Podcasts about setda

On this episode of Connected Nation, we tackle a topic impacting millions of students across the country — how to sustain digital access in K-12 education. As federal programs end, only 27% of states are ready to keep kids connected. Jessica Denson talks with Pam Lloyd, Ph.D., Strategic Advisor at Connected Nation, and Ji Soo Song, Director of Projects and Initiatives at SETDA, about a new report that outlines strategies to prevent students from falling behind. Together, they explore what must happen next to ensure every student has the online access they need to succeed — now and in the future.Recommended Links: SETDA Report - The Universal Connectivity ImperativeOpinion Piece: Time for State Ed-Tech Leaders to Take Matters Into Our Own HandsProduction Note: There were issues with downloading Ji Soo Song's audio file and we apologize for moments of low audio quality. 

What happens if schools lose access to critical funding for internet and network infrastructure? In this timely episode of Learning Can't Wait, host Hayley Spira-Bauer is joined by Jodie Buenning, a communications and policy expert, to break down what the E-Rate program is, why it's vital to public education, and what's at stake as a Supreme Court case looms that could reshape how E-Rate funds are used. Jodie shares a historical look at how E-Rate came to be and how it has supported everything from secure student access to online learning to equitable connectivity in rural schools. She emphasizes the importance of advocacy—encouraging superintendents, principals, and educators to raise their voices, share success stories, and reach out to local legislators. Jodie also offers advice for rural school leaders facing uncertainty: build strong community partnerships, stay connected with broadband providers, and prepare local contingency plans. With deep insight and a call to action, this episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of school connectivity and digital equity. Resources & Mentions: Education Week article: Schools Fear Funding Loss as Supreme Court Weighs E-Rate Case (March 20, 2025) CoSN, SETDA, ASCD: Education advocacy groups supporting E-Rate

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Lenovo, in association with Google for Education. You can access the webinar recording here.The digital divide continues across K-12 in terms of technology access, students' digital literacy, and platform accessibility. Listen to this edWeb podcast to learn about the findings of SETDA's recent Universal Connectivity Imperative Report and how to address the key issues underpinning students' and families' lack of technology access and digital literacy.After an overview of the report's key findings, our panel of education and industry experts discuss how school districts can move the needle on the digital divide when it comes to digital and AI literacy skills development, cybersecurity, and data privacy.This edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.LenovoLenovo EDU blends hardware, software and services to provide a comprehensive learning environment.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

How can technology drive systemic change in education? In this episode of Learning Can't Wait, we sit down with Julia Fallon, Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), to explore the evolving role of technology in modernizing schools. Julia shares insights on how policy, infrastructure, and leadership play a critical role in shaping the future of education. From digital equity to innovative learning environments, this conversation dives into the challenges and opportunities of integrating technology effectively in K-12 education. Tune in for an insightful discussion on what it takes to create lasting change in our schools—and why we can't afford to wait.

In a can't-miss conversation with host Jacob Hanson, Julia Fallon, the executive director at SETDA, delves into the evolving landscape of educational technology, offering valuable insights and actionable advice. She shares thoughts on: Cybersecurity's growing importance in K-12 education; Crisis communications for education companies; SETDA's role in edtech partnerships; and Market research and building community relationships. Julia's journey in educational technology spans more than three decades, beginning right after her undergrad years. Her enduring passion for the field is rooted in a never-ending curiosity about the transformative power of technology in education.  In the episode, she shares her experiences and discusses the benefits of companies working with SETDA, highlighting how the organization provides insights into state-level educational technology trends and policies. Finally, Jacob and Julia underscore the importance of companies preparing for potential cybersecurity threats and crises by developing comprehensive crisis communication plans.

