Conference Blog- Innovations in Education

For the Harvard Conference, I attended the Innovations in Education session. I was most interested in learning about this topic because of the recent changes in education because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students in North Carolina haven’t seen a classroom in over a year, but teachers are working tirelessly to help students continue to push on and learn through various forms of teaching.

One word used in the session was, “Edutainment”, which refers to educational entertainment. This has become most popular this year with many students partaking in virtual learning, and educators are trying to keep students engaged and having fun. This has been a challenge for teachers and students, but it has become a new way of life, and there’s new innovations everyday that teachers like to share with one another.

Many students need the classroom, they need a face-to-face interaction to be able to learn the material and socialize with others. This past year has been a struggle for many kids aged 5–18, all moving up into the next grade trying to learn the material they need to advance. Teachers are attempting to engage kids in order to learn better and learn faster. Technology has definitely allowed for teaching to go on and for students to continue to learn, no matter the space they are in.

Teachers and educators have leaned on one another through this difficult time, and they brainstorm new ways to keep students involved, engaged, and learning, and having fun. It hasn’t been easy but they have the students best interest at heart and want to see them succeed. They have challenged themselves to strategize new ways of teaching, and they have sought out technologists to help them continue on with virtual learning. They have challenged their students to always be engaged and motivated no matter where they are to learn new things every day!

This session truly brings to light how educators, teachers, and technologists have overcome so many obstacles this past year to keep our students learning!