Top 10 Education IT Events in 2026 

As educational institutions continue to navigate rapid technological transformation, staying connected with the latest innovations and best practices has never been more critical. From K-12 districts implementing next-generation cybersecurity solutions to higher education institutions leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance student outcomes, education technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace.   
Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Education IT Solutions Provider™, partners with leading technology providers to deliver comprehensive solutions that bridge the digital divide and empower educators, administrators and students alike. Throughout 2026, the education community will gather at events nationwide to explore emerging technologies, share successful strategies and forge partnerships that will shape the future of learning. Below are the key education events where Carahsoft and our partners will showcase innovative solutions designed to meet the unique needs of educational institutions of all levels. 

NERCOMP 

March 9-11, 2026 | Providence, RI | In-Person Event 

The NorthEast Regional Computing Program (NERCOMP) Annual Conference brings together higher education IT professionals, faculty, researchers and institutional leaders from across the northeast to connect, share expertise and advance innovation in teaching, learning and technology. In partnership with EDUCAUSE, the conference creates a collaborative space to exchange practical insights, build meaningful relationships and explore emerging trends shaping higher education IT. Guided by this year’s theme, “Connect Locally, Think Globally,” attendees will strengthen regional partnerships while gaining perspective from global best practices, making the conference an essential opportunity to learn, network and help drive forward-looking innovation across the higher education community. 

Carahsoft is a proud sponsor, strategic partner and exhibitor at NERCOMP 2026. Visit us at booth #303 to connect with our education technology vendors and leading innovative solutions. Join us for our industry panel on Wednesday, March 11th from 11:15am-12:00pm ET, where thought leaders will discuss pressing topics facing higher education technology professionals. Our team will be available to discuss how our tailored solutions can enhance campus operations and drive institutional success. 

CASBO Con 26 

March 31-April 1, 2026 | San Diego, CA | In-Person Event 

The California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) Con 2026 is a premier annual conference and expo for school business professionals across California. The event brings together more than 2,000 district administrators, financial officers and other school business leaders to connect, learn and grow through high-impact sessions, hand-on learning and access to the California School Business Expo showcasing the latest solutions and services tailored to the challenges and opportunities in K-12 education and community colleges. By attending CASBO Con 26, participants can deepen their professional expertise, build valuable networks with peers and industry partners and gain practical insights that advance excellence in school operations and leadership statewide. 

Carahsoft is a sponsor of CASBO Con 26, reinforcing our commitment to supporting California’s K-12 business and financial leadership community. Come see us at booth #1240 to connect with our education technology vendors and discover solutions that address the unique fiscal and operational challenges facing California school districts. Our team will showcase technologies from our partners in areas such as financial management systems, cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud infrastructure. Stop by to discuss your technology needs and learn how Carahsoft can support your mission. 

ASU+GSV Summit 

April 12-15, 2026 | San Diego, CA | In-Person Event 

The Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley (ASU+GSV) Summit is a global gathering of education, workforce and technology leaders committed to transforming learning opportunities at all stages of life. Bringing together innovators from K-12, higher education, corporate learning, Government and investment communities, the Summit features keynotes, panels and curated discussions that explore emerging trends in education technology, workforce development, AI and more. Attendees will gain strategic insights, new partnerships and actionable ideas to accelerate innovation, scale meaningful solutions and drive impact across the learning ecosystem, from early education to career advancement. 

Carahsoft will attend this year’s ASU+GSV Summit, demonstrating our commitment to supporting innovation at the intersection of education and workforce development. Our team will be present throughout the Summit to connect with attendees and discuss our comprehensive portfolio of education technology solutions. We look forward to participating in the 2026 Summit and exploring opportunities to drive meaningful change in education technology. Reach out to EDUMarketing@Carahsoft.com to connect with representatives onsite 

Internet2 Community Exchange 

April 13-26, 2026 | Chicago, IL | In-Person Event 

The Internet2 Community Exchange (CommEX26) is a flagship annual gathering where IT leaders, technologists and teams from research and education institutions come together to exchange ideas, share knowledge and collaborate on the future of technology in research and education. This event celebrates decades of community-driven innovation and provides expert-led sessions, working meetings and peer discussions that tackle topics such as emerging technologies, data privacy and security and sustainable IT strategies, fostering meaningful partnerships that help drive institutional missions forward. Attendees benefit from strategic insights, practical solutions to common challenges and the chance to connect with a diverse community dedicated to advancing research and education technology. 

