Archive: 2012
Staff Picks: Smart Teachers, Digital Learning Policy, IWB, & Portfolios
Karen Picks “Battle for Whiteboard-Market Supremacy Heats Up” Karen says, “The crux of this issue is really in the following statement and question: Complicating those decisions are changes in the technological landscape that are raising questions about the long-term educational relevance of interactive whiteboards. Do classrooms really need…
Progress: 3 EdReform Stories, 3 Blended Learning Stories
Here's six interesting stories from the week. ExNext covered the rise of Khan, EdWeek featured Newfound High, and KIPP Empower has a great blended learning video. On the reform front, New York and New Haven adopt new evaluation rules, and the Common Core gets some scrutiny
Support for Teachers: Simulated Classrooms, Online Networking and More
The key to ensuring all students graduate high school college and career ready is effective teaching. And the key to ensuring effective teaching for all students is effective professional development for educators. Professional development is the most powerful strategy that school systems have to help all educators acquire the knowledge and skills they need to effectively reach all students.
Can Your Cloud App Really Do Business Intelligence?
The cloud has been targeted as the next Big Thing in technology and organizations are migrating more and more of their data to the cloud. This migration is done for several reasons, not the least of which is the saving of expenses that would normally be allocated towards an on-premise infrastructure and operational costs. One federal institution, the General Services Administration (GSA), was so confident in their financial savings decision that they abandoned their entire internal email and collaboration system in favor of Google Apps.
Scooch Over LMS, E-portfolio Wants a Seat at the Table
Do you want to give your students a digital footprint? Even if your school is not already practicing e-learning or blended learning, you can still accomplish that with an e-portfolio. If you’re already using a Learning Management System (LMS), you might already have an e-portfolio available that can showcase authentic work.
Cleveland Portfolio Plans Promising–With Digital Overlay
Richard Lee Colvin, EdSector, posted a good summary of Cleveland's struggle to make the portfolio approach work. We'd suggest a digital overly with more and better online and blended options for Ohio students.
Wanted: A 21st Century Education
Well into the 21st century, we are still trying to get a handle on what a 21st century education really is – both the question of what young adults really need to know and be able to do and the question of the best way to help them get there. I first encountered this issue as a high-tech executive when coaching talented engineers through a series of workplace myths.
Get Up & Dance: 5 Ways to Motivate Zombie Students
The saddest moments I've experienced recently with the students I work with, especially with the jaded older ones who are close to graduating, have occurred when they have told me, "I don't have any passions" or "I can't remember the last time I felt intrinsically motivated."
CIS: Meeting Kids Where They Are
CIS is the brainchild of youth advocate Bill Milliken, a man determined to improve the lives of all students, no matter what life challenges they face. Milliken wanted to bring community resources in to public schools where they could be accessible, coordinated and accountable.
Overcoming the Governance Challenge in K-12 Online Learning
Yesterday Fordham released the fifth and final paper in its Creating Sound Policy for Digital Learning series, "Overcoming the Governance Challenge in K-12 Online Learning" by John Chubb. After outlining the collision of digital opportunity and local control, Chubb outlines ten steps to get us to this brave new governance system.