The VHS EdTech Report – February 20, 2025, Issue #2
Bringing Canvas, Artificial Intelligence, and Tech Updates to the Pack
📢 Welcome to The VHS EdTech Report!
Each edition will highlight Canvas insights, AI developments, EdTech tools, and upcoming PD opportunities to keep you ahead of the curve.
🔍 What's Inside This Report?
  • Canvas Report: Data from the past three weeks of Canvas observations, now including growth tracking alongside campus goals.
  • AI News & Implementation: A look at AI’s expanding role in research, education, transportation, and automation, featuring updates from OpenAI, CSU, Waymo, and John Deere.
  • EdTech Tools & PD Opportunities: This issue’s featured tool, Brisk Boost, is a student-driven AI tool that enhances engagement with digital content like articles and videos. EdTech appointment booking and PD opportunities are on the last page.

by Dane Jacobson

🚀 Canvas Goal of the Term: Organization
Campus Goal: Achieve a level 3 or greater in Organization by the end of Term 3.
Why Organization in Canvas Matters
A well-organized course improves student engagement, reduces confusion, and enhances learning outcomes. Students (and parents!) should be able to easily navigate the course, locate previous content, and understand the learning sequence without unnecessary barriers.
Proficiency Scale for Organization
Strategies to Reach Level 3+

Ensure Previous Weeks' content is easy to access

Use Modules grouped by Unit, SLO, or Topic

Develop and stick to a consistent naming convention
📊 Canvas Insights: Data & Trends
Here’s a snapshot of how our campus is using Canvas effectively, now with growth tracking to measure progress over time.
Overall Average:
1.84
Teacher Standard Deviation:
0.75
Understanding the Data

Averages
The majority of teachers are approaching proficiency in Organization and Clarity.

Standard Deviations
General PD should be provided on Accessibility and Feedback in the future.

Growth %
Customization and Organization made significant movement relative to their previous scores.
📌 (Coming Soon: Teacher Showcase!)
💡Thought-Provoking Perspective
"Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I actually have a hard time thinking of an industry that I don’t think AI will transform in the next several years."
– Andrew Ng, AI Pioneer, Co-Founder of Google Brain, and Former Chief Scientist at Baidu
🤖 The Impact of AI: What's New?
Recent AI Developments
Introducing Deep Research
AI-driven research methods are reshaping knowledge discovery.

OpenAI

Introducing deep research

An agent that uses reasoning to synthesize large amounts of online information and complete multi-step research tasks for you. Available to Pro users today, Plus and Team next.

CSU's AI-Powered Initiative
California State University is integrating AI across its campuses.

www.calstate.edu

CSU Announces Landmark Initiative to Become Nation’s First and Largest AI-Empowered University System | CSU

AI tools and training will be available to all 460,000 students and 63,000 faculty and staff.

Waymo's Safety Reports
Waymo voluntarily shares their safety data (and yes, they did better than humans).

Waymo

Safety Impact

We're voluntarily sharing our safety data to demonstrate how the Waymo Driver is making roads safer in the places we currently operate. See the stats.

John Deere's Autonomous Tech
AI-driven automation is redefining agriculture and construction.

Deere Brand Microsite

Autonomy

Productive and efficient farming operations for the next generation of growers. Using technology to help farmers do more with less.

Deep Research: AI’s Role in Advancing Knowledge
OpenAI’s Deep Research initiative aims to enhance scientific discovery, problem-solving, and knowledge generation by integrating AI into complex research workflows. With AI systems capable of analyzing vast datasets, generating insights, and even forming new hypotheses, researchers may soon rely on AI as a co-pilot in the pursuit of discovery.
🔧 AI/EdTech Tool of the Report: Brisk Boost
What is Brisk Boost?
Brisk Boost is an AI-powered student engagement tool that transforms any online resource—such as articles, videos, or documents—into interactive learning activities. By integrating directly into your browser, Brisk Boost enables students to engage with content in dynamic and structured ways, improving comprehension, discussion, and critical thinking. You can even see your students' conversations with the AI!
Why Use Brisk Boost?
Engagement
Transforms passive content into interactive, AI-powered activities that encourage active learning.
Comprehension
Supports deeper understanding by enabling structured discussions and real-time student interaction with digital resources.
Customization
Adapts to different learning needs, allowing teachers to design tailored activities for various subjects and skill levels.
Cost
Completely free with zero limitations.
📅 Upcoming EdTech PD & Support
Workshops & Training

1

Keep an eye out for EdTech Tuesday emails!

2

Performance Compensation Support Series #8
📆 March 13, 2025 🕞 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Need Personalized Support?
📌 Schedule a 1-on-1 session with me!
📩 Questions? Suggestions? Let me know what you'd like to see in future reports!