Download slides below. The PPT slide deck is available via Google Drive Download at the bottom of this post.

The next generation of teachers will have more tools to shape the future of education than ever before. With advances in technology, teaching is rapidly evolving, and the classroom of tomorrow will look very different from today. Whether you're considering a career in education or simply curious about how technology is changing learning, there are some exciting tools and concepts you should know more about.

Makerspaces: A Hub for Creativity and Innovation
Imagine a space in your school where you can design, create, and build anything you can dream of. Makerspaces are popping up in schools worldwide, offering students access to tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and coding software. These creative hubs encourage problem-solving, innovation, and hands-on learning, making subjects like science and technology come to life. You can read more about Makerspaces here: edtechbooks.org/encyclopedia/makerspaces

Coding Bots: Bringing Programming to Life
Learning to code is one of the most important skills for future educators. Coding bots, such as Beebots, Ozobots, and Sphero, make programming fun and interactive. These tiny robots follow code-based instructions, allowing students to see their work in action. As teachers, you’ll be able to use these bots to help students develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills in a way that's engaging and easy to understand.

Virtual and Blended Learning: Learning Beyond the Classroom
The pandemic showed us how virtual learning can transform education, but it's more than just a temporary solution. Virtual learning offers flexibility for students who need to study at their own pace, and we can bring these benefits into traditional classrooms through blended learning. In a blended classroom, students can control aspects like the pace and path of their learning, making it easier to cater to individual needs or interests. You can read more about Blended Learning here: edtechbooks.org/encyclopedia/blended_teaching

Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Personalized Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another game-changer in education. Imagine a classroom where AI helps teachers personalize lessons for each student. AI can track student progress, identify learning gaps, and suggest tailored activities to help students succeed. From chatbots like ChatGPT to AI-based learning platforms, the possibilities are endless. AI can even facilitate the activities above by guiding Makerspace activities, providing coding challenges or learning about coding using the language you naturally speak, and by optimizing virtual and in-person learning.

Technology is not just changing education—it’s making learning more interactive, personalized, and engaging. As future educators, you have the opportunity to harness these tools to create engaging, innovative learning environments. So, get ready to embrace the future of teaching today by exploring more about The Teachers College at Emporia State University!

www.emporia.edu/teachers-college/

Slides for the ESU Future Educator Summit: Google Drive Ppt File
(docs.google.com/presentation/d/13YR90RcJUfdRKNhZnwgcpaM3qUTGmhYx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106061852616377032986&rtpof=true&sd=true)

The special edition eBook Research Highlights in Technology & Teacher Education, edited by Blankenship and Cherner  (2024) offers explorations of various topics at the intersection of technology and teaching.

Blankenship, R. & Cherner, T. (2024). Research Highlights in Technology & Teacher Education 2024 35th Anniversary Edition, Volume 2. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved September 9, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/224717/.

My chapter of the book, "Preparing P-12 Educators for Providing Technology-Mediated Personalized Instruction" offers insights into Personalized Learning (PL) practice and its role in modern K-12 education, particularly within blended learning environments. Through interviews with 62 K-12 teachers, the research sheds light on how educators implement PL strategies to address the diverse needs of their students. As highlighted, PL allows for flexibility in goals, time, place, pace, and path, enabling students to engage with content that is relevant to their individual learning profiles.

A critical insight from the research included the strategies that teachers use to effectively manage PL in classrooms where students may lack motivation or struggle with self-regulation. For example, one secondary science teacher explained how they helped students prioritize high-stakes assignments to improve their grades, making PL not only about personalized content but also about guiding students to focus on their individual academic growth. Another teacher emphasized the importance of starting small when implementing PL, allowing educators to gradually adapt to what works best for their classroom dynamics.

The study also revealed that PL requires careful scaffolding for students who may feel overwhelmed by too much freedom in their learning choices. One elementary teacher shared how they helped a student select a writing topic by narrowing down options in a guided yet personalized manner. This underscores a key takeaway: personalization does not equate to complete autonomy but instead involves strategic teacher support in decision-making.

The research findings have contributed to the development of several theoretical frameworks that can guide the implementation of personalized learning and blended learning, including the Personalized Learning Design Framework and the 4Es of Effective Blended Teaching. The Personalized Learning Design Framework provides a structured approach for educators to personalize instruction based on performance, activity, and learner profile data. It offers a taxonomy of learner agency that helps teachers scaffold learning from teacher-centered to increasingly student-centered practices. The example of the elementary student struggling with writing shows how this framework can be applied to tailor learning experiences to individual student needs.

Similarly, the 4Es of Effective Blended Teaching framework provides educators with criteria for evaluating blended learning practices. It encourages teachers to consider whether their instructional strategies enable, engage, elevate, and extend learning opportunities. These elements are critical in determining whether blended learning is effectively personalized and whether it can support students in developing real-world skills beyond traditional classroom constraints.

The research also sets the stage for future work in the field of PL, especially in understanding the affordances and constraints of personalized instruction. The chapter raises important questions about whether PL strategies can live up to their promise of advancing learning for all students and whether the costs of implementing such individualized practices are worth the effort for teachers and students alike. Additionally, the potential integration of artificial intelligence into PL is an emerging area of interest, offering the possibility of scalable personalized learning experiences that move beyond the traditional “one-size-fits-all” model.

Overall, the chapter provides valuable insights for educators seeking to implement PL in blended learning environments, offering practical strategies, theoretical frameworks, and future directions for research and practice in the field.

Chapter Citation:

Short, C. R. (2024). Preparing P-12 educators for providing technology-mediated personalized instruction. In Blankenship, R. J., & Cherner, T. (Eds). (2024). Research Highlights in Technology and Teacher Education Special Edition. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/224717/.