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Noise-Canceling Headphones’ Hidden Consequences

Jordan Waverly
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Noise-Canceling Headphones’ Hidden Consequences

The Noise-Canceling Dilemma: Could Our Favorite Earphones Be Rewiring Our Brains?

The Concern

We all know that headphones can be bad for our hearing if we listen to sounds too loudly in close proximity to our ears. However, a recent BBC report suggests that a new health scare could be emerging around the noise-canceling feature that’s hugely popular in modern earphones.

The Rise of Audio Processing Disorder (APD)

The article reports on the experience of a 25-year-old British woman who found she had trouble focusing on sounds and was subsequently diagnosed with Audio Processing Disorder (APD). A previous hearing test came back normal. APD is a neurological condition affecting the brain’s ability to understand sounds and spoken words.

The Link to Noise-Canceling Technology

So, what’s interfering with normal brain functioning in such cases? One theory posited by the article is that noise-canceling tech could be leading to the brain forgetting how to filter sounds itself. The patient’s audiologist has also called for more research into the impact of the technology.

The Evidence

Five audiology departments in the U.K.’s National Health Service told the BBC that there has been a rise in the number of young people referred to them with similar issues related to their ability to process sounds.

The Concerns

The question is: what’s the long-term impact of exposing our brains to constant noise-canceling technology? Could it be rewiring our brains to react differently to sounds? As the technology becomes more widespread, it’s essential to investigate the potential consequences.

Conclusion

The rise in cases of Audio Processing Disorder among young people using noise-canceling earphones is a cause for concern. While the technology has revolutionized the way we listen to music, it’s crucial to consider the potential risks to our brain’s ability to process sounds. Further research is necessary to understand the impact of noise-canceling technology on our brain function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Audio Processing Disorder (APD)?
A: APD is a neurological condition affecting the brain’s ability to understand sounds and spoken words.

Q: What are the symptoms of APD?
A: Symptoms include difficulty focusing on sounds, trouble understanding speech, and increased sensitivity to noise.

Q: Can noise-canceling technology cause APD?
A: Researchers are still investigating the link, but some experts suggest that prolonged use of noise-canceling technology could lead to changes in brain function.

Q: What can I do to reduce the risk of APD?
A: Use earphones with a volume limit, take regular breaks from noise-canceling technology, and consider alternative methods for reducing background noise.

Q: How can I get tested for APD?
A: Consult a hearing specialist or audiologist for a comprehensive hearing test and evaluation.

The Best Presidents’ Day Laptop Deal

Phil
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The Best Presidents’ Day Laptop Deal

M2 MacBook Air: A Sleek and Portable Option for General Productivity

The M2 MacBook Air: Still a Viable Option

Last year, Apple released an M3-chipped MacBook Air, leaving many to wonder if the M2 version would be discontinued. However, the M2 MacBook Air still offers a sleek and portable option for general productivity and work on the go.

Performance and Multitasking

The M2 13in MacBook Air initially came with 8GB of RAM, which could struggle with heavy multi-tasking or editing across multiple layers. However, Apple discontinued the 8GB version and introduced a 16GB configuration, starting at a lower price point.

Best Buy’s Presidents’ Day Deal

For a limited time, Best Buy is offering a $200 discount on the M2 MacBook Air, reducing the price to $799. This is not a new deal, as it has appeared on several occasions since Black Friday last year, when the price briefly dropped to $699. However, it remains the best deal for most general users who need a highly portable laptop for work or school.

More Screen Space

If you prefer a larger screen, Best Buy is also offering $200 off the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air, now priced at $1,099. We gave this model 4.5 stars in our original review.

Compare and Buy

Located elsewhere or interested in comparing with other options? See all of today’s best MacBook Air prices in your region below.

Daily Design News and More

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current price of the M2 MacBook Air?
A: The current price of the M2 MacBook Air is $799, after a $200 discount from Best Buy’s Presidents’ Day sale.

Q: How much RAM does the M2 MacBook Air have?
A: The M2 MacBook Air comes with 16GB of RAM, which is an upgrade from the initial 8GB model.

Q: Is the M2 MacBook Air still available?
A: Yes, the M2 MacBook Air is still available for purchase at various retailers, including Best Buy.