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Julia Fallon. Julia, a self-described technology and learning alchemist, is the Executive Director of the nonprofit State Educational Technology Directors Association, where she works with U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders to empower the education community to leverage technology for learning, teaching, and school operations. Prior to joining SETDA, Julia worked for Washington state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for 17 years. In her free time, she runs the Crazy Idea Factory™.Some Questions We Ask:What is SETDA? (00:45)What have you discovered about state edtech trends? (05:43)What is your organization's Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative? (11:11)How does SETDA unify and elevate voices and messages? (15:04)What are your views on seeing AI and VR pop up everywhere? (19:15)What are your hopes for the future? (26:01)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Julia Fallon and SETDA (01:03)About cybersecurity and investments in devices and learning management systems (06:22)About the Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative with the Melinda Gates Foundation (11:18)SETDA's strategies as a learning community (15:39)Julia's perspectives on AI and VR (19:30)Her thoughts and hopes for the future (26:12)Quotes:“We really believe that states have a role to play. It depends on your state, though, of course—because everybody talks about local control. And that means different things for different regions. But the idea is how can you leverage what other states have already done so you don't have to start from scratch.”“Technology is here to automate. Had we had the pandemic 10 years ago, think about video conferencing! It used to be like, you had a book a room, and then 14 people got involved, and the thing got plugged in, and you had to show up somewhere. And now I'm in my house talking to people around the world.”“ [The pandemic] highlighted a lot of the gaps that we had and the reality that there are communities we haven't served and we didn't serve well. And now there are different ways to serve them.”Connect with Julia:SETDA WebsiteSETDA TwitterJulia Fallon's LinkedInJulia Fallon's TwitterResources Mentioned:”Human Work In the Age of Smart Machines” by Jamie Merisotis”The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization” by Thomas L. Friedman Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

Shawn Young is a co-founder and CEO of Classcraft, the Engagement Management System for schools. Since its launch, Classcraft has gained incredible traction with educators worldwide, providing tools to gamify their classrooms. Shawn taught 11th-grade physics for nine years, holds a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's in education from Université de Sherbrooke, and is also a seasoned web developer. Shawn sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for UNESCO's MGIEP, sits on the corporate advisory board for Future Ready Schools New Jersey, sits on the corporate advisory board for SETDA, is the vice-president of the Edteq Association and is an Ambassador for the Education faculty of the University of Sherbrooke. Shawn is interested in how we can create a community in the classroom and how playful principles can help teach the whole child. How to Connect with Shawn: Email: shawn@classcraft.com Website: https://classcraft.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/classcraftgame Instagram: https://instagram.com/classcraftgame Facebook: https://facebook.com/classcraftgame LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/shawnyoung1/ How to connect with Benita G. Email: theeduconciergepodcast@gmail.com Website: https://www.podpage.com/the-education-concierge-1/ YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@chatwiththeeduconcierge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeducationconciergepodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeduconcierge --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/educationconcierge/message

In this episode of Build Momentum, Sarah and Katie are joined by Julia Fallon. Julia, a self-described technology and learning alchemist, is the Executive Director of the nonprofit State Educational Technology Directors Association, where she works with U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders to empower the education community to leverage technology for learning, teaching, and school operations. Prior to joining SETDA, Julia worked for Washington state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for 17 years. In her free time, she runs the Crazy Idea Factory™.Some Questions We Ask:What is SETDA? (00:45)What have you discovered about state edtech trends? (05:43)What is your organization's Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative? (11:11)How does SETDA unify and elevate voices and messages? (14:33)What are your views on seeing AI and VR pop up everywhere? (18:44)What are your hopes for the future? (25:30)In This Episode, You Will Learn:All about Julia Fallon and SETDA (01:03)About cybersecurity and investments in devices and learning management systems (06:22)About the Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative with the Melinda Gates Foundation (11:18)SETDA's strategies as a learning community (15:07)Julia's perspectives on AI and VR (18:59)Her thoughts and hopes for the future (25:41)Quotes:“We really believe that states have a role to play. It depends on your state, though, of course—because everybody talks about local control. And that means different things for different regions. But the idea is how can you leverage what other states have already done so you don't have to start from scratch.”“Technology is here to automate. Had we had the pandemic 10 years ago, think about video conferencing! It used to be like, you had a book a room, and then 14 people got involved, and the thing got plugged in, and you had to show up somewhere. And now I'm in my house talking to people around the world.”“ [The pandemic] highlighted a lot of the gaps that we had and the reality that there are communities we haven't served and we didn't serve well. And now there are different ways to serve them.”Connect with Julia:SETDA WebsiteSETDA TwitterJulia Fallon's LinkedInJulia Fallon's TwitterResources Mentioned:”Human Work In the Age of Smart Machines” by Jamie Merisotis”The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization” by Thomas L. Friedman  Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:Free Case Study GuideWebsiteLinkedInStay in touch with Katie Lash:LinkedInAbout "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:Transformational Leadership Secret websitePurchase the print or ebook

