Industry 4.0, AI and the Future of K-12 Technical Education - Mike Beighley, Superintendent of Whitehall School District

The TechEd Podcast

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Our guest is one of education's greatest disruptors, Mike Beighley, Superintendent of Whitehall School District. Known nationwide for its groundbreaking approach to teaching Industry 4.0 with the Mobile Skills Lab, Whitehall has been at the forefront of educational innovation for years.
We trace the district's journey in implementing cutting-edge technology programs, from listening to and learning from Ashley Furniture's Industry 4.0 efforts, to launching the Mobile Skills Lab, to the new and eagerly anticipated Emerging Technology Lab. Discover how Whitehall's educators are dedicated to providing personalized learning experiences that ignite students' curiosity and prepare them for a tech-driven future.
In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the old model of education doesn't serve our students anymore
• How to find & foster the right teachers to lead Industry 4.0 and AI efforts
• How to build partnerships with employers that go beyond financial support
• What the role of drones, self-driving cars, AMRs, industrial robotics, augmented reality, and Industry 4.0 technologies are in a K-12 district

3 Big Takeaways from this episode:

1. The old K-12 model doesn't fit this technology-driven, ever-evolving world of today: K-12 leaders must seriously consider if the current system of teaching students is best serving our kids and communities, then make the visionary and courageous decision to implement change.
2. Empower passionate teachers to lead innovative programs: The right teachers to lead Industry 4.0 and AI programs might come from unexpected places - like an elementary math teacher or a computer scientist-turned-educator. Hear how Mike has found instructors who are passionate about leading innovation and entrusted them with the platform and programs to create this next iteration of technical education at Whitehall.
3. Collaboration - not competition - will foster innovation in K-12 education: The old model of education pits districts against each other. The new model requires collaboration between districts, educational service organizations, employers and communities. No single entity can keep up with the pace of change, so keeping our tech ed programs updated will require open dialogue, resource sharing and collective problem-solving.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Whitehall School District, visit: whitehallsd.k12.wi.us
• See what the Mobile Skills Lab is all about
  • Grand Opening for Mobile Skills Lab
  • Mobile Skills Lab Debuted at Ashley for the Arts
• Preview the new Emerging Technology Center
• Listen to Todd Wanek's episode on AI

More linkes & resources on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/whitehall/

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