Carahsoft is looking forward to sponsoring and holding an exhibit at this year’s conference, supporting the collaborative spirit at the heart of the Internet2 community. In partnership with our reseller network, Carahsoft works closely with Internet2 to advance the NET+ and Cloud Scorecard programs, delivering trusted, vetted cloud solutions that help higher education and research institutions address shared technology obstacles. 

CoSN2026 

April 13-26, 2026 | Chicago, IL | In-Person Event 

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) 2026 Annual Conference is one of the leading national gatherings for K-12 education technology leaders, including Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), district administrators and education technology practitioners. Built around interactive keynotes, workshops and hands-on sessions, CoSN2026 equips participants with strategic insights and practical tools to address pressing challenges like cybersecurity, student data privacy, generative AI (GenAI) readiness and digital equity while fostering collaboration on building the future of learning systems. Attendees can connect with peers, engage in high-impact learnings and gain actionable strategies to lead technology-enabled transformation that enhances teaching, learning and operations across school districts. 

Carahsoft is excited to participate at CoSN’s Annual Conference 2026, with more details about our involvement to be announced soon. As a longstanding supporter of CoSN and the K-12 technology leadership community, we look forward to connecting with attendees to discuss the latest innovations in education technology. 

EDUCAUSE Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference 

April 28-30, 2026 | Anaheim, CA | In-Person Event 

The EDUCAUSE Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference (CPPC) is a dedicated event for higher education IT and security leaders focused on strengthening defenses, protecting data and advancing privacy practices across campuses. Designed for cybersecurity practitioners, privacy officers and technology decision makers, the conference delivers deep-dive sessions, real-world case studies and collaborative discussions on emerging threats, risk management frameworks, incident response strategies and compliance priorities unique to higher education. Attendees gain practical insights, new tools and vetted best practices to enhance institutional resilience, build stronger security programs and network with peers tackling similar challenges, making it an essential experience for professionals committed to safeguarding their organization in an increasingly complex digital landscape. 

Carahsoft is honored to be a sponsor at this year’s EDUCAUSE CPPC. Our team will be present throughout the Conference to connect with attendees and discuss our leading partners’ innovative solutions for higher education institutions. Additionally, Carahsoft will host a reception, providing an opportunity for participants to engage with experts and peers, as well as a roundtable in partnership with Palo Alto Networks. More information about our reception and involvement will be announced closer to the event date. 

ISTELive 26 

June 28-July 1, 2026 | Orlando, FL | Hybrid Event 

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2026 Conference & Expo is one of the world’s largest and most influential gatherings of educators, administrators and education technology innovators dedicated to transforming teaching and learning with technology. With thousands of attendees from around the globe, ISTELive offers hands-on workshops, cutting-edge keynotes and an expansive expo floor filled with the latest tools, strategies and research to support meaningful, equitable digital learning experiences. Whether you are looking to deepen your skills with AI and personalized learning, build a stronger tech-enabled classroom or connect with a vibrant community of peers passionate about education innovation, ISTELive 2026 delivers actionable insights and inspiring ideas to elevate teaching and drive student success. 

Carahsoft will sponsor and be an exhibitor at ISTELive 26. Visit us at booth #3254 to connect with our education technology vendors and explore their solutions that are transforming teaching and learning. Our team will showcase cutting-edge technologies, including digital learning platforms, classroom collaboration tools, cybersecurity and AI integration. Stop by and learn how Carahsoft can support your mission to enhance student engagement and outcomes through technology innovation. 

EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 

September 29-October 2, 2026 | Denver, CO | In-Person Event 

The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2026 connects higher education IT leaders, technologists and institutional decision makers looking to shape the future of campus technology. This flagship event brings together thousands of professionals from around the world to explore strategic innovations, emerging technologies and best practices that address the biggest challenges in higher education, from digital transformation and cybersecurity to data governance and AI-enabled learning. With a rich program of keynotes, panels, interactive sessions and networking opportunities, attendees gain actionable insights, practical solutions and collaborative connections that help drive institutional success and advance mission-critical priorities across teaching, learning, research and administration. 

Carahsoft will have a significant presence at the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2026, offering opportunities for attendees to engage with front-line education technology solutions. Join us at booth #501 to explore 24 demo opportunities throughout the Conference, with 12 showcase spots each day, featuring solutions from our leading partners. Participants can attend our industry panel addressing critical topics facing higher education IT leaders. Join Joe Toste for live recordings of the Tech Tables podcast and network with peers at our on-site reception in the CarahCafe. 

Internet2 Technology Exchange 2026 

October 26-30, 2026 | Minneapolis, MN | In-Person Event 

The Internet2 Technology Exchange 2026 (TechEX26) centers on the practical, day-to-day challenges facing higher-education network and infrastructure teams as campus environments grow more complex. Through technical sessions and peer-to-peer conversations, a consistent theme continues to emerge: campus networks are being asked to deliver more than ever before. Institutions must provide secure, resilient, high-performance connectivity while supporting expanding research requirements, AI-enabled workloads, cloud adoption and hybrid learning environments—often with limited staffing and budgets. Network engineers and architects emphasize the need for better visibility, stronger security and increased automation to maintain reliability and performance across increasingly distributed systems. 

Carahsoft’s sponsorship of TechEX26 reinforces our longstanding commitment to supporting the research and education community. Through our partnership with Internet2’s NET+ program, Carahsoft works with member institutions to deliver reliable cloud and trust solutions that address shared technology challenges across higher education and research organizations. Our team will be present throughout TechEX26 and look forward to connecting with the Internet2 community to explore how Carahsoft can support your institution’s mission-critical technology initiatives. 

Carahsoft’s Sixth Annual EdTech Talks 

October 14-16, 2026 | Virtual Event 

Carahsoft’s Sixth Annual EdTech Talks summit is designed to equip academic IT leaders and education professionals with practical insights into the performance, security, cost-efficiency and modernization capabilities of today’s leading education technology solutions. This three-day virtual event will feature a dynamic mix of Classroom Panels, keynote Assembly Sessions and “Before the Bell” breakout discussions, covering topics ranging from school safety, digital equity, cybersecurity and the evolving student experience. Attendees will also explore emerging use cases for AI and machine learning in K-12 and higher education, with a focus on improving instructional outcomes, streamlining operations and supporting secure, scalable learning environments.  

Carahsoft is thrilled to host the Sixth Annual EdTech Talks, our premier virtual event for education. All presentation recordings and slide decks from the three-day event will be available on demand, allowing educators to access content on their own schedule. A detailed agenda will be posted soon. In the meantime, explore our sessions from the 2025 EdTech Talk Series to see how Carahsoft supports education missions through innovative technology solutions and thought leadership. 

As education technology continues to evolve, these events represent invaluable opportunities to connect with peers, discover transformative solutions and gain actionable insights that can be implemented immediately. Whether you are seeking to enhance cybersecurity posture, implement AI-driven learning platforms, improve student data privacy or modernize IT infrastructure, Carahsoft and our extensive network of education technology partners are committed to supporting your mission. We invite you to join us at these premier events throughout 2026 to explore how innovative technology solutions can help your institution overcome challenges, enhance learning outcomes and prepare students for success. 

To learn more or get involved with any of the above events, please contact us at EDUMarketing@Carahsoft.com. 

For more information on Carahsoft and our industry-leading education technology partners’ events, visit our education solutions portfolio and education technology events page. 