This edWeb podcast is sponsored by SETDA. The webinar recording can be accessed here.  Utah has been an education lighthouse for many years in implementing supports for high-quality instruction. Listen to this edWeb podcast to learn about the keys to success in Utah, showcasing their multi-year, aligned support system. Learn how they developed and implemented a vision for their Portrait of a Graduate and explore the frameworks, grant structures, and aligned professional learning that the state rolled out for its Digital Teaching and Learning work, followed by the Personalized and Competency-Based Framework for teaching and learning.This recorded edWeb podcast is of interest to K-12 school and district leaders, education technology leaders, and state leaders.SETDA SETDA is the principal association representing U.S. state and territorial edtech leaders.Learn more about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.

This Week in Canadian EdTech MindShareTV with Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA, Celebrating 20 Years at their Recent Forum in D.C.

SETDA presents NEW RESOURCES FOR COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING  Dr. Jason Bailey of The State Ed Tech Directors Association is joined  by Dr. Tara Nattrass of Dell Technologies and  Donna Murray, Ed tech consultant to the North Carolina  Dept of Education. We mentioned https://blendedpcbl.org for more on blended competency based learning *****************************  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT for TEACHER RETENTION, TEACHER HAPPINESS, TEACHER RECRUITMENT for your district : Excellent VIRTUAL district wide PD that is proven to make an immediate difference is now offered by our  AMERICAN CONSORTIUM FOR EQUITY IN EDUCATION. Teachers love it. Administrators praise it. Learn more here

SETDA presents NEW RESOURCES FOR COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING  Dr. Jason Bailey of The State Ed Tech Directors Association is joined  by Dr. Tara Natrass of Dell Technologies and  Donna Murray, Ed tech consultant to the North Carolina  Dept of Education. We mentioned https://blendedpcbl.org for more on blended competency based learning *****************************  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT for TEACHER RETENTION, TEACHER HAPPINESS, TEACHER RECRUITMENT for your district : Excellent VIRTUAL district wide PD that is proven to make an immediate difference is now offered by our  AMERICAN CONSORTIUM FOR EQUITY IN EDUCATION. Teachers love it. Administrators praise it. Learn more here

THE SETDA CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY COLLABORATIVE  Thank you SETDA...with Doug Levin, creator of the K12 Cyber Incident Map and Don Ringlestein CTO at Maine Township District 207 in IL and Bud Hunt SETDA's Director of Projects and Initiatives LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AT WWW.ACE-ED.ORG WHERE YOU CAN VIEW OUR MAGAZINE "EQUITY & ACCESS",  AND LINK TO OUR SEL RESOURCE CENTER AT SELTODAY.ORG OR LEARN ABOUT THE EDUCATOR SHORTAGE ....WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY MORE GREAT TEACHERS OR ADMINSITRATORS , AT TEACHER-RETENTION.COM

THE SETDA CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY COLLABORATIVE  Thank you SETDA...with Doug Levin, creator of the K12 Cyber Incident Map and Don Ringlestein CTO at Maine Township District 207 in IL and Bud Hunt SETDA's Director of Projects and Initiatives LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO AT WWW.ACE-ED.ORG WHERE YOU CAN VIEW OUR MAGAZINE "EQUITY & ACCESS",  AND LINK TO OUR SEL RESOURCE CENTER AT SELTODAY.ORG OR LEARN ABOUT THE EDUCATOR SHORTAGE ....WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY MORE GREAT TEACHERS OR ADMINSITRATORS , AT TEACHER-RETENTION.COM

