In the dynamic world of education, remarkable transformations keep taking place on a constant basis. Now, students can easily find professional academic assistance: they just need to say, “Please write my paper online” to experts and get immediate results. Recently, there has also been the rise of Educational Technology (EdTech). It is revolutionizing the way students learn, interact, and engage with their academic pursuits. From interactive whiteboards to virtual reality simulations, EdTech is reshaping education, empowering educators and learners alike.

Introduction to EdTech
EdTech refers to the integration of digital tools, platforms, and innovative approaches aimed at enhancing and optimizing the learning experience. It encompasses a wide range of technologies, including, but not limited to, mobile devices, learning management systems, educational software, and online learning environments. The primary goal of EdTech is to leverage technology to create a more engaging, personalized, and effective learning process for students.

The Benefits of EdTech in Student Learning
The integration of EdTech in the classroom has yielded numerous benefits for students:

Increased Engagement: EdTech tools, such as interactive whiteboards, educational games, and multimedia content, have the power to captivate students, fostering greater engagement and enthusiasm for learning.

Personalized Learning: EdTech platforms can analyze student performance data and tailor learning experiences to individual needs, allowing for a more personalized approach to education.

Improved Accessibility: EdTech solutions, such as text-to-speech and assistive technologies, can enhance accessibility, ensuring that students with diverse learning needs can actively participate and succeed in their academic pursuits.

Enhanced Collaboration: EdTech tools, like cloud-based document sharing and video conferencing, facilitate seamless collaboration among students, enabling them to work together, share ideas, and learn from one another.

Real-Time Feedback: EdTech platforms can provide instant feedback to students, allowing them to track their progress, identify areas for improvement, and receive timely guidance to support their learning.

EdTech Tools and Technologies Transforming Education
The field of EdTech is brimming with a wide array of innovative tools and technologies that are revolutionizing the way students learn:

Learning Management Systems (LMS): LMS platforms, such as Blackboard, Canvas, and Google Classroom, serve as centralized hubs for delivering course content, managing assignments, and fostering online collaboration.

Adaptive Learning Platforms: These AI-powered platforms analyze student performance and dynamically adjust the learning content and pace to cater to individual learning styles and needs.

Virtual and Augmented Reality: Immersive technologies, like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), are being leveraged to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences in subjects such as science, history, and architecture.

Educational Apps and Games: A wide array of educational apps and games are designed to make learning fun, interactive, and more accessible for students of all ages.

Coding and Robotics: The integration of coding and robotics in the classroom helps students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills.

Examples of Successful EdTech Implementation in Schools
Across the globe, schools and educational institutions are embracing the power of EdTech to transform students’ learning experience.

Flipped Classroom Model: In this approach, students access course content, such as video lectures, at home, while class time is dedicated to interactive discussions, problem-solving, and hands-on activities.

Blended Learning: This model combines traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning components, allowing for a more flexible approach to education.
Project-Based Learning: EdTech tools, such as collaboration platforms and multimedia creation software, are enabling students to engage in authentic, real-world projects that foster their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Virtual Field Trips: Through virtual reality and video conferencing, students can now explore distant locations, historical sites, and scientific facilities without leaving the classroom.

Gamification in Education: Integrating educational games and game-based learning elements into the curriculum can enhance student motivation, engagement, and retention of knowledge.

Challenges and Concerns Surrounding EdTech
Despite the numerous benefits of EdTech, there are also challenges and concerns that must be addressed.

Equity and Access: Ensuring equal access to EdTech resources and addressing the digital divide among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds is a critical concern.

Privacy and Data Security: The integration of EdTech platforms raises important questions about student data privacy, security, and the ethical use of personal information.

Technological Limitations: Technical issues, such as unreliable Internet connectivity, outdated hardware, and compatibility problems, can hinder the effective implementation of EdTech in the classroom.

Teacher Training and Professional Development: Providing comprehensive training and support to educators to help them navigate EdTech is essential for its successful integration.

Balancing Technology and Traditional Teaching: Striking a balance between the use of technology and traditional teaching methods is crucial to ensure that the benefits of EdTech are fully realized without compromising the human element of education.