The Top Upcoming Education IT Events on the Horizon

From K-12 to Higher Education, our nation’s schools have great opportunities to leverage technology to improve the student, teacher and administrator experience. This year, innovative solutions built on AI, machine learning and the cloud are ready to improve learning inside the classroom and protect schools from external challenges, including potential cybersecurity threats.  

Indeed, there is so much happening in the world of EdTech it is very important to keep up with the latest advancements. That is why we are happy to present a list of the top education IT events you need to check out in 2024. These events cover the gamut of technology innovation in the education sector and feature industry-leading experts, peer-led learning sessions and information sharing and ideation. 

EDUCAUSE Annual Conference  

October 21-24, San Antonio, TX | November 13-14, Online 

The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference is where professionals and technology providers from all over the world convene to network and find solutions that will improve higher education. As always, this year’s conference promises to be the year’s largest gathering of education technology leaders. 

In 2023, Carahsoft had 25 partners demoing their solutions over the two exhibiting days at our booth. In 2024, we have obtained the largest pavilion space to display our leading higher education solutions. This year, we will be joined by Joe Toste and his TechTables podcast to discuss the hottest trends and setbacks customers are facing and how Carahsoft and our partners can help. 

NJSBA’s Workshop 2024 

October 21-24 | Atlantic City, NJ 

The New Jersey School Boards Association’s annual workshop brings together a senior-level audience of school leaders, education professionals and influencers for quality professional development, important legal, legislative, policy and funding updates and new products and services.  

Carahsoft Top Education Events Blog Embedded Image 2024

Carahsoft is a proud sponsor of this celebration of public education, but our work with NJSBA goes far beyond the workshop. The NJSBA has partnered with Carahsoft and our reseller ecosystem to help school districts and member charter schools throughout New Jersey better manage and reduce cybersecurity risk. The partnership provides access to a broad range of cybersecurity-related software, hardware, implementation services and training at discounted pricing. Solutions are also available to K-12 academic institutions and School Board Associations nationwide through the contract’s cooperative purchasing clauses. 

Carahsoft’s Fourth Annual EdTech Talk Series 

November 6-8 | Carahsoft Office, Reston VA – Virtual option via Zoom 

Carahsoft’s EdTech Talks summit is designed to educate academic IT decision makers and end users around the performance, security, cost-saving and modernization benefits of today’s leading EdTech solutions. We will host a three-day series featuring “Classroom Panels,” keynote “Assembly Sessions” and “Before the Bell” breakouts on topics ranging from school safety to student experience. We will also discuss ways to leverage AI and machine learning. Presentation recordings and slide decks from all three days will be available on-demand.  

Stay tuned for a detailed agenda for this year’s event, which will be posted soon. In the meantime, check out some of our sessions from the 2023 EdTech Talk Series 

SC24 

November 17-22 | Atlanta, GA 

The annual Supercomputing 24 conference—SC24—draws more than 13,000 attendees from across the high-performance computing community. The conference features unique technical presentations, workshops, tutorials and “Birds of a Feather” sessions featuring open discussions about topics of interest to the HPC community. SC24 also features a large exhibit floor showcasing the latest innovations from the world’s leading manufacturers, research organizations and universities.  

Carahsoft is excited to host a pavilion at this year’s conference. We are even more excited to be hosting some of our top AI and EdTech vendors, who will showcase the innovative work they are doing to power academic research in 2024 and beyond. 

CITE Annual Conference 

November 19-21 | San Diego, CA 

Attendees of the California IT in Education Annual Conference include CTOs and directors of technology, network managers and engineers, database administrators, support and technicians. Teachers, administrators and district and county superintendents will also join their technology colleagues to share ideas and information and find out the latest tools to help improve teaching, learning and administration.  

Carahsoft will be a proud sponsor of the event and have a booth at this year’s conference. 

