High-school teachers are adopting audiobooks to engage students with classics like "The Odyssey," acknowledging the benefits of accessibility and immersive experiences. While some educators still debate the role of audiobooks in education, the growing popularity and research-supported benefits suggest audiobooks could be a valuable tool to improve student engagement and comprehension.

Some educators say there are positives related to social media in the lives of students, especially when considering the potential for self-directed learning and creative expression. Despite mixed views about the usefulness of social media platforms, 30% of educators participating in a survey by the EdWeek Research Center say the technology offers students an opportunity to learn about topics unavailable in their schools.

Several online learning providers are utilizing a range of tech platforms to monitor and enhance student engagement. The University of Maryland Global Campus has adopted student engagement platform Advantage to offer virtual student orientation and connect students with support services, while Grayson College has partnered with instructional design company iDesign to boost student participation and discussion in online courses.

A Michigan education coalition, led by the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute, has released guidelines to assist educators in navigating the integration of generative AI tools into their teaching practices. By addressing concerns such as data privacy, cheating prevention and ethical considerations, the guidelines are intended to empower educators to utilize AI effectively in the classroom while safeguarding students and their interests.

A limited pilot program by the nonprofit Code.org and Stanford University has yielded promising results by cutting grading time in half for Aimee Knaus, a middle-school computer science teacher in Wisconsin. Knaus is among teachers who have been participating in the pilot program, which is being offered by the nonprofit for more teachers to experiment with in their classrooms.

Eric Loeb of Salesforce looks at ways the tech industry can move closer to gender equality, including preventing gender bias in AI use. Promoting skills training for women and programs such as IBM's STEM for Girls can open career pathways and equal opportunity, Loeb writes.