Q: Can I get a better deal on the M2 MacBook Air?
A: The current $200 discount from Best Buy’s Presidents’ Day sale is the best deal available for most general users.

Unifying Telemedicine Efforts for Virtual Care Success

Taylor Marlowe
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Unifying Telemedicine Efforts for Virtual Care Success

Unlocking Virtual Care: A Collaborative Approach to Expansion and Success

Introduction

Many health systems’ journeys into wide-scale virtual care really began with the urgent need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some health systems have been able to streamline and standardize processes across their extensive networks, even extending care to such locations as rural schools. Success lies in strategic collaboration between leaders who prioritize new virtual care areas, demonstrate value, and ensure seamless integration with staff, patients, and stakeholders.

Transitioning to a Unified Framework

Transitioning from decentralized efforts to a unified framework is one way a health system can achieve notable milestones such as significant time savings for nursing staff and securing grants for community-based care initiatives. Such a unified approach can ensure sustainable growth and technological integration, delivering effective virtual care experiences to diverse communities.

HIMSS25 Session: Unlocking Virtual Care

Scott Wilson, senior director, HHS enterprise growth strategy, at Teladoc Health, will address this subject along with two co-speakers from Valley Health System at a HIMSS25 educational session entitled "Unlocking Virtual Care: A Collaborative Approach to Expansion and Success."

Exclusive Interview with Scott Wilson

We spoke with Scott to get a sneak preview of this timely HIMSS25 session.

Q: You’ll be talking about realizing value from telehealth programs. How can this be done?

A: For many health systems, their first foray with virtual care came during the pandemic. While telehealth offers immense value during times of crisis – whether global pandemic, natural disaster or staffing emergency – health systems are quickly learning the staying power of these programs within their organizations to help achieve clinical, operational, and business goals.

The Importance of an Enterprise Approach

However, disjointed approaches to implementing virtual care – including the technologies, workflows, protocols, governance, and clinical and business objectives involved – may actually lead to increased costs and often can lead to poor patient and care team experiences, making it difficult to realize value.

By taking an enterprise systems approach to virtual care planning, implementation, and expansion, leaders at Valley Health were able to avoid this pitfall and maximize the benefits of virtual care for their patients, care teams, and their health system in general.

Lessons Learned from Valley Health’s Journey

At HIMSS25, we’ll be joined by Carmen Clipper, vice president, planning and growth, at Valley Health System, and Delores A. Gehr, RN, chief nursing officer and director, patient care services, at Valley Health System, to discuss how their approach to virtual care allowed them to streamline and standardize processes across their extensive network.

Key Takeaways

The lessons they’ve learned through this approach to virtual care planning and implementation offer valuable takeaways for others embarking on similar health IT initiatives, as health systems should prioritize the following:

  • Understand how the needs of individual clinical/business groups are tied to the needs of others, and to the enterprise as a whole.
  • Identify key stakeholders who will be critical to overall success, and their definitions of "value."
  • Identify the best places to start to get results that speak directly to the value needs.
  • Build clinical and business champions and momentum for the next steps.
  • Ensure the best potential to address organizational workforce, clinical, business, and IT needs while improving access to care, patient experience, and quality outcomes.

Technology and Virtual Care

Our discussion will focus on an enterprise approach to virtual care that predominantly uses Teladoc Health’s Solo enterprise virtual care ecosystem. At Valley Health, this offers the care team a consistent access point for delivering virtual care. Care teams also can leverage this interface to access more advanced capabilities that enhance care delivery.

Conclusion

The overarching takeaway is that a collaborative, enterprise approach to virtual care planning and expansion can ensure holistic, scalable, and patient-centered results to achieve maximum value – aligning technology, workflows, and people for sustainable, high-quality care across the health system. However, the learnings we’ll cover are applicable across any process improvement initiatives that require an enterprise approach or new approaches to governance to ensure success.

How to Build Advanced Ecommerce Product Grids and Detail Pages with Tailwind CSS

Parker Lennox
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How to Build Advanced Ecommerce Product Grids and Detail Pages with Tailwind CSS

1. Introduction to Tailwind CSS

Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework that provides low-level utility classes to build designs directly in your HTML. Unlike traditional CSS frameworks, Tailwind doesn’t come with pre-designed components. Instead, it gives you the building blocks to create custom designs quickly.