Internet2 Tech Exchange 

December 9-13 | Boston, MA 

Internet2 Tech Exchange brings together a community of technical visionaries—including chief technologists, scientists, engineers, architects, operators and students—to debate, discuss and converse. It is a great forum for global technology leaders to align and move forward together. Although not specifically education-focused, the event covers topics that are relevant to the EdTech sector, including networking, the cloud, cybersecurity and more.  

Carahsoft will be a proud sponsor of this year’s Tech Exchange. 


In additional to the above events, these are some of the other pivotal education events that took place in 2024, including:  

CoSN is the premier membership organization designed to meet the needs of K-12 education technology leaders. Representing over 13 million students in school districts/systems nationwide, CoSN continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education and provides opportunities for companies that support the K-12 EdTech community to participate as corporate members. Carahsoft holds an annual membership with CoSN and has been a proud sponsor for the last several years. Carahsoft plans to continue collaboration at CoSN March 31-April 2, 2025, in Seattle, WA. 

Internet2 Community Exchange convened the worldwide research and education community for in-depth strategic discussions on emerging developments in networking, cloud computing, information security and more. Carahsoft and our reseller partners work with Internet2 to support their member community through the NET+ program and Cloud Scorecard program, which provides a portfolio of reliable cloud and trust solutions to help higher education and research institutions solve shared technology challenges. Carahsoft will be back in Anaheim, CA for the Internet2 Community Exchange April 28-May 1, 2025. 

The National Association of Educational Procurement Annual Conference featured more than 600 procurement officials from universities, colleges and K-12 institutions. Carahsoft annually sponsors NAEP’s national EPIC conference, which showed great success with over 600 procurement officials from Universities, Colleges and K-12 institutions nationwide attending. Carahsoft has also supported the NAEP national and regional shows for the past three years, continuing to invest in the brand as we expand our footprint in the education space. Carahsoft will have presence at NAEP’s conference May 4-7, 2025, in New Orleans, LA. 

Carahsoft proudly sponsored The Merit Member Conference, which highlighted “bridging the gap”, addressing obvious (and not-so-obvious) pitfalls, opportunities to grow, and optimization of oft-neglected issues across three essential tracks—Network, Security and Community. Next year, Carahsoft will attend the conference May 13-14. 

EDUCAUSE Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference is the premier forum for connecting with higher education information security and privacy professionals. Carahsoft was a display table sponsor, joined by our partners onsite to display our solutions for higher education cybersecurity needs. This event gave participants a chance to network and discuss information security and privacy trends and current issues with peers and solution providers. Carahsoft plans to attend EDUCAUSE next year, May 19-21, in Baltimore, MD. 

The International Society for Technology in Education is a nonprofit organization that works with the global education community to accelerate the use of technology to solve tough problems and inspire innovation. ISTE’s worldwide network believes in the potential technology holds to transform teaching and learning. ISTELive is one of the world’s most comprehensive EdTech events, attended by a global contingent of education leaders, teachers, coaches, librarians, media specialists and more. Carahsoft was a proud sponsor of and exhibitor at this year’s conference, and plans to attend again June 29-July 2, 2025, in San Antonio, TX. 


Needless to say, it has been a big year for events—and an even bigger year for technology in education. From AI to the cloud, from cybersecurity to networking, there are more options than ever before for educational institutions interested in using technology to improve learning. We are excited to be a part of it, and we look forward to seeing you as we go out into the EdTech community this year. Join Carahsoft at these upcoming events and explore the role technology will play in education, this year and beyond. We look forward to seeing you! 

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events please contact us at EDUmarketing@carahsoft.com. For more information on Carahsoft and our industry leading Education technology partners’ events, visit our EdTech solutions portfolio. 

EdTech Talks: A Comprehensive Look at Security in Education for Safe Learning Environments

Emerging technologies today are providing K-12 schools and higher education institutions with the capabilities to support seamless and secure campus efforts, which ensures protection of academic environments as well as students, faculty and staff. Remaining vigilant, versatile and adaptable in the current education landscape, especially when it comes to security and student safety, are the most important considerations for education leadership when deciding what new solutions and integrations to incorporate into their schools.

