Now that 2012 has arrived, let’s reflect to see which topics were trending throughout the education industry in 2011. 

1.       Social Media Etiquette:  Everyone is on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking websites.  Common among all age groups, schools are struggling with the inevitability that social networking is now a part of the agenda.  Sometimes posing a distraction to the learning environment, educators are finding relevant applications for social media in the classroom, while also balancing the appropriateness of online student/teacher interaction. 

2.       “Bring Your Own Device”:  Massive budget cuts are coming at a time when the most technologically advanced learning tools are becoming available to students and teachers.  To compromise, many schools are now encouraging students to bring their own devices for use in the classroom, including laptops, PDAs and mobile phones.   Such technology is said to increase enthusiasm, participation and learning retention – but only when used correctly.

3.       Healthier School Meals:  In an effort to reduce childhood obesity, first lady Michelle Obama in conjunction with various legislators launched programs and initiatives aimed towards increasing the health of our nation’s children.  As such, junk food is being weaned out of public cafeterias. 

4.       Importance of Communication:  Inclement weather, early dismissals and unfortunate school accidents require administrators to maintain consistent lines of communication with their student families.  Additionally, unprecedented demographic shifts are changing the way schools need to send updates.  The use of notification systems, like School Announcement, to communicate with student families is rapidly growing.

5.       Alternative Learning:  Changes in the way kids learn and retain knowledge are prompting alternative education methods such as online education.  Appropriately named, virtual classrooms are popping up across the country, sometimes serving as whole replacements to traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms.  With charter schools also seeing a spike in enrollment, will education transition to a privately-managed industry?