EdTech Resources and Platforms for Educators and Students
Educators and students alike have access to a vast array of EdTech resources and platforms to support their learning and teaching endeavors. Some notable examples include:

Online Learning Platforms: Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer a wide range of online courses, MOOCs, and educational content for both students and teachers.
Educational Apps and Software: Apps like Duolingo, Khan Academy, and Quizlet provide engaging, interactive learning experiences across various subjects.

Collaboration and Productivity Tools: Google Workspace for Education, Microsoft 365 for Education, and Zoom enable seamless collaboration, communication, and content creation in the digital classroom.

Professional Development Resources: Websites like Edutopia, EdSurge, and ISTE provide valuable insights, best practices, and training opportunities for educators to enhance their EdTech skills.

Educational Technology Conferences: Events like ISTE, BETT, and the ASU+GSV Summit bring together EdTech innovators, educators, and industry leaders to share insights and explore the future of technology in education.

The rise of EdTech has ushered in a new era of educational transformation, empowering students and educators both. By seamlessly integrating technology into the learning process, schools and educational institutions are fostering more engaging, personalized, and accessible learning experiences. As EdTech continues to evolve, it is clear that the future of education lies in embracing the transformative power of technology to unlock the full potential of student learning.

Leaky roofs might be the most common destructive inconvenience. Everyone has dealt with at least one in their lives and we all hate them. The temporary fixes are simple, sure, but finding the root cause can be tricky and interesting as you are proven incorrect over and over again.

Before you start exploring popular metal building roof styles to replace your roof altogether, see if any of the following tips can end your watery woes.

Take Immediate Action
There are ways to discover a leak before the damage seeps through the ceiling as drips, but none of that information helps in the heat of the moment. If your ceiling starts dripping then you need to take immediate action.

Hopefully, your immediate thought was to run and grab a bucket and a few towels. Make sure to bring an extra towel to set inside the bucket because ethos will prevent the water dripping into it from splashing out of it. The rest will help you clean up the mess or even move furniture out of the way.

What you do from here will vary. The first thing you need to consider is covering the offending part of the roof with a tarp. If this is not possible for whatever reason then take a bucket or plastic storage bin with you into the attic.

If you can find the leak here, palace the container beneath it. It will do the same thing as the one you placed to catch the ceiling drips but higher, saving your furniture from further harm.

Don’t forget to document any damage after the appropriate mitigation efforts have been made; you may be able to file a claim with your insurance and be reimbursed for the damage you suffered.

Pay Attention for the Signs
Discovering that you may have a leaky roof is easy to do once water starts pouring through the ceiling, but a lot had to happen before that.

Luckily, every single step of that process leaves visible signs that something is wrong. Smelling a musty smell is the first sign and one of the most alarming. This not only means that there is a problem but that it’s already creating another.

As you explore the attic, look above you for discoloration and watch beneath you for signs of saturated insulation. Stains or discolorations of the roof’s underside may indicate where water is leaking through while saturated insulation not only tells you where the water is landing but also that it's been leaking for a while and is about to start leaking through the ceiling.

If you see any of these or other signs of a roof leak, you need to act quickly to prevent further damage and to remedy that which has already been ruined.

Find the Source
One easy way to find the roof leak is to climb into the attic. As mentioned before, there may be multiple signs in there for where the leak started and where that water is going. You may be able to perform temporary repairs here to buy yourself some time while you figure out what happened on the outside to cause this.

Searching for the leak on the roof itself is a bit more tricky as they are slanted. This allows water to slide right off but can also make finding the leak source tricky. Despite this, sometimes the signs are easy to spot. Damaged and warped shingles, holes, clearly damaged roof fixtures and more can all be the cause of a leak.

If you struggle to find the source then you may need to call for help and hoist a hose up the ladder. Spraying water on the roof with the hose can help you identify exactly where the leak started because the helper who’s inside the attic will alert you to when drops start to form.

Prepare for Any Needed Repairs
When the sun shines bright and the roof is dry, it’s time to for you to actually repair the roof and stop the leak. Occasionally, the remedy is something simple you can do such as replacing dried-out caulking or just adding a few washers—but this is unfortunately not always the case.

An underlying problem could cause a section of shingles to absorb rain water and warp, a tree could have caused some serious damage or any other number of things could have gone wrong.

Even if you consider yourself to be pretty handy, these situations call for a professional. Contact your local roofer if the problem is too big for you to handle or you can’t find the leak at all because a failure at the top of your structure will cause problems all the way down, and the entire reason you're here is to fix one of these problems, not to create more.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect in the Moose Creek homicide. The suspect is currently in custody on unrelated charges. The suspect is cooperating with our detectives and has led us to the evidence we have identified in prior press releases.

