Dennis Pierce, Author at eSchool News

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The former editor of eSchool News, Dennis Pierce is now a freelance writer. He has spent the last 20 years as an education journalist covering issues such as national policy, school reform, and educational technology. Dennis has taught high school English, math, and SAT prep. He graduated cum laude from Yale University. He welcomes comments at dennisp@eschoolmedia.com.

Latest posts by Dennis Pierce (see all)

Can technology help schools prevent AI-based cheating? - April 14, 2023
How to ensure digital equity in online testing - July 6, 2022
‘Digital skills gap’ threatens innovation - May 30, 2022

Machine Learning in Education

Can technology help schools prevent AI-based cheating?

December 12, 2023April 14, 2023 by Dennis Pierce

In response to ChatGPT and similar tools, Turnitin has released new AI writing detection capabilities within its software

Since the public release of ChatGPT took the world by storm last fall, many educators have worried about students using the highly advanced, artificially intelligent chatbot for cheating…

DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access)

How to ensure digital equity in online testing

December 7, 2022July 6, 2022 by Dennis Pierce

If educators aren’t paying attention to digital equity, the integrity of online exam results could be called into question

As more high-stakes exams transition to an all-digital format, experts warn that students who are not as digitally literate as their peers could be placed at a disadvantage.

Digital Innovation

‘Digital skills gap’ threatens innovation

December 7, 2022May 30, 2022 by Dennis Pierce

Amid rapid workforce changes, schools need to reexamine instruction and address the alarming--and growing--digital skills gap.

The skills required for success in the new economy were already changing. Now, COVID has sped up these changes dramatically.

COVID-19 Update

Here’s the biggest mistake educators make with remote learning

January 7, 2021December 30, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

Education thought leader Alan November isn’t shy about discussing what he believes is a key misstep that many educators are making in shifting to web-based instruction during the…

District Management

5 ways to create a community of learners

August 27, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

Relationships are the foundation of learning. When students feel connected to their teacher and their peers, they’re more likely to thrive. How can teachers forge these connections within…

SEL & Well-Being

Teachers need emotional support this school year

August 20, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

At Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Orange County, Calif., students have been learning with digital devices since the Tustin Unified School District went 1:1 six years ago —…

District Management

Is it time to retire letter grades?

November 20, 2020July 23, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

The COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly disruptive to education, hindering instruction and other services for thousands — perhaps millions — of K-12 students across the United States. But…

District Management

Here’s why cyber security experts are concerned about remote learning

July 16, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned schools about an increase in ransomware attacks during the pandemic, with attackers ... Read more

Internet Connectivity

How to ensure home broadband access for every student

December 5, 2022July 9, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

When the coronavirus pandemic forced students into remote learning this past spring, many telecommunications companies stepped up to offer free or deeply discounted home broadband access to families…

District Management

How to make remote learning easily accessible

July 2, 2020July 2, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

When school starts again in the fall, it’s likely that a significant number of students will still be learning remotely. To make classrooms less crowded and prevent the…

SEL & Well-Being

Teachers need emotional support, too

June 25, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

At Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Orange County, Calif., students have been learning with digital devices since the Tustin Unified School District went 1:1 six years ago —…

COVID-19 Update

5 strategies for independent learning

June 18, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

Fifth-grade teacher Kim Voge has had students literally beg her to give them more writing assignments. As Jon Corippo, chief learning officer for the nonprofit group Computer-Using Educators…

District Management

Five ways to build a community of learners online

June 11, 2020June 11, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

5 ways to create a community of learners

Relationships are the foundation of learning. When students feel connected to their teacher and their peers, they’re more likely to thrive. How can teachers forge these connections within…

District Management

Here’s the biggest mistake educators are making with remote learning

June 4, 2020June 4, 2020 by Dennis Pierce

The pandemic has forced learning out of physical classrooms--and it presents a unique opportunity for educators across the globe

Education thought leader Alan November isn’t shy about discussing what he believes is a key misstep that many educators are making in shifting to web-based instruction during the…

5 ways to celebrate this year’s Hour of Code

December 6, 2019 by Dennis Pierce

The Hour of Code grows each year, and, most importantly, it gets more and more kids coding--join in, like this young girl programming.

The Hour of Code is a global movement by Computer Science Education Week and Code.org to teach students about coding and computer science. The event takes place during…

SEL & Well-Being

Mindfulness instruction makes a big impact on learning

November 21, 2019 by Dennis Pierce

Chicago teacher Quinlan O’Grady is preparing her students for success with video lessons that promote active learning through mindfulness instruction, as seen by this happy student in school.

Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, a neighborhood whose history of gun violence earned it the moniker “Chiraq,” can be traumatic for students. Many students come to school…

District Management

The digital learning challenge that still vexes schools

November 4, 2019 by Dennis Pierce

Finding real value in edtech is something schools continue to struggle with when it comes to digital learning--here’s why.

The latest Speak Up survey findings from Project Tomorrow reveal how far schools have come in making digital learning available to every student — and how far they…

3 key parts of a K-12 coding or robotics program

February 18, 2021October 4, 2019 by Dennis Pierce

Implementing a coding or robotics program can be challenging--here are key elements that can make the process easier, illustrated by these students working on a robotic arm.

