Technology Blog
What Do You Think About the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education?
SUSD is participating in national research with the Speak Up Research Initiative. We invite you to participate in our Speak Up survey designed to explore the activities, attitudes, and aspirations around AI in K-12 education. This is your chance to provide valuable feedback about the use of AI in schools as we develop policies and procedures to address responsible and ethical AI tool use. Speak Up is a free service provided to K-12 schools and districts. Each survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential.
Tell us what you think about AI in Education:
AI Survey for Parents/Guardians
🗓️ Survey Deadline: June 1, 2025
Thank you for helping to contributing to this important education conversation!
Summer Best Practices for Devices and Data
As summer approaches, it's important to ensure that our children's devices and data are protected. With May 1st being National Password Day, it's the perfect time to review some best practices for keeping your family's digital life secure and ensuring that your students’ SUSD device remains functional and ready for use over the summer.
Protect Your Device
- Keep Devices Cool: Store your devices in air-conditioned locations and avoid leaving them in hot cars or direct sunlight.
- Avoid Liquids and Food: Keep devices away from liquids and food to prevent accidental damage.
- Monitor the Power Adapter: Don’t misplace the power adapter ‒ it’s crucial for keeping your device charged.
- Regular Updates: Ensure all devices are updated with the latest software and security patches to protect against vulnerabilities. This can be done by regularly turning on the device, connecting to a network, and restarting after use.
- Secure Wi-Fi: Make sure your home Wi-Fi network is secure. Use a strong password and consider changing it periodically.
Protect Your Data
- Change Passwords Regularly: Once your child is old enough to remember a unique passphrase, that is a great time to change the password on their SUSD account. Directions can be found on the SUSD Student Help Center webpage.
- Avoid Unapproved Services: Be cautious about signing up for new services with personal accounts. Always check the privacy policies of websites and apps before using them (and only use your SUSD account with approved digital resources).
- Educate on Privacy: Discuss with the family the importance of privacy. Identify what information is safe to share online and what should be kept private.
Optional Device Protection Plan (DPP)
Consider SUSD’s optional Device Protection Plan (DPP). Similar to other checked-out resources, students are responsible for damaged or missing items beyond typical wear and tear. Plan details for the current school year are available on the IT Department website. The coverage for this year extends until the start of the next school year, allowing families to sign up for another year of protection when school begins in the fall.
By following these best practices, you can help ensure a safe and enjoyable summer for your family. Let's make National Password Day a reminder to stay vigilant and protect our digital lives. Questions? Contact the IT Help Desk at 480.484.HELP (4357).
AI Literacy in SUSD
Last month, staff and students in SUSD recognized National AI Literacy Day! Participating in this event highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and showcased our commitment to preparing students for a future in which AI plays a pivotal role. By incorporating the safe and effective use of AI into our K-12 curriculum, we aim to enhance learning experiences, personalize education, and equip our students with the skills needed to navigate an AI-driven world. It is crucial that we teach our students to use AI safely, responsibly, and ethically.
At the end of March, we announced the release of new AI literacy resources for SUSD high school students. Making these resources available was a “Wildly Important Goal (WIG)” of the SUSD Student Advisory Board (SAB). These resources are available via an optional Google classroom and provide AI literacy resources, hands-on experience with SUSD-approved generative AI tools, and information about how AI is being used at the colleges many SUSD students attend after graduation. Our goal is to empower students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in an AI-enhanced future.
For more information about the guidelines for using AI in SUSD, as well as the currently approved generative AI tools for staff and students, please visit http://susd.ai/.
Preparing for a Successful Online Testing Season
As we approach the online testing season this spring, it's essential to ensure that our students are well-prepared and confident. At SUSD, we are committed to providing the resources and support needed to help our students succeed in their digital assessments, whether they are in-class demonstrations of learning, state-mandated assessments, or program-specific, assessments related to Advanced Placement, Career and Technical Education, International Baccalaureate, or other courses of study.
Key Dates and Information
The online testing season will begin in March and continue through mid-May. Important dates and additional information are available on the SUSD Assessment and Accountability web page.
Technical Readiness
Ensuring that all SUSD devices are ready for online testing is crucial. Depending on the device, there are some steps that should be taken in advance to make sure updates have been installed (device-specific information can be found here). Remembering to fully charge the SUSD device the night before also helps create the best conditions for students to show what they know during an online assessment!
Supporting Students' Well-being
In addition to academic preparation, it's important to support students' emotional well-being during the testing season:
- Encourage Healthy Habits: Remind students to get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious meals, and stay hydrated. Physical well-being can significantly impact test performance.
