Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching.

July 2-5th

Buy the K-8 curriculum; get the 59-page Hour of Code bundle for FREE

Perfect if you’re doing Hour of Code to teach coding, programming, and problem solving to your K8 students. Here’s what you do: (more…)

Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Jenny Wise, has navigated the complexities of raising a growing family, supporting her children through life’s difficulties, and finding strength through faith, resilience, and connection.

If you’re interesting in homeschool ideas, Jenny shares family homeschooling experiences, practical advice, encouragement, and resources for parents considering or navigating homeschooling through her platform, Special Home Educator. Her mission is to support and inspire other families by honestly sharing the ups and downs of creating a personalized education at home. Today, she’s exploring down the education journey–to a Masters:

Key Factors to Consider When Going Back to School for a Master’s Degree

For prospective master’s students weighing a returning to school decision mid-career, the question isn’t whether learning matters, it’s whether the degree will truly change what comes next. Career advancement considerations can point toward a credential that opens doors, but the financial investment in education can be hard to justify without clarity on outcomes. The time commitment can also pressure work obligations, family responsibilities, and education life balance in ways that don’t show up on a course catalog. A smart choice comes from treating the master’s degree ROI as a concrete tradeoff, not a leap of faith. (more…)

I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom. I take time every summer to review them with you. Some are edited and/or written by members of the Ask a Tech Teacher crew. Others, by tech teachers who work with the same publisher I do. All of them, I’ve found, are well-suited to the task of scaling and differentiating tech skills for age groups, scaffolding learning year-to-year, offering inclusive solutions to the issue of tech tools–taking into account the perspectives of stakeholders, with appropriate metrics to ensure learning is organic and granular.

Today: K-12 Technology Curriculum

Overview

The K-12 Technology Curriculum is Common Core and ISTE aligned, and outlines what should be taught when so students have the necessary scaffolding to use tech for grade level state standards and school curriculum. You can purchase just the teacher manuals or student workbooks to serve a 1:1 environment, Google Classroom, and hybrid teaching situations.

Each grade-level PDF or print book (both are available) is between 175 and 252 pages and includes lesson plans, assessments, domain-specific vocabulary, problem-solving tips, Big Idea, Essential Question,  options if primary tech tools not available, posters, reproducibles, samples, tips, enrichments, entry and exit tickets, and teacher preparation. Lessons build on each other kindergarten through 5th grade. Middle School and High School are designed for semester or quarter grading periods typical of those grade levels with topics like programming, robotics, writing an ebook, and community service with tech.

Most (all?) grade levels include keyboarding, digital citizenship, problem solving, digital tools for the classroom, and coding.

The curriculum is used worldwide by public and private schools and homeschoolers. (more…)

1. incorporate data-driven leadership
2. adopt strategic decision making
3. insight into customer (people in general)
4. learn to navigate change
5. become cross-functional

Leadership today looks very different from what it did even a decade ago. Modern leaders operate in a world where information moves quickly, markets change rapidly, and business decisions often need to be made in real time. Success is no longer based solely on experience or intuition. Instead, organizations increasingly rely on data to guide strategy, improve operations, understand customers, and identify new opportunities.

Image source: Pexels–https://www.pexels.com

Before professionals develop advanced business analytics expertise, many of the foundational skills begin in the classroom. K–12 education plays an important role in helping students build the mathematical reasoning, problem-solving abilities, and analytical thinking that modern workplaces demand. From learning how to interpret graphs and percentages in middle school to exploring probability and statistics in high school, students gain experience working with data and identifying patterns. As organizations increasingly rely on evidence-based decision-making, these early educational experiences provide the groundwork for future leaders who must analyze information, evaluate outcomes, and make informed decisions in a data-driven world.

From global corporations to growing startups, leaders are expected to understand the information behind business performance. Every department generates data, whether it’s sales figures, customer feedback, employee productivity metrics, or marketing campaign results. The ability to interpret this information and turn it into meaningful action has become one of the most valuable leadership skills in today’s business environment.

As companies continue investing in digital transformation and technology-driven decision-making, leaders who understand analytics are becoming increasingly important. They are better equipped to navigate uncertainty, identify opportunities, and make informed choices that support long-term organizational success.

Data-Driven Leadership Is Becoming the New Standard

Organizations today generate more information than ever before. Every customer interaction, financial transaction, operational process, and marketing initiative produces data that can help leaders understand what’s happening within their business.

This abundance of information has transformed how leadership decisions are made. Rather than relying solely on instinct, leaders now have access to data that can help them evaluate performance, measure results, and identify trends. This shift has made analytical thinking an essential leadership skill.

As a result, many professionals seeking leadership roles are pursuing advanced education to strengthen their analytical capabilities. For example, individuals who want to improve their ability to interpret business data and support strategic decision-making often explore programs such as an online MS in business analytics to develop expertise in data analysis, predictive modeling, and business intelligence.