K-12 teachers and administrators have been listening to policy makers and industry leaders warn of the need for computer science instruction, such as a coding or robotics program,…

Three key trends in robotics education

November 17, 2019October 2, 2019 by Dennis Pierce

A young girl works on a robot, illustrating the growth of robotics education in the nation.

Robots are hugely popular with kids. Want proof? Four of the 20 best-selling toys on Amazon during the 2018 holiday season were robots, robotics kits, or other electronic…

3 things to consider when introducing a K-12 coding or robotics program

June 26, 2019 by Dennis Pierce

Three students work on a science robotics project in school as they participate in a school's coding or robotics program.

K-12 teachers and administrators have been listening to policy makers and industry leaders warn of the need for computer science instruction in U.S. schools for years. And the…

El Paso uses digital textbooks for high school science

October 14, 2014 by By Lindsey Anderson, El Paso Times

digital-textbooks

This article is no longer available.

District Management

HP hopes its breakup will benefit schools

October 13, 2014 by From staff and wire reports

Innovations in mobile computing, 3D printing, and cloud services are what HP hopes to deliver to schools and other customers as a result of its decision this week…

District Management

Superintendents get new advice on ed-tech leadership

October 2, 2014October 2, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool Media

superintendents

Leading a school system in the digital age can be hard, but a major new resource from two professional organizations might help.

District Management

eRate changes aim to cut costs, boost efficiency

September 19, 2014September 16, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

Starting next year, eRate applicants will be able to see how much other schools are paying for similar kinds of services, under one of many changes designed to…

District Management

New discount method could help—or hurt—eRate applicants

December 26, 2014September 10, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

calculating-discount-rate

The FCC’s new eRate rules include important changes in how school districts must calculate their discount percentage. Some districts stand to benefit from these changes, while others could…

District Management

School eMail, Websites Hit by eRate Changes

May 11, 2019September 5, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

Beginning with the 2015 funding year, eMail, voice mail, and website hosting no longer will be eligible for eRate support. What will this change mean for schools?

District Management

Broadband pilots could serve as models for other states

August 28, 2014August 28, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

Arkansas and Virginia have teamed up with the San Francisco-based nonprofit EducationSuperHighway to design a cost-effective plan for meeting President Obama’s goal of ensuring broadband access for every…

District Management

eRate changes prompt new voice options for schools

September 4, 2014August 26, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

If the FCC has its way, the eRate no longer will support voice services within the next five years, including plain old telephone service, toll-free service, and even…

District Management

Top ed-tech stories to watch: From 1-to-1 to ‘one to many’

August 20, 2014 by From staff reports

No. 3 on our list of top ed-tech stories for the new school year is the trend toward students using many different devices while at school.

District Management

New eRate rules invite a new approach: Managed Wi-Fi

August 26, 2014August 19, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

The FCC’s extensive eRate overhaul includes a new type of eligible service, managed Wi-Fi, which could lead to more outsourced networks in K-12 schools.

Teaching Trends

FCC moves to modernize eRate

August 14, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Editorial Director

In a split decision along party lines, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to move ahead with a plan to modernize the eRate by increasing the amount…

District Management

A $5 billion bounty: How to use eRate support for Wi-Fi

August 12, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

The FCC’s new eRate rules set aside $5 billion over the next five years for the equipment needed to extend broadband access within schools and libraries, including wireless…

Teaching Trends

Teaching, testing with tablets a key theme at ISTE ’14

August 7, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Editorial Director

This year’s conference from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) was the biggest yet, with nearly 20,000 people convening in Atlanta June 28 to July 1…

District Management

Four special-education innovations from ISTE

July 22, 2014July 22, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Editorial Director, <a href='https://twitter.com/eSN_Dennis' target='_blank'>@eSN_Dennis</a>

special-education

A software program that can boost the memory and attention of students with disabilities, called the “most innovative medical advancement of 2012” by the National Institutes of Health,…

Shutterfly launches new education service

July 15, 2014July 14, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Editorial Director, <a href='https://twitter.com/eSN_Dennis' target='_blank'>@eSN_Dennis</a>

Shutterfly, the popular online service that enables users to create photo books, cards, and stationery and share these with their friends and family, has launched a new service…

District Management

New mobile devices for schools shown at ISTE

August 8, 2014July 14, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Editorial Director, <a href='https://twitter.com/eSN_Dennis' target='_blank'>@eSN_Dennis</a>

new-mobile-devices

School leaders now have more choices than ever when rolling out mobile devices for learning, and several of the latest devices for schools were on display at the…

District Management

FCC takes key step toward modernizing eRate

July 11, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Editorial Director, <a href='https://twitter.com/eSN_Dennis' target='_blank'>@eSN_Dennis</a>

In a split decision along party lines, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to move ahead with a plan to modernize the eRate by increasing the amount…

District Management

Fifty from ISTE: 50 new ed-tech services

July 9, 2014July 8, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Editorial Director, <a href='https://twitter.com/eSN_Dennis' target='_blank'>@eSN_Dennis</a>

This year’s conference from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) was the biggest yet, with nearly 20,000 people convening in Atlanta June 28 to July 1.…

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