- Promote a Positive Mindset: Encourage students to approach testing with a positive attitude. Remind them that these assessments are an opportunity to showcase their learning and growth.
- Provide Emotional Support: Be available to listen to students' concerns and provide reassurance. A supportive environment can help alleviate anxiety and boost confidence.
Looking Ahead
As we gear up for the online testing season, let's work together to ensure that our students are well-prepared and supported. By focusing on technical readiness, academic readiness, and emotional well-being, we can help our students achieve their best results.
Thank you for your continued dedication to SUSD student success!
Celebrating Digital Learning Day by Embracing Technology with Balance
As we approach Digital Learning Day on February 13th, it's a perfect time to reflect on the incredible impact digital tools have on our students' learning experiences. In SUSD, we are committed to leveraging technology to enhance communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking among our learners.
The Power of Digital Tools
Digital tools have revolutionized the way we teach and learn. Students in SUSD have access to a variety of digital tools (learn more here) that provide students with opportunities to:
- Communicate: Platforms like Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams enable seamless communication between students and teachers, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
- Collaborate: Tools such as Google Workspace for Education allow students to work together on projects, regardless of their physical location, promoting teamwork and collective problem-solving.
- Create: Applications like Canva, Clip Chimp, and Google Slides empower students to express their creativity through digital storytelling, graphic design, and multimedia presentations.
- Think Critically: Digitally accessing SUSD curriculum enables students to engage in critical thinking and problem-solving activities, helping them develop essential skills for the future.
Balancing Screen Time
While the benefits of digital learning are immense, it's crucial to strike a balance in the amount of time our students spend with technology. Not all screen time is created equal, and it's important to differentiate between passive consumption and active, meaningful use of digital tools.
According to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the key is to focus on the quality of screen time rather than just the quantity. Here are some guidelines to help ensure a balanced approach:
- Purposeful Use: Encourage students to use technology for specific learning goals, such as researching a topic, creating a project, or collaborating with peers.
- Mindful Consumption: Teach students to be mindful of their screen time, promoting breaks and physical activity to maintain a healthy balance.
- Parental Involvement: Parents are important partners in the conversation about screen time and supporting strategies, like Keeping it Real, to support their children's digital well-being.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate Digital Learning Day, let's continue to embrace the power of technology in education while being mindful of its impact on our students' overall well-being. By fostering a balanced approach, we can ensure that our learners are not only digitally proficient but also healthy, engaged, and ready for the future.
Thank you for your continued support in making SUSD a leader in digital learning!
A New Year of Support for Digital Learning in SUSD
As we step into the new year, we’d like to take a moment to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our IT staff in supporting the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) throughout 2024. Supporting the technology that enables world-class, future-focused learning each day is important to our team! Despite the challenges of ensuring nearly 21,000 students have daily access to digital resources, our commitment to maintaining or increasing our 96% customer satisfaction rate remains unwavering.
Highlights of Our 2024 Achievements:
- Device Refreshes: We successfully completed 2,032 student device refreshes, ensuring every student had access to reliable, up-to-date, and secure technology for their online learning. Each fiscal year (which follows the school calendar), we have had sufficient funds to refresh student devices in at least one learning community, ensuring students consistently have a reliable device for digital learning, collaborating, and communicating.
- Technical Support: Our team provides support to students and staff through the work of our Help Desk, field technicians, and other staff members responsible for the smooth operations of our infrastructure and systems. In 2024, we received 18,164 requests for support (about one third of which were for student devices) and maintained a 96% customer satisfaction rate.
- Data Privacy: We entered into or updated 80 data privacy agreements with third-party service providers, adhering to legal and ethical standards for student data protection. More information about these agreements is available here.
- Optimizing Storage: We safely moved nearly 7 TB of individual storage from local SUSD servers to secure cloud storage provided by Microsoft OneDrive. This move takes advantage of existing cloud storage capacity while increasing efficiencies and eliminating the need for individual storage on SUSD servers.
- Classroom Audio/Visual Upgrades: The fall of 2024 marked the completion of a project begun in 2021 to replace classroom projectors with interactive flat-panel devices. This project provided updates to 1,433 classrooms across SUSD, and 240 of those completed in 2024 included classroom audio updates. SUSD is proud to provide audio enhancement in each classroom and we will continue updating those systems across the district in the coming year.
While we take pride in our achievements in 2024, our journey doesn't stop here. We are committed to continuously enhancing our services and exceeding your expectations. Your insights and suggestions are crucial as we aim to elevate our performance in 2025. Please share your feedback with our leadership team by clicking here.
Thank you for your ongoing trust and support. Wishing you a joyful and successful new year of learning!