Key benefits of Tailwind CSS:

  • Highly customizable
  • Responsive design
  • Developer experience

2. Setting Up Your Project

Before we start building, let’s set up a new project with Tailwind CSS.

Step 1: Install Tailwind CSS

You can install Tailwind CSS via npm:

npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer
npx tailwindcss init

Step 2: Configure Tailwind

Create a tailwind.config.js file and configure your template paths:

module.exports = {
  content: ['src/**/*.{html,js}'],
  theme: {
    extend: {},
  },
  plugins: [],
};

Step 3: Include Tailwind in Your CSS

Create a src/styles.css file and add the following:

@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;

3. Building the Product Grid

Responsive Grid Layout

Product Card Design

Hover Effects and Transitions

4. Creating the Product Detail Page

Layout Structure

Image Gallery

Product Information Section

5. Adding Interactivity with JavaScript

Dynamic Image Switching

Add to Cart Functionality

6. Conclusion

Building advanced ecommerce product grids and detail pages with Tailwind CSS is both efficient and enjoyable. Tailwind’s utility-first approach allows you to create custom, responsive designs without writing a lot of custom CSS. By combining Tailwind with a bit of JavaScript, you can create interactive and user-friendly ecommerce interfaces.

FAQs

Q: What is Tailwind CSS?

A: Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework that provides low-level utility classes to build designs directly in your HTML.

Q: How do I install Tailwind CSS?

A: You can install Tailwind CSS via npm: npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer npx tailwindcss init

Q: How do I configure Tailwind CSS?

A: Create a tailwind.config.js file and configure your template paths.

Q: How do I include Tailwind in my CSS?

A: Create a src/styles.css file and add the following: @tailwind base; @tailwind components; @tailwind utilities;

DataRobot Expands AI Capabilities with Agnostiq Acquisition

Parker Lennox
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DataRobot Expands AI Capabilities with Agnostiq Acquisition

DataRobot Acquires Agnostiq to Enhance Compute Orchestration for Agentic AI Applications

In a move to accelerate the development of agentic AI applications and make it easier to manage compute resources, DataRobot today announced the acquisition of Agnostiq – a Toronto-based software startup that specializes in distributed computing solutions.

Integrating Agnostiq’s Covalent Platform

DataRobot is known for its enterprise AI and AutoML platforms, which are designed to automate and simplify the development, deployment, and management of machine learning models for businesses. With the acquisition of Agnostiq, DataRobot aims to integrate Agnostiq’s open-source Covalent platform into its ecosystem.

Enhancing Compute Orchestration

The goal is to enable businesses to enhance compute orchestration across multi-cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments, including CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs. This integration is expected to reduce complexity and improve the efficiency of AI workload deployment.

Overcoming Operational Challenges

DataRobot shared a recent study that reveals businesses are finding it challenging to convert their needs into functional agentic AI applications. A key reason for this is the inability to manage these applications across fragmented tools and environments, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies that stall growth and innovation.

CEO’s Perspective

According to DataRobot, it is critical that businesses have the flexibility to deploy agentic AI across multiple infrastructure and compute environments. "Businesses are eager to move into an era of agentic AI, but are limited by siloed infrastructure and tooling. This operational complexity is not sustainable or scalable," said Debanjan Saha, Chief Executive Officer, DataRobot.

DataRobot’s Unique Value Proposition

DataRobot claims that what sets them apart is that their AI platform caters to both technical users, such as data scientists, and non-technical users, such as business professionals. The platform works by analyzing the task the users want to automate and selecting the most suitable neural network to train from its library of prepackaged algorithms. For more advanced users, the platform offers tools to create and customize neural networks.

Benefits of Covalent Integration

DataRobot expects the Agnostiq integration will allow for the bursting of resources to ensure that infrastructure scales with optimal price-performance. Another benefit of Covalent for DataRobot is its ability to consolidate AI tooling into a single platform, simplifying the process of managing AI initiatives.