 ED TECH ...FROM THE STATE LEVEL!   SETDA and DIGITAL EQUITY.............. Our guest is Award winning Educator of the Year Julia Benincosa Legg , the State E-rate and ECF Coordinator for the WV Department of Education for the last 17 years; 25th year in education; SETDA Board Member and SLY Winner 2021...How the state influences your school district's ed tech!   FOR MORE ON EQUITY VISIT ACE-ED.ORG. FOR MORE ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, VISIT SELTODAY.ORG Did you know you can subscribe to Education Talk Radio on Apple Podcasts? Find us on your device & add us to your library of shows! https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id403710198      

 ED TECH ...FROM THE STATE LEVEL!   SETDA and DIGITAL EQUITY.............. Our guest is Award winning Educator of the Year Julia Benincosa Legg , the State E-rate and ECF Coordinator for the WV Department of Education for the last 17 years; 25th year in education; SETDA Board Member and SLY Winner 2021...How the state influences your school district's ed tech!   FOR MORE ON EQUITY VISIT ACE-ED.ORG. FOR MORE ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, VISIT SELTODAY.ORG Did you know you can subscribe to Education Talk Radio on Apple Podcasts? Find us on your device & add us to your library of shows! https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id403710198      

Never has there been so great of a disruption in education than the past school year. Likewise, never has there been such an opportunity going forward, according to Keith Kreuger, CEO for the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). In this episode, Keith follows the money and lays out specific steps the industry can take to ensure that lofty ideas like digital equity and personalized learning turn into practical realities as soon as possible.More than 80 education technology leaders from 37 states this spring virtually for meetings in Washington, D.C. with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of Education (ED) policymakers to discuss their COVID-19 pandemic experiences and advocate for actionable policies that support digital learning.This was the second of a two-part 2021 virtual advocacy fly-in and happened just as President Biden announced a more than 40 percent increase in ED base funding as part of his $1.5 trillion budget and schools across the country prepare to utilize the $7.1 billion that was allocated to the FCC for a new Emergency Connectivity Fund in the latest COVID-19 relief package.In the first part during February, participants spoke with Members of Congress and their staff about how to safely transition to a post-pandemic world, connect all students and close the “homework gap,” fund professional development to help educators leverage technology for learning, and protect student data privacy. The conversation continued on Wednesday, April 14, as the group met with the FCC regarding student connectivity needs and talked to senior ED staff about the implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) and annual funding to support digital learning.Key outcomes from these discussions include:Federal leaders learned about state and local strategies and need to connect students to broadband and equip them with learning devices during, and beyond, the pandemic;Summit participants learned about the ED's plans for supporting the implementation of the ARP; andCollaboration among local, state, and federal leaders to meet students' and educators' digital learning needs increased.“We are thrilled to see Congress, the Department of Education and the FCC taking action to help close the homework chasm that students and teachers nationwide continue to face. Our virtual fly-in participants were keen to discuss everything from student data privacy to professional development funding with these key policymakers to help shape edtech policy moving forward and advocate for equitable access to advanced learning technologies,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN.“The American Rescue Plan's investment in the education system and the President's FY22 budget request provide an unprecedented opportunity for leaders and educators to envision a new, post-pandemic era that leverages technology as an essential vehicle for effective learning and equitable supports. ISTE, our partner organizations and virtual fly-in participants look forward to continuing to collaborate with federal policymakers on these issues,” said Ji Soo Song, Senior Policy Advisor at ISTE.“Connecting all students and teachers to digital learning opportunities — no matter where they live — has been, and will remain, a top priority for SETDA's members. Now more than ever, we need strong local-state-federal partnerships focused on closing the digital divide once and for all. Our members deeply appreciate this invaluable annual opportunity to exchange ideas with SETDA's school district and federal partners,” said Julia Fallon, Executive Director of SETDA.“SIIA and our education technology member companies are thrilled to partner with CoSN, ISTE and SEDTA to bring our real-world experiences of the past year to Congress, the Department of Education and the Federal Communications Commission. Throughout the pandemic, our members stepped up to provide the tools to facilitate the rapid switch to distance learning, the transition to hybrid learning and the switch to safe learning in the classroom. We are thankful that policymakers have been so responsive to the needs of learners, educators and edtech providers by passing the American Rescue Plan and other relief bills over the past year. We look forward to continued collaboration as these laws are implemented and we address longstanding inequities exacerbated by the pandemic,” said SIIA President Jeff Joseph.This year's annual summit, led by CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking), ISTE (the International Society for Technology in Education), SETDA (the State Educational Technology Directors Association) and SIIA (the Software & Information Industry Association), took place virtually for the second year in a row due to the impact of COVID-19.