Florida Institute of Technology offers an online Master of Science in Business Analytics designed to help professionals build advanced analytical and decision-making skills. The program focuses on areas such as data mining, predictive analytics, business intelligence, and data-driven strategy, providing students with knowledge that can be applied across a variety of industries and leadership roles.

As organizations continue prioritizing data-driven decision-making, leaders with strong analytics skills are becoming increasingly valuable assets.

Business Analytics Improves Strategic Decision-Making

One of the primary responsibilities of any leader is making decisions that guide the organization toward its goals. Business analytics helps improve these decisions by providing accurate, objective information.

Without data, leaders may rely on assumptions that can lead to costly mistakes. Analytics allows decision-makers to evaluate facts, identify trends, and understand the potential impact of various strategies before taking action.

For example, a company considering expansion into a new market can analyze customer demand, competitive conditions, and financial projections before committing resources. This approach reduces uncertainty and supports more informed planning.

Analytics also helps leaders monitor progress over time. By tracking key performance indicators and business metrics, organizations can determine whether their strategies are producing desired outcomes.

Leaders who use data effectively often make decisions with greater confidence because they understand the evidence supporting their choices.

Leaders Must Understand Customer Insights

Understanding customers has always been important, but today’s organizations have access to far more information about customer behavior than ever before.

Analytics helps leaders identify what customers want, how they interact with products or services, and what factors influence purchasing decisions. These insights allow organizations to create more relevant experiences and improve customer satisfaction.

For example, businesses can analyze buying patterns, website behavior, customer feedback, and engagement metrics to better understand their audience. This information helps guide product development, marketing strategies, and service improvements.

Customer expectations continue to evolve, making data-driven insights increasingly valuable. Organizations that understand customer needs are often better positioned to retain existing customers and attract new ones.

Leaders who can interpret customer data effectively help create stronger relationships and support sustainable business growth.

Analytics Supports Organizational Performance and Efficiency

Modern organizations rely on analytics to improve efficiency and optimize performance across multiple departments.

Leaders use data to evaluate productivity, identify bottlenecks, and uncover opportunities for improvement. Rather than relying on anecdotal observations, analytics provides measurable evidence that supports operational decisions.

For example, manufacturing companies may use analytics to improve production efficiency. Service organizations may analyze workflow data to reduce delays and improve customer experiences. Human resources teams can evaluate workforce trends to support employee engagement and retention.

The ability to measure performance accurately is critical for continuous improvement. Analytics helps leaders understand what is working, what needs attention, and where resources should be allocated.

Organizations that embrace data-driven performance management often achieve better outcomes because decisions are supported by reliable information rather than guesswork.

Business Analytics Helps Leaders Navigate Change

Change is a constant part of modern business. Market conditions shift, customer preferences evolve, technologies advance, and economic conditions fluctuate.

Leaders who understand analytics are often better equipped to navigate these changes because they can use data to identify emerging trends and respond proactively.

Predictive analytics, for example, allows organizations to forecast future outcomes based on historical patterns. This capability helps leaders prepare for potential challenges and opportunities before they occur.

During periods of uncertainty, data provides valuable guidance. Rather than reacting based on assumptions, leaders can evaluate evidence and make adjustments that align with organizational goals.

The ability to adapt quickly and confidently is increasingly important in competitive markets, making analytics an essential tool for effective leadership.

Analytics Enhances Cross-Functional Leadership

Leadership rarely operates within a single department. Modern leaders often oversee initiatives that involve multiple teams and functions across an organization.

Analytics helps create a common language that supports collaboration. Marketing, finance, operations, human resources, and sales teams all rely on data to measure performance and achieve objectives.

When leaders understand how different departments use data, they can make better-informed decisions that support the organization as a whole. Shared metrics and performance indicators help align teams around common goals.

Cross-functional leadership becomes more effective when decisions are supported by objective information rather than competing opinions.

Analytics provides visibility across the organization, helping leaders understand how various functions contribute to overall success and where improvements may be needed.

Business analytics has become one of the most important leadership skills in the digital age. Organizations depend on data to guide decisions, improve performance, understand customers, and respond to changing market conditions. As a result, leaders who can interpret and apply data effectively are becoming increasingly valuable.

Analytics supports stronger strategic planning, better customer insights, improved operational efficiency, and more effective change management. It also enhances collaboration across departments and helps organizations align efforts around measurable goals.

As businesses continue adopting data-driven approaches, the demand for analytically minded leaders will only continue to grow. Professionals who develop these skills position themselves to make more informed decisions, lead with greater confidence, and contribute meaningfully to organizational success.

In today’s business environment, leadership and analytics are no longer separate disciplines. Together, they form a powerful combination that helps organizations navigate complexity, seize opportunities, and achieve long-term growth.