Conclusion

The acquisition of Agnostiq marks another strategic milestone for DataRobot, enhancing its ability to meet the needs of enterprise clients across various IT systems. With the agentic AI market growing, this move could help DataRobot stay ahead in the evolving landscape.

FAQs

Q: What is the purpose of DataRobot’s acquisition of Agnostiq?
A: The acquisition is aimed at enhancing compute orchestration for agentic AI applications and making it easier to manage compute resources.

Q: What is Covalent, and how does it benefit DataRobot?
A: Covalent is an open-source platform that enables distributed computing solutions. It allows for the bursting of resources to ensure infrastructure scales with optimal price-performance, and consolidates AI tooling into a single platform, simplifying the process of managing AI initiatives.

Q: What are the benefits of integrating Agnostiq’s Covalent platform into DataRobot’s ecosystem?
A: The integration enables businesses to enhance compute orchestration across multi-cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments, reducing complexity and improving efficiency of AI workload deployment.

OpenAI’s reasoning models get two updates

Emerson Blake
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OpenAI’s reasoning models get two updates

OpenAI’s o3-mini Now Shares Its Thought Process, and Here’s Why That’s a Good Thing

New Features and Updates

OpenAI has announced updates to its reasoning models, o1 and o3-mini, which are designed to assist with complex prompts, including coding, math, and multi-step text prompts. These updates aim to make the experience more helpful and efficient for users.

File and Image Uploads in ChatGPT

The most significant update is the support for file and image uploads in ChatGPT. This feature allows users to upload images, documents, graphs, or PDFs, enabling the chatbot to assist with everyday resources. This can be particularly useful for tasks such as:

  • Uploading a long research paper and receiving a more thorough analysis from ChatGPT
  • Solving complex math problems by uploading a photo and getting accurate assistance

Accessibility for Free Users

The best part is that free users can access the o3-mini model with uploads, making it more accessible to a wider range of users.

Using the New Features

To use the new features, free users can select "Reason" in the message textbox and attach a photo or document to their prompt. Paid users can select the model from the model picker and upload an image as they would normally.

Increased Usage Limits for Plus Users

In addition, OpenAI has raised the usage limits for o3-mini-high, increasing the capacity for Plus users to 50 messages per day, a sevenfold increase.

Performance of o3-mini

The o3-mini model with high-reasoning effort performed significantly better than o3-mini in the benchmarks OpenAI posted when it first released the model, often coming close to o1’s performance and sometimes even surpassing it.

Conclusion

The new features and updates from OpenAI bring more power and flexibility to its reasoning models, making them even more useful for complex tasks. The accessibility of these features to free users is a significant step forward, making it easier for a wider range of people to take advantage of the benefits of AI-assisted learning and productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the new features in OpenAI’s o3-mini?
A: The new features include support for file and image uploads in ChatGPT, as well as increased usage limits for o3-mini-high.

Q: How do free users access the o3-mini model with uploads?
A: Free users can select "Reason" in the message textbox and attach a photo or document to their prompt.

Q: What are the usage limits for o3-mini-high for Plus users?
A: The usage limits for o3-mini-high have been increased to 50 messages per day for Plus users, a sevenfold increase.

Q: How does the o3-mini model with high-reasoning effort compare to o1?
A: The o3-mini model with high-reasoning effort performed significantly better than o3-mini in the benchmarks, often coming close to o1’s performance and sometimes even surpassing it.

The New York Times has greenlit AI tools for product and edit staff

Avery Winslow
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The New York Times has greenlit AI tools for product and edit staff

The New York Times Embraces AI Tools for Content Creation and Development

Introduction

The New York Times has announced that its product and editorial teams are now allowed to use AI tools, which may one day be used to write social copy, SEO headlines, and code. This development comes as the publication is still embroiled in a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for allegedly violating copyright law by training generative AI on the publisher’s content.

New AI Summary Tool and Editorial Guidelines

The news came to staff via an email, in which the publication announced the debut of its new internal AI summary tool called Echo. The New York Times also shared a suite of AI products that staff could use to build web products or develop editorial ideas, alongside editorial guidelines for using AI tools.

AI Guidelines for Staff

The guidelines encourage staff to use AI tools to suggest edits, brainstorm interview questions, and help with research. However, staff was warned not to use AI to draft or significantly revise an article or input confidential source information.

