Archive: 2012
Extreme Learning and the University Professor, Part 1
In 1945, as the world was emerging from war, Dr. Vannevar Bush, Director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development, called for scientists to rally around a new, post-war cause: make our collective knowledge open to the masses.
10 Things School Board Members Should Do in 2013
Set a high bar. Adopt the EPIC definition of college/career ready knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Insist on evidence of real college and career ready standards. Showcase examples of student work at board meetings.
6 Top Free eBooks for English Literature Students
It’s becoming increasingly straightforward for English Literature students to read and make notes on their set texts through eBooks and devices. Books can be downloaded and read on tablets, or even on smartphones, while PDFs and computer readers mean that students can make notes and highlight particular passages when revising.
How MOOCs Already Changed Higher Ed in 2012
As we all know, cost is the major reason that students drop out of college, with the two highest cost factors being tuition and textbooks. In 2012, we have talked a lot of the potential of MOOCs to make higher education more open, more affordable and more responsive to employers’ needs than the traditional university structure.
The Pivot to Digital Learning: 40 Predictions Revisited
Two years ago I made 40 predictions. I said, "The education sector has not historically been very dynamic, but this year (2010) things changed. Despite the recession, we have seen more start-ups and more cool applications than ever before." In many areas we've seen accelerated progress in the last two years. In a few areas progress has been slower than I expected. Following is a review of how my one-, five-, and ten-year predictions are fairing.
Hackathons Spawn New Ed Tech Tools
Let’s face it; if you are serious about jumping into the edtech world and you are lucky enough to live around a tech hub, then it’s likely you’ve heard of hackathons. These events offer an opportunity to meet hungry programmers and enthusiasts of all sorts. One thing's for sure, whether you’re a Web guru, a backend ninja, or educator looking to bring a bright new idea to life, it’s best to show up knowing what to expect.
SMARTtech Top 10: Change Urgency
As we head into the holidays and think about the New Year, edtech happenings are in full speed ahead. At the Excellence in Action summit leaders spoke urgency to change for the economic demand of the future. News this week reflected a shift toward competency-based learning, common standards, literacy rates, and more.
6 Innovations in Social Emotional Learning
Social emotional learning "teaches the skills we all need to handle ourselves, our relationships, and our work, effectively and ethically," says Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). CASEL was formed almost two decades ago started by CEO Roger P. Weissberg who is also professor at UIC. In addition to Weissberg, CASEL's agenda has been influenced by Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence.
The Dropout Problem: Still Considered a “Crisis?”
I’ve seen the statement made over the years several times: that the term “dropout” was not used prior to 1950. This implies that dropping out of school before graduation was seen as a normal course of events and that schools did not think it was necessary to do anything about it.
More than Words Alone Can Say: Writing with Images in the Digital Age
Last week, on the day before Thanksgiving vacation, several of my fifth-graders voluntarily stayed after school with me to work on a project for which they would receive no grade: producing calendars based on poems and illustrations they had created for a class project.