a SETDA show :  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT REMOTE TEACHING :The State Ed Tech Directors Association brings us the one and only Christine Fox, their Ass't Executive Director  and special guest  Dr Jason Roseberry CIO of FiveStar Technology on a program originally designed for Indiana educators to help them gain the skills for online teaching. JOIN THE PREK-12 EQUITY CONSORTIUM ...DO IT TODAY...FREE TO EDUCATORS AT ACE-ED.ORG

a SETDA show :  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT REMOTE TEACHING :The State Ed Tech Directors Association brings us the one and only Christine Fox, their Ass't Executive Director  and special guest  Dr Jason Roseberry CIO of FiveStar Technology on a program originally designed for Indiana educators to help them gain the skills for online teaching. JOIN THE PREK-12 EQUITY CONSORTIUM ...DO IT TODAY...FREE TO EDUCATORS AT ACE-ED.ORG

LEADERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATION  IN AN  ED TECH AGE ...A SETDA show ... with Julia Fallon from the Washington State Department of Ed  and works daily to improved  the quality of instruction and administration as the Program Lead for TIIA.She is a Past Chair of SET DA

LEADERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATION  IN AN  ED TECH AGE ...A SETDA show ... with Julia Fallon from the Washington State Department of Ed  and works daily to improved  the quality of instruction and administration as the Program Lead for TIIA.She is a Past Chair of SET DA

SETDA presents THE BROADBAND IMPERATIVE: DRIVING CONNECTIVITY, ACCESS AND STUDENT SUCCESS ... SETDA Deputy Executive Director Christine Fox joins us to explain this incredible and useful program for K-12

SETDA presents THE BROADBAND IMPERATIVE: DRIVING CONNECTIVITY, ACCESS AND STUDENT SUCCESS ... SETDA Deputy Executive Director Christine Fox joins us to explain this incredible and useful program for K-12

A SETDA SHOW   EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP  IN THE DIGITAL AGE : Executive Director of The State Ed Tech Director's Association, Candice Dodson is our very special guest.

A SETDA SHOW   EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP  IN THE DIGITAL AGE : Executive Director of The State Ed Tech Director's Association, Candice Dodson is our very special guest.

Personalized learning has been an education buzzword for several years. A recent survey of by the state education technology directors association, or SETDA, put personalized learning at the top of the list of state priorities. But how do school leaders really do personalized learning? A new book offers something like a step-by-step manual. It’s called Pathways to Personalization: A Framework for School Change, written by two long-time school innovators, Cathy Sanford and by our guest today, Shawn Rubin. Rubin spent 10 years in the classroom, and he has been the Chief Education officer at the HIghlander Institute since 2011, and has led personalized learning efforts in Rhode Island schools. He designed the Highlander Institute’s “Fuse” program, which trains educators to lead personalized learning in schools and districts. His new book offers a five-step framework to help school leaders and teacher teams design and implement blended and personalized learning initiatives based on local needs and interests. EdSurge sat down with Rubin during the EdSurge Fusion conference in October, to talk about his book and what he’s learned about personalized learning.

