SmartBrief on EdTech
Researchers find benefits, challenges of cellphone bans | Student surveys offer actionable insights for educators | Online consortium brings HBCU courses to wider audience
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June 30, 2025
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Researchers find benefits, challenges of cellphone bans
(Dobrila Vignjevic/Getty Images)
A study by Brigette Whaley, an associate professor at West Texas A&M University, examines a yearlong "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban at a Texas high school, finding that it improved student engagement and reduced classroom management issues. Teachers reported that students were less anxious and more focused, although consistent enforcement was challenging.
Full Story: Education Week (6/25) 
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Digital Learning
Student surveys offer actionable insights for educators
(Pixabay)
Teachers are increasingly using online survey tools such as Google Forms to gather student perspectives, which can reveal valuable insights and challenge assumptions, says Damian Bebell of Boston College. By leveraging this feedback, teachers can better understand students' experiences and improve their teaching methods, Bebell says.
Full Story: Education Week (6/26) 
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Four historically Black colleges and universities, led by Delaware State University, have collaborated to create eHBCU, an online portal offering 23 degree programs and 35 certifications. The initiative aims to make HBCU education accessible to a broader audience, particularly working adults and those who have started but not completed college. The portal also features industry mentorship and a virtual community, enhancing the educational experience.
Full Story: Government Technology (6/26) 
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Systems Management
Ulster BOCES is transforming a former IBM campus in Kingston, N.Y., into the Ulster BOCES Career Pathways Academies at iPark 87, a hub for career and technical education and community engagement. Slated to open in the fall, the facility will offer internships, mentorships and workforce housing, as well as serve as a model for integrating education with industry and community needs.
Full Story: SmartBrief/Education (6/26) 
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Most Read by Education Leaders
The most-clicked stories of the past week by SmartBrief on EdTech readers.
Managing Budgets
The Education Department has reversed a decision that canceled spending extensions for federal K-12 pandemic relief, allowing all states to request reimbursements for preapproved funds under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program. The change follows a preliminary injunction that permitted 16 states and Washington, D.C., to continue accessing funds.
Full Story: K-12 Dive (6/27) 
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Last Byte
At Cannes Lions 2025, the creative industry embraced AI as a practical tool that accelerates and enhances the creative process rather than replacing human ingenuity. Leaders from Apple, TikTok, and Meta emphasized that AI should be seen as a co-pilot, providing efficiency and scalability while allowing creatives to focus on original thinking and emotional resonance. The shift from seeing AI as a novelty to treating it as a partner was evident, with new tools positioned to empower, not supplant, human imagination.
Full Story: The Drum (free registration) (6/27) 
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SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Gustave Flaubert's novel, "Salammbo," takes place in Carthage, a city that once rivaled Rome. In what country is Carthage?
VoteIndia
VoteMacedonia
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I saw that my life was a vast glowing empty page and I could do anything I wanted.
Jack Kerouac,
poet, writer
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