The investigation into this homicide continues. It is believed the suspect acted alone and there is no longer a threat to the community. Further details and charges are forthcoming, but it is important for this community to know they are safe to resume their outdoor activities. The Sheriff’s Office will have no further comment in regard to this investigation until charges are filed.

I want to thank the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Detectives for their unrelenting pursuit of justice on this case. They have worked day and night for nearly three weeks with limited sleep, limited time with their families and limited time to themselves. They have prioritized the safety of this community and the need to locate Dustin Kjersem’s killer above all else. It is this type of dedication that makes the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement officers special. This community should be proud of the men and women who have chosen a life of service to keep you, your families, and your friends safe.

I would also like to thank the multiple other agencies who have dedicated their time and energy into this case. The Montana Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Montana State Crime lab, the Montana Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole, the Medical Examiner’s office, the Montana Highway Patrol, the Missouri River Drug Task Force, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the U.S. Forest Service and Gallatin County Search and Rescue.

Our thoughts and prayer continue for the family of Dustin Kjersem. We hope, by some small measure, our efforts can bring them a bit of peace during this horrific time. Our entire community mourns with you.

– Sheriff Dan Springer

BOZEMAN – Bozeman Symphony Education and Community Engagement Coordinator Cierra Wallace has been recognized among the Gallatin Valley’s top young professionals by receiving the Bozeman Daily Chronicle’s prestigious 20 Under 40 Award. She was honored at a luncheon on October 21 in Bozeman, where Bozeman Symphony Music Director Norman Huynh served as the keynote speaker.

The 20 Under 40 Award celebrates individuals who demonstrate exceptional professional success and make a meaningful impact in their community. Wallace was recognized for her dedication to enhancing the lives of people throughout the Greater Yellowstone region through music, education, and outreach.
In her role, Wallace oversees a diverse range of educational programs, including Symphony Storytime, KinderKonzerts, the Fourth Grade Concert, Masterclasses, and Side-by-Side performances. She also coordinates the Symphony’s community initiatives such as Far Afield concerts, the annual Family Concert, concerts in partnership with Befrienders, and the Memory Care and Joy Programs, which bring music to those in need of comfort and enrichment.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that a member of the Bozeman Symphony has received this recognition. Past honorees include Music Director Norman Huynh and Interim Symphonic Choir Director Maren Marchesini in 2023, former Executive Director Emily Paris-Martin in 2022, and Concertmaster Carrie Krause in 2021.

For more information about Bozeman Symphony’s educational and community programs, please visit www.bozemansymphony.org.

BOZEMAN — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University a grant to assist workforce development in the railway sector across the state of Montana.

The $6.4 million grant is part of an infrastructure initiative funded by the DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration and announced on Oct. 29. The award is part of a $2.4 billion rail-improvement law that funds 122 projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C.

The infrastructure initiative, which is administered through FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program, includes rail safety and service improvements such as upgrading track, replacing or rehabilitating aging bridges, expanding rail connections at ports, and adding modern locomotives to fleets. According to the Transportation Department’s announcement, the grants mark “the most significant investment in American rail in more than 50 years.”

The grants also support developing the workforce to maintain and operate the nation’s rail networks through new apprenticeship programs, expanded training opportunities, establishing partnerships with universities and advance research.

“The Western Transportation Institute is a national leader in transportation workforce development,” said Alison Harmon, MSU’s vice president for research and economic development. “This grant further solidifies WTI’s leadership position in rural and tribal-focused transportation development.”

According to the DOT, these projects will “make rail safer, more reliable and more resilient, getting goods and people where they need to be quickly with fewer disruptions, lower shipping costs and less pollution.”

The project in Montana is expected to include research and activities that build the rail workforce with a focus on increasing faculty, student and youth engagement with rail-related topics and skills, according to the DOT.

The goal is to improve coordination between industry, labor, economic development and education sectors. Other goals include helping faculty and teachers expand their understanding of rail topics; exposing more students to rail-focused topics earlier in their careers; and strengthening local talent pipelines.

MSU, California State University at Long Beach, the University of Memphis, and Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority will contribute the required 20 percent non-federal matching funds, increasing the total WTI funding to just over $8 million.