Future Possibilities

The New York Times is also considering using AI to implement digitally voiced articles and translations into other languages.

Approved AI Tools

The publication has approved AI programs such as GitHub Copilot programming assistant for coding, Google’s Vertex AI for product development, NotebookLM, some Amazon AI products, and OpenAI’s non-ChatGPT API through a business account.

Conclusion

The New York Times’ embrace of AI tools marks a significant shift in the way the publication approaches content creation and development. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how AI tools are used to shape the future of journalism.

FAQs

Q: What AI tools is The New York Times allowing its staff to use?
A: The publication has approved AI programs such as GitHub Copilot programming assistant for coding, Google’s Vertex AI for product development, NotebookLM, some Amazon AI products, and OpenAI’s non-ChatGPT API through a business account.

Q: What are the guidelines for using AI tools in content creation?
A: Staff is encouraged to use AI tools to suggest edits, brainstorm interview questions, and help with research, but not to draft or significantly revise an article or input confidential source information.

Q: What are the potential future uses of AI at The New York Times?
A: The publication is considering using AI to implement digitally voiced articles and translations into other languages.

Fantastic 4 AI Poster Allegations

Phil
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Fantastic 4 AI Poster Allegations

The Great AI vs. Photoshop Debate: The Fantastic Four Poster Controversy

A Look at the Controversy

The launch of the marketing machine for Marvel Entertainment’s Fantastic Four reboot this month was overshadowed by claims that a Fantastic Four: First Steps poster looked like it was made using AI. Fans piled on to the company’s posts on social media to criticise the design, which included a hand with three fingers – often a sign of AI image generation.

Marvel’s Denial

But it wasn’t a clear-cut case. Marvel denied that it used AI to create the poster for the upcoming movie, and many people have pointed out that it could have been an old-fashioned Photoshop fail with some rushed compositing.

The Controversy Unfolds

The controversy shows one of the problems with AI becoming so prevalent – it’s becoming hard to tell, and everything is suspect. Was it AI, or were the flags were added to the image as an afterthought, and pointing hands quickly be changed to fists? We asked for your thoughts.

Reader Reactions

AI or Photoshop?

Some readers found the three-fingered hand difficult to get over. "Admittedly, nothing else looks all that wrong besides the strange, AI-looking texture and font on the biggest poster (which could be explained by it being hand-drawn), but the hand is what’s really bugging me," Evelyn Martosko wrote. "It doesn’t look like a perspective/angle thing either where the other finger could be out of view."

Others were of the opinion that the mistakes in the image were more likely to be human error. "Humans make mistakes too," one reader said. "The detail of the people in the back is accurate. The more AI has to generate in an image the more it gets wrong. There’s very little wrong with all the details in the background".

A More Nuanced View

Some readers thought the conversation was too binary. "It’s entirely possible that the whole initial image was made by a human, but the composition felt unbalanced so a hand was added with AI," Adam Golan suggested, but added: "But there’s a lot of decisions here I doubt an AI would make on its own, like covering people’s faces with arms."

The Bigger Picture

Finally, one reader asked if it really matters either way: "1900: photography is not art; 1910: Jazz is not music; 1950: rock ‘n’ roll is not music; 1971: synth music is not music; 1980: computer-aided graphics are not art; 2010: digital installations are not art, 2025: AI-assisted creativity is not art. See the pattern?"

Conclusion

The Fantastic Four: First Steps poster controversy highlights the difficulties of distinguishing between human and AI-generated content. While some may be quick to jump to conclusions, others see a more nuanced picture. As the debate continues, we’re left wondering: what’s next for AI in the world of art and design?

FAQs

Q: Did Marvel use AI to create the Fantastic Four: First Steps poster?
A: Marvel denied it, but some fans are still unsure.

Q: What does the three-fingered hand on the poster look like?
A: It’s a distinctive feature that has sparked debate about whether it was created with AI or Photoshop.

Q: What are the implications of AI-generated content for art and design?
A: The Fantastic Four: First Steps poster controversy highlights the challenges of distinguishing between human and AI-generated content, and the importance of considering the bigger picture.