Carahsoft’s annual EdTech Talks Summit brought together industry and education thought leaders to explore three tactical learning tracks: safety for the learning environment, the impact of technology on student growth and development, and modernizing education with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. During the first day’s discussion, speakers provided insights into building safe learning settings with a comprehensive look at both cyber and physical security in education.

Analyzing Current Security Risks

Carahsoft EdTech Talks Summit Blog Series-Part 1 Security and Safety Blog Embedded Image 2024Education institutions face a myriad of cybersecurity challenges such as ransomware, third-party access to school systems, internal bad actors and stolen credentials. One of the most impactful vulnerabilities is a lack of awareness across school communities regarding security. For example, individuals who are unable to recognize a phishing text message that asks the receiver to click on an unsafe link because an account has been frozen may potentially put their own data and their school’s data at risk of exposure.

While cybersecurity is one of the most important aspects of cultivating a successful learning environment, it is just as important to consider physical security for a safe learning environment. Building and campus surveillance, visitor management monitoring, lock down and fire drills, active shooter and crisis management are among some of the ways schools provide personal security for students and staff. With so many aspects of security to manage, schools also must balance being open, inclusive and engaging with communities and culture to provide more expansive learning opportunities while simultaneously protecting against threats on limited budgets.

Protecting Against Cyber Threats in the Modern World

For improved security, educators and industry leaders must collaborate to take proactive measures to safeguard digital infrastructure, data and physical campuses. The best place to start is by ensuring the fundamental standards of cyber defense are in place, functioning properly and are continuously monitored and modernized. This includes solutions and processes such as:

  • Utilizing multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible
  • Email and phishing security to avoid ransomware
  • Maintaining a high standard of digital hygiene through services such as patching and vulnerability management
  • Creating robust and resilient backup strategies for all data at endpoints and in the cloud
  • Performing recovery testing to ensure backups and other operations are working accordingly
  • Providing resources and trainings to engage with school communities to raise awareness of ways students and teachers can defend themselves against physical and cybersecurity threats
  • Implementing a “see something, say something” mentality across school communities to ensure all potential risks are reported and mitigated
  • Hiring IT staff and educators who are passionate about the security and safety mission set forth by an institution and allow them to provide new ideas and innovation
  • Investing in quality cyber insurance to protect institutions against setback from a ransomware attack
  • Conducting frequent audits to ensure school’s systems are compliant with the latest policy requirements and standards in the case a claim must be made

Security Implementation for Institutions

Industry and education experts alike understand the importance of providing a safe space for all students, whether inside schools or online, and continuously aim to make sure their experience is as productive and valuable as possible. Particularly within higher education, many universities and colleges have individual point solutions that they have integrated into their systems to solve very specific problems, creating a disconnected mixture of security infrastructure. Security must be designed with students in mind and a way that provides optimal learning, collaboration and inclusion—technology can help achieve this imperative goal.

As Government and education sectors continue to move toward cloud environments, managing a multitude of products and solutions can become cumbersome and difficult to regulate security. To combat this, consolidation of products to create increased visibility, automation and agility are key for transforming a current infrastructure to be more successful and produce actionable insights.

Visit the EdTech Talks Conference Resource Center to view panel discussions and other innovative insights surrounding security, AI and student success from Carahsoft and our partners.

 

About Carahsoft in the Education Market  

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Education IT Solutions Provider™.  

Together with our technology manufacturers and reseller partners, we are committed to providing IT products, services and training to support Education organizations.  

Carahsoft is a leading IT distributor and top-performing E&I Cooperative Services, Golden State Technology Solutions, Internet2, NJSBA, OMNIA Partners and The Quilt contract holder, enhancing student learning and enabling faculty to meet the needs of Higher Education institutions.  