“We are very excited to have this opportunity to work with our core project partners at Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, University of Memphis and California State University, Long Beach to develop nationally relevant workforce development strategies focused on meeting local economic development needs,” said Susan Gallagher, WTI’s education and workforce program manager.

Kelvin Wang is WTI’s executive director.

“WTI is fortunate to have nationally recognized staff, faculty and students,” Wang said. “Working with this talented team has been a rewarding experience, enabling us to continue serving the needs of Montana and the nation. We look forward to working with our partners on this exciting project.”

Hunters should continue to practice bear safety

BOZEMAN – Montana’s general hunting season kicked off on Saturday with seasonably mild weather and mostly below-average hunter participation and success in several areas of southwestern Montana.

Wildlife biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks use check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex and age class of the animals harvested. This supplements data collected through hunter harvest phone surveys each year.

Over opening weekend on Oct. 26 and 27, biologists operated six check game check stations in the region: Alder, Canyon Ferry, Cameron, Divide, Gallatin and Silver City. They met with 2,288 hunters, who collectively harvested 137 elk, 18 mule deer and 10 white-tailed deer, among other species.

The Alder, Divide and Canyon Ferry check stations saw lower-than-average hunter numbers for opening weekend. Hunter numbers were about average at the Cameron and Gallatin check stations. Participation ranged from 544 hunters at the Silver City check station to 226 hunters at the Gallatin check station.

Hunter success was below average at the Alder, Canyon Ferry, Divide and Gallatin check stations, and within the long-term average at the Cameron check station. Hunter success ranged from 9.7 percent at the Alder check station to 3.9 percent at the Canyon Ferry check station.

Weather over the weekend was sunny and warm in most areas of the region, with snow only at the highest elevations.

Be bear aware

FWP reminds hunters that bears will remain active throughout the general season, and hunters should be prepared for bear encounters. Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.

People who hunt in places that have or may have grizzly bears—which includes much of the western two-thirds of the state—should take special precautions:

• Carry bear spray and practice to be prepared to use it immediately.
• Look for bear sign and be cautious around creeks and areas with limited visibility.
• Hunt with a group of people. Making localized noise can help alert bears to your presence.
• Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears.
• Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible.
• If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards.
• Upon your return, make noise and observe the meat with binoculars. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP.

For more information and resources on bear safety, visit fwp.mt.gov/bear-aware.

BOZEMAN — Jim Weatherly, whose career includes leading an influential Montana-based engineering firm for nearly 30 years, will be inducted into the Montana Professional Engineers Hall of Fame on Nov. 6.

Montana State University’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering houses the hall of fame, which was founded in 2002 to recognize engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the profession and public welfare of Montana.

“There is no greater honor for a professional than to be recognized by their peers for contributing to the profession and for improving the lives of their fellow man,” Weatherly said. “As a young engineer, I was guided by so many of the previous inductees to the Montana Engineers Hall of Fame.”

Weatherly earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from North Dakota State University in 1967. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and was recognized with the Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star for meritorious service in the Vietnam War.

Weatherly served as partner, shareholder and president of Sorenson and Company from 1975 to 1989, when the company changed its name to WGM Group. He would then serve as president of WGM until 2004, helping the company broaden its services to include land use and transportation planning. The company also became an adviser to the city of Missoula.

Weatherly was responsible for the engineering and services provided to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service. Related projects include work around the Dworshak Reservoir in Idaho, final construction stages of Libby Dam on the Kootenai River and design phases for nearly 3,000 miles of forest development roads that spanned multiple national forests in Montana.

Weatherly was a member of Montana Society of Engineers and recipient of its Young Engineer of the Year award. He also served as the organization’s president and national director. He was the Montana director of the National Society of Professional Engineers, a representative of the Montana Technical Council, president and national director of the Montana Consulting Engineers Council, and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

His civic involvement includes serving as board member and president of the United Way of Missoula County. He also served on the boards of Missoula Bank of Montana, Norwest Bank and Wells Fargo Bank. He was an adviser for four new facilities at the University of Montana. He also served as director and founding member of Five Valleys Chapter of Safari Club International, and board president and executive director of Montana Wild Sheep Foundation, where he earned the Duncan Gilchrist award for outstanding service.