Liverpool FC’s New Look: A Tribute to the Mighty Redmen

Phil
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Liverpool FC’s New Look: A Tribute to the Mighty Redmen

Liverpool FC Unveils New Branding Inspired by Iconic Liver Bird Emblem

A Fresh New Look Inspired by the Iconic Liver Bird

Liverpool FC, a football club with a rich legacy, has unveiled a sleek new look inspired by its iconic Liver bird emblem. The new brand identity is a testament to the club’s heritage and its commitment to embracing the spirit of its legendary symbol across its branding.

Heritage Meets Contemporary Style

Creating impactful branding is all about embracing heritage while evolving with contemporary style. Liverpool FC has achieved this by refining its iconic identity for a strong and authoritative brand. Variations to the club’s existing color palette have been refined to focus on Liverpool’s legendary red, while new dynamic graphics inspired by the Liver bird capture the electric atmosphere of Anfield, the club’s historic stadium home.

New Look, New Feel

The new look includes two custom typefaces, LFC Sans and LFC Serif, which create consistency throughout the brand’s messaging. These typefaces are inspired by the curves of the Liver bird’s wings and talons, giving the club’s visuals a timeless flair.

A Consistent Look Across All Touchpoints

Senior Vice-President of Digital at LFC, Drew Crisp, explains that the new brand identity is designed to achieve a consistent look and feel across all areas of the club, from retail to LFC Foundation and everything in between. This is achieved by acknowledging and honoring the club’s history, ensuring they are well-positioned to thrive in both the digital and non-digital world.

Evolution Across the Club’s Platforms

The new look has already begun to debut across Liverpool FC’s touchpoints and will continue to evolve across the club’s social channels, website, club app, matchday program, digital marketing, and communications.

Conclusion

Liverpool FC’s new brand identity is a testament to the club’s commitment to embracing its heritage while evolving with contemporary style. The new look is a bold step forward for the club, providing a consistent visual identity across all touchpoints.

FAQs

Q: What inspired the new branding for Liverpool FC?
A: The new branding is inspired by the iconic Liver bird emblem, which is a symbol of the club’s heritage and legacy.

Q: What are the key features of the new branding?
A: The new branding includes a refined color palette, dynamic graphics, and two custom typefaces, LFC Sans and LFC Serif.

Q: What is the goal of the new branding?
A: The goal is to achieve a consistent look and feel across all areas of the club, from retail to LFC Foundation and everything in between.

Q: How will the new branding be rolled out across the club’s platforms?
A: The new branding will be rolled out across Liverpool FC’s social channels, website, club app, matchday program, digital marketing, and communications.

Maximizing Learning with Data-Driven Insights

Morgan Tate
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Maximizing Learning with Data-Driven Insights

Analytics & Adaptive Technologies: 10 Key Takeaways from EdTech Innovation Committee

Introduction

The CoSN’s Driving K-12 Innovation initiative has announced Analytics & Adaptive Technologies as a Top Tech Enabler for 2025, appearing on the list for five of the past seven years. The Driving K-12 Innovation Advisory Board defines Analytics & Adaptive Technologies as digital technologies that collect and use data related to teaching and learning.

The Topic: Analytics & Adaptive Technologies

These technologies collect and use data related to teaching and learning. Analytics refers to the process of analyzing data collected about student learning and leveraging data to inform instructional decision-making. Adaptive technologies are tools that adapt to the student based on their interactions with the technology. These adaptations could be in the form of suggesting next steps, providing remediation, controlling pacing, or providing feedback based on analysis of the student’s performance.

10 Key Takeaways from the EdTech Innovation Committee

  1. How much is too much data?
    "When I moved to Virginia [from Ireland], what struck me about the U.S. education system was your engagement with data," said John Heffernan (CEF Professional Development, Ireland). "In Ireland, we don’t use data in the same way. We don’t collect the same amount of data, and I just wonder, is this a U.S.-centric thing that everything has to be measured?"

  2. We need common language and understanding around these terms.
    During the conversation, there was a need to define terms and shared language. For example, Analytics & Adaptive Technologies or Personalization? Personalized or Individualized Learning?