SETDA BRINGS US A DISCUSSION ON HOW EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS WORK WITH THE EDUCATION BUSINESS  with Missy Greene of SETDA and Pat Leonard of Midas Education

SETDA BRINGS US A DISCUSSION ON HOW EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS WORK WITH THE EDUCATION BUSINESS  with Missy Greene of SETDA and Pat Leonard of Midas Education

THE ED-FI ALLIANCE & SETDA  SETDA's Execuitve Director Tracy Weeks is joined by ED-FI's Maureen Wentworth.Ed-FI is a non-profit that empowers educators with comprehensive data  that is secure, accurate and actionable

THE ED-FI ALLIANCE & SETDA  SETDA's Execuitve Director Tracy Weeks is joined by ED-FI's Maureen Wentworth.Ed-FI is a non-profit that empowers educators with comprehensive data  that is secure, accurate and actionable

ED TECH WITH SETDA .   QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS YOU CAN USE....SETDA  Deputy Executive Director Christine Fox is joined by Utah educator  Alan Griffin, currently Curriculum Content Specialist at the Utah Sate DOE

ED TECH WITH SETDA .   QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS YOU CAN USE....SETDA  Deputy Executive Director Christine Fox is joined by Utah educator  Alan Griffin, currently Curriculum Content Specialist at the Utah Sate DOE

"A REALLY BIG SHOW' ( as Ed Sullivan used to say)  ON ED TECH WITH SETDA, COSN AND ISTE Tracy Weeks of SETDA , Keith Krueger of COSN and  Joseph South of ISTE on  the Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Summit March 14 and 15. Thanks to SETDA for setting up this show.

"A REALLY BIG SHOW' ( as Ed Sullivan used to say)  ON ED TECH WITH SETDA, COSN AND ISTE Tracy Weeks of SETDA , Keith Krueger of COSN and  Joseph South of ISTE on  the Ed Tech Advocacy and Policy Summit March 14 and 15. Thanks to SETDA for setting up this show.

SETDA on DIGITAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS  FOR LEARNING From the State  Association of Ed Tech Directors, Christine Fox on supporting the shift to digital materials. Presented by DISCOVERY EDUCATION

SETDA on DIGITAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS  FOR LEARNING From the State  Association of Ed Tech Directors, Christine Fox on supporting the shift to digital materials. Presented by DISCOVERY EDUCATION

ADVCATE ADVOCATE ADVOCATE

ADVCATE ADVOCATE ADVOCATE

THE BROADBAND IMPERATIVE SETDA's Executive Director Dr Tracey Weeks joins us with Jim Spillane, Director of Public Policy at SPRINT Presented by Funds For Learning

SETDA ON THE DIGITAL AGE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING We happily welcome Tracy Weeks, Executive Director and Candice Dodson,  Director of E Learning at the Indiana Department of Education.

