference.
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| June 30, 2026 |
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| ASCD Annual & ISTELive Conferences |
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Monday was nonstop activity at ISTELive and ASCD Annual. Conversations revolved around AI, but they're no longer surface discussions. Folks are digging deep, especially leaders. They're being honest about struggles and reaching across their networks for help and best practices. But it wasn't a complaintfest -- it was transparency and idea exchange. It was productive struggle at its finest. Today's mainstage will bring more rich insights. Let's go!
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| (SimpleImages/Getty Images) |
Principal Salome Thomas-EL of Thomas Edison Charter School emphasizes the importance of creating a joyful and positive school culture and using steep challenges to build character in students. Speaking at ISTELive 26, Thomas-EL, shared his framework of the Four Cs -- Crazy, Curious, Consistent, and Culture -- and discussed his successful chess program, which taught students resilience and growth.
“It’s not about the winning,” Thomas-EL said, “it’s about the lesson in the struggle and the frustration. How do we overcome those battles when we’re trying to build resilient young people? We don’t want to teach them how to become successful. We want to give them the tools to overcome those struggles.”
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ISTE and GreatSchools.org have introduced a "safe and purposeful" technology use pledge to address concerns about excessive technology use in schools. The pledge encourages schools to create clear tech policies, train educators, purchase safe technology, teach digital citizenship, and engage families. Schools that participate can earn a "safe and committed" technology badge at three levels. This initiative aims to reassure parents that technology is being used to enhance student learning rather than contribute to mindless screen time.
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The SDG Warriors podcast, discussed at the ISTE+ASCD annual conference, demonstrates how student-led podcasts can build career-ready skills. Student lead Simar Mohanty and educator Kamal Preet highlighted the challenges of coordinating across time zones and managing a volunteer team, which mirror workplace scenarios. The project uses tools like World Time Buddy and Google Sheets to enhance efficiency and equity, teaching students valuable lessons in leadership and project management.
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Lincoln AI is an AI-powered study coach designed specifically for education. It helps students think critically and independently, offering real-time, curriculum-aligned academic support anytime, anywhere—without just giving away the answers. Learn more at Booth 2547 or visit our website. |
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Native Hawaiian students from high schools in Hawaii and the continental US participated in the 'Aha 'Ōpio, a mock legislative event at the State Capitol. The weeklong event, held for the first time in over 20 years, blended parliamentary procedure with cultural practices, and aimed to engage students in civic education and legislative processes.
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Lincoln AI Learning Coach helps students dig deeper, ask better questions, and develop confidence as they work through challenges and discover new ideas. Visit Booth 2547. Learn More |
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Helping students thrive in a connected world means equipping them to navigate technology, not shielding them from it. On the ISTE+ASCD Blog, superintendent Sean P. McKenna shares how his Connecticut school district emphasizes "distraction-free" learning without fully banning devices.
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Students don't learn resilience by following a STEM script; they learn it by working through failure. Check out STEM educator Christopher Feiler's new piece for the ISTE+ASCD Blog, where he shares the importance of productive struggle in STEM education and how to design lessons that help students grapple with complex ideas and challenges.
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See Lincoln AI Learning Coach in action. Watch how students receive learning-focused support designed to encourage exploration, understanding, and independent learning.
Experience the difference at Booth 2547. Watch Now |
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Parents in the Bakersfield City School District in California have submitted a petition with 5,000 signatures to request the installation of cameras in special education classrooms to increase transparency and accountability. The district notes the legal and privacy issues involved and says the measure would require legislative action.
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Not all AI is built for education. Discover key considerations for evaluating AI tools, the importance of transparency, and how Lincoln AI Learning Coach supports students in a safe, learning-focused environment. Read the Article |
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Oakland Unity Middle School is using the Ever Forward program to create a sense of belonging and vulnerability among boys, aiming to close the academic gender gap. The program, founded by Ashanti Branch, includes activities such as trust circles and the Masks, Emotions and Math project to help boys express their emotions and support one another. Teachers at the school have integrated these practices into their routines, resulting in increased student confidence and academic success.
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