To Learn more about Carahsoft’s Education Solutions, please visit us at http://www.carahsoft.com/education

To learn more about Carahsoft’s Cybersecurity Solutions please, visit us at https://www.carahsoft.com/solve/cybersecurity

EdTech Talks: Modernizing Education with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Schools must embrace change alongside their growing generations to equip students for the future. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are two evolving, expansive technologies that are creating a monumental impact in the private and Public Sector, with education institutions being no exception. At Carahsoft’s annual EdTech Talks Summit, education leaders explored how AI and ML are changing the way teachers instruct, the way students learn and the way administrators approach technology in schools.

As a baseline, when considering AI for K-12 and higher education, administrators should follow several guiding principles for responsible and trustworthy use of AI.

  • Human-centricity: Promote human well-being, individuality and equity
  • Inclusivity: Ensure accessibility and diverse perspectives
  • Accountability: Proactively identify and mitigate adverse impacts
  • Transparency: Instruct students and teachers on proper usage, including potential risks and how decisions are made
  • Robustness: Operate reliably and safely while enabling mechanisms that assess and manage potential risks
  • Privacy and security: Respect the privacy of data subjects

Generative AI in Education

Carahsoft EdTech Talks Summit Blog Series-Part 3 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Blog Embedded Image 2024Generative AI is still fairly new to the education space and educators are on both sides of the spectrum of acceptance—some prefer to erase it from their schools while others are open to embracing the up-and-coming technology for use cases not only in the classroom, but also to prepare students for the future workforce.

For example, one of the first technologies educators may be inclined to use when adopting AI in the classroom is detection tools. Dr. Anand Rao, Professor of Communications Chair of the Department of Communications and Digital Studies at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia recommends against this technology implementation because it could negatively affect vulnerable students. AI detection is not 100% correct in every instance. For some students, English may not be their first language and a detection tool could potentially identify their work as AI generated because it may be more formulaic. While detection tools can be utilized in a positive way to ensure honesty is upheld within students’ work, teachers and professors should use their discretion to determine the results of detection tools.

AI literacy is one of the most important principles for instructors to explore, deliberate and establish guidelines for. Since generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT and other tools like detection programs are still modernizing, students and faculty should go through a test period to learn how they work and understand whether they are comfortable utilizing them. As a next step, IT teams must be prepared to begin implementation and consider cybersecurity in that process.

Analytics and Data in AI

Education data grows exponentially with each new school year; however, collecting, evaluating and taking action based on the insights of that data is a long yet vital process. Instructors and administrators must leverage platforms that can help automate and analyze new and archived data to make the most informed decisions for their schools using the AI analytics lifecycle. This includes managing data efficiently, interpreting observations made about data and finally, creating a plan to incorporate constructive action to address needs discovered via the data. Using this strategy, schools can be better prepared to tackle real world questions and scenarios and provide students and teachers with the tools and processes they need to be successful.

This year’s EdTech Talks Summit event aimed to educate academic IT decision makers and end users about the current challenges and solutions surrounding student growth and development, security, AI and ML and cost-saving, modernization benefits of today’s leading EdTech solutions. The Education sector faces new challenges every school year, and it is imperative now more than ever that the IT industry and Government work together to provide the most safe and successful learning environments for all students.

Visit the EdTech Talks Conference Resource Center to view panel discussions and other innovative insights surrounding security, AI and student success from Carahsoft and our partners.

 

About Carahsoft in the Education Market  

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Education IT Solutions Provider™.  

Together with our technology manufacturers and reseller partners, we are committed to providing IT products, services and training to support Education organizations.  

Carahsoft is a leading IT distributor and top-performing E&I Cooperative Services, Golden State Technology Solutions, Internet2, NJSBA, OMNIA Partners and The Quilt contract holder, enhancing student learning and enabling faculty to meet the needs of Higher Education institutions.  

To Learn more about Carahsoft’s Education Solutions, please visit us at http://www.carahsoft.com/education

To learn more about Carahsoft’s AI Solutions, please visit us at https://www.carahsoft.com/solve/ai-machine-learning