He also provided pro bono engineering services for the YMCA of Missoula, making contributions in the mid-1980s for the infrastructure relocation of the Washington-Grizzly Stadium on the University of Montana campus, as well as the design of UM’s football practice field, track and field facilities, and the university’s intramural and soccer fields.

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HELENA – Hunters will again have the opportunity to thank landowners who allow hunting access on their land. The “Thank a Landowner” web portal is an easy way for hunters to pass on a note of thanks and a photo to landowners who have allowed them access.  

FWP collects these submissions and mails the letters and photos to all landowners who were identified. Last year, nearly 600 hunters submitted a thank you note to private landowners through the portal.   

This portal is part of the “It’s Up To Us” campaign to promote ethical hunting and help improve relationships between hunters and landowners. This campaign is an annual effort with FWP and several partner organizations to encourage hunters to take the initiative to promote good hunter ethics and behavior, particularly on private lands. The campaign website is fwp.mt.gov/ItsUpToUs. Here hunters can find tips on ethical hunting, links to informative video content and the “Thank a Landowner” portal.   

The page also features access to the Hunter Landowner Stewardship Project and links to campaign partners.    

BOZEMAN — MilTech, a Montana State University program dedicated to moving technology and information research to the U.S. military and Department of Homeland Security, is arguably one of the university’s least known offices, but its growth over the past 20 years has generated tens of millions of dollars per year in research expenditures and provided career paths for many MSU students.

In fiscal year 2024, MilTech spent $44.6 million on research expenditures, second only to the College of Agriculture’s $54.1 million. The organization takes neither state tax dollars nor money from MSU, relying solely on federal grants.

And that level of spending is no anomaly, according to executive director Al Deibert. MilTech, which reports to MSU’s vice president of Research and Economic Development, has experienced around 45% growth in research expenditures year over year since its inception in 2004.

“MilTech has quietly built an engine of innovation for seeking, developing and translating technology for our nation’s defense,” said Alison Harmon, MSU’s vice president for research and economic development. “In doing so, the organization has been a major contributor to the research goals of MSU.”

MilTech, which grew out of MSU’s TechLink Partnership Intermediary and the university’s Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, employs around 98 people, Deibert said. As many as a quarter of the employees are MSU alumni and approximately 30% are veterans. It continually employs around 15 graduate and undergraduate students, who sometimes become full-time employees upon graduation.

“We would have more student employees if we didn’t hire so many into full time work after they graduate,” Deibert said.

And because virtually all the work conducted at MilTech is “controlled unclassified” — and a small amount is deemed “classified” — some of the students may receive a government clearance to work on sensitive projects, he added.

Classified or not, what specifically does MilTech do?

“MilTech is a partnership intermediary that is tasked by the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to provide information and mature technologies that can be evaluated,” Deibert said. “We also provide information research, analysis and technology scouting to help them make better, more informed decisions.”

Essentially, MilTech helps transition goods, services and technologies from the research stage to make them available to the U.S. military and Department of Homeland Security, Deibert said.

But MilTech’s role is distinct from that of procurement. Over the past two decades, the office has assisted in the development of hundreds of technologies, including medical oxygen generators for use in the field, a heavy-duty pylon stand to help ground crews working on F-16 fighter jets and improving a fluorescent coating system that can show stress fractures in aircraft parts during testing.

Some of MilTech’s work can help save lives too, Deibert said. When the military was evaluating the carrier for torso-covering armor it called MilTech. The office helped locate potential manufacturers capable of delivering a product that would meet the requirements of U.S. soldiers and Marines who would wear it daily. They also spoke with the people who’d actually be using the armor.

“What are you currently using? What works on it? What doesn’t work? What changes are you looking for?” Deibert said. “If we can’t talk with the Marines or soldiers, we will fail 100% of the time.”

MilTech also sought input from people who manage the logistics along the supply chain.

“It’s not just the Marine who will wear this thing every day on a yearlong deployment, it’s the other people involved in every aspect of handling it from supplying it, fitting it and training on how to use it,” said Deibert, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial and management engineering from MSU.

Once the expectations are clear, MilTech works with manufacturers capable of delivering prototypes for the military to consider.

“Once we understand those needs, we translate them into design features and design criteria, and we work with manufacturers to provide evaluation samples,” he said. “I would love for Montanans to know that every time they look at a soldier or Marine’s plate carrier they can say, ‘MSU did that.’”