Preparing Future Leaders Through Education

The growing importance of business analytics highlights the long-term value of strong mathematics and statistics education. The skills students develop in K–12 classrooms—such as critical thinking, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative analysis—often serve as the foundation for future academic and professional success. Whether pursuing careers in business, technology, healthcare, education, or public service, individuals who are comfortable working with data are better prepared to navigate complex challenges and contribute to informed decision-making. By strengthening these skills early through math and statistics education, schools help prepare the next generation of leaders for an increasingly data-focused economy.

Business analytics has become one of the most important leadership skills in the digital age. Organizations depend on data to guide decisions, improve performance, understand customers, and respond to changing market conditions. As a result, leaders who can interpret and apply data effectively are becoming increasingly valuable.

Analytics supports stronger strategic planning, better customer insights, improved operational efficiency, and more effective change management. It also enhances collaboration across departments and helps organizations align efforts around measurable goals.

As businesses continue adopting data-driven approaches, the demand for analytically minded leaders will only continue to grow. Professionals who develop these skills position themselves to make more informed decisions, lead with greater confidence, and contribute meaningfully to organizational success.

In today’s business environment, leadership and analytics are no longer separate disciplines. Together, they form a powerful combination that helps organizations navigate complexity, seize opportunities, and achieve long-term growth.

–image credit Deposit Photos

Copyright ©2026 askatechteacher.com – All rights reserved.

Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:

https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

Summer is a great time to reset your personal pedagogy to an education-friendly mindset and catch up on what’s been changing in the ed world while you were teaching eight ten hours a day. My Twitter friends gave me great suggestions, but first:

A comment on the selections: I did get more suggestions than I could possibly list so I avoided books that involved politics or hot-button subjects that teachers are divided on and focused on positive and uplifting reading. Yes, there is a lot wrong with education around the world but I wanted a selection of books that would send me — and you —  back to teaching in the fall with a can-do attitude for how to accomplish miracles with your next class of students.

Having said that, here’s a granular list of teacher-approved books to keep you busy this summer:

10 Books for Summer Reading for Educators 

(more…)

5 Essential Resources for IELTS Preparation

Plenty of candidates walk into IELTS with solid English and still miss the band score they were aiming for. The exam asks for more than language ability. It is one of the most demanding English tests there is, and a high score depends on understanding exactly how each task works, how answers are marked, and how to manage your time under pressure.

So the strongest preparation does two things at once: it sharpens your English, and it builds your familiarity with the demands of the exam. These five resources are useful starting points for candidates who want a structured, reliable preparation plan. (more…)

Father’s Day in the United States is on the third Sunday of June, this year, June 21st. It celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children’s lives. (more…)

Top of mind–right after quality of educational tools–is security. Here’s a great article from Ask a Tech Teacher contributor, Melissa White. She is a technology writer and security specialist at TechCommuters. With extensive experience in digital safety, data protection, and threat intelligence, she creates insightful content that helps readers navigate the evolving technology landscape. Melissa focuses on online privacy, secure computing practices, emerging risks, and practical solutions for businesses and individuals.

This is longish, but worth the read–in a sentence:

Is your laptop camera spying on you? Learn the warning signs, how to check for spyware, and simple steps to protect your privacy right now.

How To Know If Your Laptop Camera Is Spying On You?

Your laptop camera may look harmless. It sits quietly above your screen. Most people barely notice it. But in some cases, it can become a privacy risk.

Hackers and harmful software can sometimes access your webcam without permission. Certain apps may also use the camera in the background. The worst part is that you may not notice anything unusual while it happens.

This type of attack is often called camfecting. It happens when someone remotely takes control of your webcam. They may watch you, capture photos, or record videos without your knowledge. In some situations, the camera light may not even turn on. Security experts continue to find many devices affected by these attacks every year.

The good part is that there are warning signs you can look for. There are also simple ways to secure your laptop and block unwanted access. In this guide, you will learn how to spot suspicious webcam activity and what steps to take if something feels wrong. (more…)

I  calculate what’s trending on my blog by which of my posts are popular in a particular time period. Here’s the run-down so far this year:

• 33 Great Research Websites for Kids
• K-12 Digital Tools
• How to Find Old Elementary School Teachers
• 100th Day of School — It’s about Learning
• Start Here (to use AATT)
• 17 Websites on Natural Disasters
• 14 Websites to Teach Mouse Skills
• How Students Can Build Their Own Apps
• Robot Teachers vs Human Teachers
• Want to Write for Us?

More top posts

Click here; scroll down the sidebar to “Top Posts”:

(more…)

Wrapping up your school technology for the summer is as complicated as setting it up in September. There are endless backups, shares, cleanings, changed settings, and vacation messages that — if not done right — can mean big problems when you return from summer vacation. If you have a school device, a lot of the shutdown steps will be done by the IT folks as they backup, clean, reformat, and maybe re-image your device. If you have a personal device assigned by the school but yours to take home, the steps may be more numerous but really, not more complicated.

Here’s a list. Skip those that don’t apply to you and complete the rest. I won’t take time in this article for a how-to on each activity so if you don’t know how to complete one, check with your IT folks or DDG (Duck Duck Go) or Google it:

(more…)