Recorded live from the ATLIS Annual Conference 2024 in Reno, Nevada, this episode features a keynote address by National Business Officers Association President and CEO, Jeff Shields. Jeff broaches a number of topics including the crucial role of technology leaders in aligning IT solutions with the school's strategic plan, providing professional development, and leveraging online learning to increase the value proposition of independent schools. He also emphasizes the need for collaboration and strong working relationships among school leaders to address complex challenges, and the importance of adopting a more sustainable business model to manage risks such as data security.

Resources

• National Business Officers Association
• Slide deck from Jeff’s keynote address

The group talked about Molly Rumsey's career path, her time at a single-gender school, and why it's special. They also discussed what a CIO does each day, especially when managing tech across many buildings. They touched on Molly's school’s views on AI and her work with the ATLIS board, noting how she sees the organization benefiting its community. Lastly, they shared examples of projects that didn't go as planned and how they were handled.

Resources

• Harpeth Hall School
• Green Hills area of Nashville, TN
• GAM - command line tool for Google Workspace Admins
• ATLIS Pillar Awards
• My Cousin Vinny

The conversation revolved around the growing importance of cybersecurity in the legal profession and the need for specialized knowledge in this area. Speakers emphasized the importance of engaging with attorneys early on during cybersecurity incidents to maintain the attorney-client privilege and leverage the cybersecurity team's experience. They also discussed the integration of AI in education, with concerns about the black box of AI and ownership issues. Finally, speakers discussed the importance of evaluating online services' privacy policies and contracts, and the ethical and legal considerations surrounding educational technology.

Resources

• Polsinelli Law Firm
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
• Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
• ChatGPT
• Navigating Cyber Threats in Education with Ankura's Bob Olsen, past TTWA Episode
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
• Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL)

With guest, Susan Baldridge, executive director of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)

This conversation revolved around the importance of alignment, community, and collaboration in successful change initiatives in independent schools. Also discussed was the transformation of boarding schools in North America, exploring diverse approaches, the significance of residential programs, and the challenges and opportunities facing these institutions. Finally, our hosts and guest shared their insights on effective leadership strategies in education, emphasizing the importance of building a strong base of knowledge and skills, avoiding mandates, and including marginalized voices in leadership positions.

Resources

• The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
• The College Stress Test: Tracking Institutional Futures across a Crowded Market, by Susan Baldridge et al.
• Middlebury College
• International Boys School Coalition
• Reach, student life management
• The Work of Leaders, by Julie Straw, et al.
• Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Memphis, TN

Eric Hudson has spent his career teaching teachers how to use technology for instruction and reach students from a long distance away. This episode explores how Eric became a thought leader in the space of AI and education, the current relationship between teachers and AI, and where independent schools are struggling and achieving when it comes to preparing students for a future with AI.

Resources

• Learning on Purpose (Substack newsletter)
• Global Online Academy
• Stanford University Human-centered Artificial Intelligence
• Ethan Mollick, associate professor at The Wharton School
• Diffusion of Innovations theory by Everett Rogers
• Denise Pope, senior lecturer at Stanford University
• AI Resource Guide for Independent School Trustees, published by ATLIS, NAIS, and ISCA

Michael Lomuscio grew up homeless in New Jersey, and today he’s a dean at one of Hawaii’s top independent schools. Learn how the journey shaped his unique perspective about how K-12 education can play a critical role in any young person’s future. Also hear about progressive approaches to STEM and applied learning, as well as finding grace with AI. 

Resources

• ‘Iolani School
• Bill Stites’ personal photos from ‘Iolani visit
• Berry College
• Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
• Arduino
• Raspberry Pi
• The R Project for Statistical Computing
• Fullstack Educator (resources and podcast)
• Hudson Harper episode of Talking Technology with ATLIS
• “pau hana”

This episode is brought to you by Toddle.

Our first podcast crossover episode! Meet the hosts of the Learning Through Technology podcast, Alex Inman and Bob Cireddu, as we share stories about our most valuable lessons learned, favorite guests, and interesting episodes from our two podcasts about technology in schools.

Resources

• Learning Through Technology Podcast
• Educational Collaborators
• EduTech Group
• STS Education
• The Princess Bride

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Join members of the ATLIS team as they offer a glimpse into what it's like to attend the ATLIS Annual Conference and what people can expect at this year's event, April 7-10, in Reno, Nevada.

Resources

• ATLIS Annual Conference 2024
• CIRIS Annual Summit 2024
• Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (TLIS) Certification
• ATLIS Leadership Institute

Mentioned in this episode:

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Developed by experienced educators, Toddle streamlines curriculum planning, projects & portfolios, assessments & reports, and online learning - all from one great platform!

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This episode is brought to you by Toddle.

Tim's work as a leader with the National Association of Independent Schools provides him with frequent exposure to schools and how they take innovative approaches to technology and learning, examples of which he discusses in this episode. Tim and the hosts also talk about "productive struggle", keeping things simple, and seeing AI not for what it does but for what using it then allows us to do (with the time AI can save us). Themes of partnership and relationship emerge throughout the conversation.

Tim’s AI-produced sketches, from his Camino de Santiago experience

Resources

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
• McDonogh School; Baltimore, MD
• Camino de Santiago, network of annual pilgrimages across Spain
• Good to Great, book by Jim Collins
• Matthew Barzun, author of The Power of Giving Away Power and concept of “constellation”
• Jenny Wallace, podcast host and author concerning achievement culture
• Contact, film starring Jodie Foster
• Clay Shirky - “the problem is filter failure, not information overload”
• ChatGPT, AI tool from OpenAI
• DALL-E3, AI artwork tool from OpenAI
• Sugata Mitra - a computer should be a partner in the conversation
• How to Eat Fried Worms, book by Thomas Rockwell
• Crossroads College Prep; St Louis, MO; “5th Day” concept
• NAIS People of Color Conference (POCC)
• NAIS Annual Conference
• One Stone school; Boise, ID; students are heavily involved in school administration
• Forest School; Atlanta, GA; self-directed learning
• Understanding by Design, concept by Jay McTighe
• Typing Tutor, ‘90s software for teaching typing
• Dunkin Donuts, part of walk n’ talk ritual

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Learn more about Toddle

Developed by experienced educators, Toddle streamlines curriculum planning, projects & portfolios, assessments & reports, and online learning - all from one great platform!

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Developed by experienced educators, Toddle streamlines curriculum planning, projects & portfolios, assessments & reports, and online learning - all from one platform.

Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Toddle

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This episode is brought to you by Veracross and Toddle.

The Downtown School is a small school that takes a unique approach to school management – all faculty and staff also serve an administrative role. In addition to a strong sense of ownership, the approach lends to an immersion in school data by everyone, leading to better strategy and positive outcomes.

Data security is especially critical, including when using AI to assist with data analysis (though there are ways to do so responsibly, e.g., via API and special arrangements with the AI providers).

The model is scalable (e.g., a department could adopt this approach as opposed to the entire school) as well as flexible.

Also discussed was the work of the Center for Institutional Research at Independent Schools (CIRIS) and new AI-related initiatives they have coming.

Resources

• Harpertech.io
• The Downtown School
• CIRIS
• Data-Informed Decision Making: A Guide to Institutional Research in Independent Schools
• Canvas by Instructure
• ChatGPT
• Claude AI
• FERPA
• COPPA
• NAIS events
• ATLIS AI Resource Hub
• ATLIS content - AI
• ATLIS content - Independent School Governance and Leadership
• Visit Seattle

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