Dr. Tracy Weeks (@tracyweeks)  is the Executive Director for the State Educational Technology Director's Association (SETDA). Prior to joining the team at SETDA, she served as the Chief Academic and Digital Learning Officer for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the first senior state leadership position of its kind in the nation. In that role, Dr. Weeks oversaw the areas of: K-12 Curriculum and Instruction, Career and Technical Education, Exceptional Children, and the North Carolina Virtual Public School. She also served as the state agency lead on the development of the North Carolina Digital Learning Plan. From 2008-2014, Tracy led the North Carolina Virtual Public School, the second largest state-led virtual school in the nation, as the Chief Academic Officer and subsequently the Executive Director. She holds a bachelors degree in Secondary Math Education from UNC-Chapel Hill, a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology with a Statistics minor and a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from NC State University. She is a NC Teaching Fellow, NC Education Policy Fellow, and a member of Phi Kappa Phi. In this episode we discussed: the importance of high speed internet in schools. challenges school districts are facing when it comes to providing high speed internet in classrooms. how to use school broadband resources to enhance access to broadband outside of the classroom. recommendations for ensuring schools have appropriate infrastructure to accommodate growing demand for broadband bandwidth. Resources: SETDA Slack Mindset by Carol Dweck Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson   NEWS A large scale DDOS attack affected a large number of important and widely used sites on Friday, causing users to lose access to sites like Spotify, SoundCloud, Twitter and Shopify. The way these attacks usually work is that a hacker will overwhelm a particular site with junk traffic. However, in between the URL you enter into your browser, and the site's IP address, are what are known as DNS providers that route you to where you want to go. This time, the attack was made on one of those DNS providers--a company called Dyn--making the hack even worse and more widespread affecting many different sites instead of just a single one. In addition, the hack was executed by aggregating notoriously insecure Internet of Things devices, like home security cameras, into botnets. The White House says the Department of Homeland Security is looking into the breach. To make things even creepier, one security researcher told Techcrunch that the attack looks more like probing-- a deliberate attempt to test the defense capabilities of the sites. Darrell Etherington has the story in TechCrunch. ---- AT&T has agreed to buy Time Warner Cable in an $85.4 billion deal. The deal comes amidst a wave of consolidation in the media industry, including Comcast's acquisition of NBCUNiversal and Verizon's acquisition of Huffington Post and proposed acquisition of Yahoo. AT&T also recently acquired DirectTV for $48.5 billion. Time Warner's media properties include HBO, CNN, TNT and TBS. Michael De La Merced has the story for The New York Times. ---- A new study by Girls who Code and Accenture finds that, without significant intervention by educators, parents and policymakers, the proportion of computer scientists in the workforce who are women will decline from 24% to 22% by 2025. The proportion of women computer sciences has fallen from 37% in 1995. The report is optimistic, however, and concludes that women could account for 39% of computer scientists by 2025 if appropriate measures are taken. Jessica Guynn has the story in USA Today. ---- A Russian hacker suspected of intruding into American targets has been arrested in Prague, but the authorities have not released the suspect's name. But American officials familiar with the matter, but who asked for anonymity, told Ricky Lyman and Hana de Goeij at the New York Times that the suspect has not been linked to Russian intrusions into the Democratic National Committee. Two weeks ago, the Obama administration officially accused Russia of attempting to sway the U.S. elections by hacking into the DNC. ---- There is a sex scandal at the FCC. Fred Campbell at Forbes reports that a female employee working in the Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO), which works to increase opportunities for minorities and women working in the telecommunications sector, was subjected to her male co-workers watching porn in the office. When she complained to her boss, Thomas Reed, the employee's complaint alleges that she was given lower quality assignments. An Inspector General's report into the employee's complaint conducted in 2012, which we're just finding out about now, concluded that watching porn, and the agency's subsequent response to it, violated various ethical and administrative rules. And Still, as Fred Cambpell at Forbes reports, the FCC did nothing outside of forcing the employee watching porn to resign. The FCC's legal team even attempted to dismiss the employee's case in federal court--a court that found that the employee had been subjected to “discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, and insult”. Fred Campbell has the story in Forbes. ---- Finally, The Center for Responsive Politics reported last week that Silicon Valley-based tech companies are outspending Wall Street on lobbying activities in DC by more than 2 to 1. According to the Center, Silicon Valley spent $49 million on lobbyists last year compared to just $19.7 million for the five largest banks. Seleha Moshin has the story for Bloomberg.

Our guest for this episode is actually a returning guest: Christine Fox, Director of Educational Leadership and Research of the State Educational Technology Directors Association, or SETDA. Christine shares with us some great new resources exploring the shift in different states to digital instructional materials, and we talk about how the project was conceived and what its goals are. You can view the paper, Navigating the Digital Shift, and its accompanying resources at http://www.setda.org/priorities/digital-content/navigating-the-shift/

In this episode, we talk with Christine Fox, the Director of Educational Leadership and Research for SETDA. Christine and her team face a lot of challenges in a constantly changing setting, as the policy landscape is always shifting in each state where her member constituents reside. Being able to support their diverse needs is a big priority for SETDA. On the research side, she works closely with the state leader membership as well as district leaders for large data collection efforts and to find out what sorts of needs administrators and practitioners are facing in the area of technology. You can find the Guide to Implementing Digital Learning, which we talk about briefly in the interview, at http://digitallearning.setda.org/

 SETDA DIRECTOR DOUG LEVIN IS OUR GUEST