  3. Just as EdTech innovators need common terminology, we then need to be able to communicate it with leadership.
    "As we look at what the messaging should be, how can it be simplified for both school leaders and for teachers in understanding what it is? And then, what workload that we can eliminate from districts from an already full agenda," asked Andrew Fekete (Community Consolidated School District 93, Illinois). "There’s a lot of resistance in saying that we don’t have time for this conversation. And my pushback is, we don’t have time to not have this conversation."

  4. Challenges in data collection and usage.
    "Right, wrong, or indifferent, we still have significant pockets of school districts that don’t grasp even the basics of data," said Beverly Knox-Pipes, EdD (Former CTO/Education Consultant, Michigan). "As a result, they are often reactive rather than proactive, failing to plan and strategize effectively for what they truly need. This includes not only setting up and managing their student information systems but also understanding how to gather and use data to drive student achievement—the ultimate purpose of education."

  5. The impact of AI and machine learning on educational data.
    "With the advent of AI and small language models, we’re going to be more and more dependent on our own data internally," said Pete Just, CETL (Just Strategics, Indiana). "I’ve been talking to a lot of school districts about this as they’re trying to figure it out. But the number one thing is: you have to have good data. So if you’re going to try to make decisions and try to go deep on using an AI tool to help make those decisions. They’re going to be off if your data is not quality."

  6. The importance of digital literacy.
    A high school teacher in Committee member Kathleen Stephany (School District of Holmen, Wisconsin)’s district is piloting a new course called Data Science, which will have a math component, content knowledge, and communication. "The teacher, when she proposed it, talked about how much data is created per minute," said Stephany. "If you think about Venmo transactions, streaming videos – there’s tons of data. [The course is about] how to use that data and what goes into that."

  7. Since the beginning, this topic has been about student agency.
    "The role of adaptive technology and analytics was to grow student agency in their own learning path, whether it’s mastering outcomes or failing forward. To learn from it and the process," said Janice Mertes (CDW Education State Level Ambassador). "There is an adult use of the term and a student use of this term, to the point of adding knowledge of data, literacy, and analytics."

  8. Analytics & Adaptive Technologies are about teacher agency, too.
    "We should also be talking about the need for teacher agency at the same place where we need student agency in conversations like these, especially when we’re talking about professional development of staff and being able to choose their pathway and have more choice in the targeted professional learning that we offer. We need ways that allow our educators to follow those paths based on the needs that they’re identifying and thinking about how we design those," Nick Stoyas (Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, Illinois).

  9. Current concerns about data privacy.
    "I worry about how the data will be used after the student’s assessment. I’m a big believer in analytics and adaptive tech. I think that there’s some definite positives, but I just want to make sure we don’t lose track of that data privacy piece that protects our kids," Ryan Cox (Osseo Area Schools – District 279, Minnesota).

  10. The role of vendors when it comes to ethics and transparency in educational technology.
    A lively discussion arose about the need for vendors to be transparent about how student data is used and assessed, and Puentedura stated that if the vendor cannot share that information, they could not be considered. Many Committee members agreed. "It should be a checkbox, if they’re not transparent in what they’re doing with student data and supporting their privacy, the school should automatically pass and move on," Emily Marshall (Vail School District, Arizona).

Conclusion

The discussion highlighted the importance of Analytics & Adaptive Technologies in K-12 education, emphasizing the need for common language and understanding, teacher and student agency, data literacy, and data privacy. The conversation also stressed the importance of vendor transparency and the need for educators to be aware of the potential benefits and challenges associated with these technologies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Analytics & Adaptive Technologies?
A: Analytics & Adaptive Technologies are digital technologies that collect and use data related to teaching and learning.

Q: What are the benefits of Analytics & Adaptive Technologies?
A: These technologies can help grow student agency, provide personalized learning experiences, and inform instructional decision-making.

Q: What are the challenges associated with Analytics & Adaptive Technologies?
A: Some of the challenges include data collection and usage, data privacy concerns, and the need for vendor transparency.

Q: How can educators get started with Analytics & Adaptive Technologies?
A: Educators can start by developing a clear understanding of the terms and concepts surrounding Analytics & Adaptive Technologies, and by exploring the potential benefits and challenges associated with these technologies.

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