Archive: 2012
5 Cool Things About Online Education
Early in life, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. My mom and grandma were teachers, and I fully intended to join the ranks in a traditional classroom setting. I hadn’t heard of a virtual charter school before, but I’ve always been intrigued by technology, so I decided to check it out. After doing some research, I came to the realization that not only did I prefer it over substitute-teaching for a year but also that there actually wasn’t anything else I would rather do.
10 Things School Leaders Should Do to Boost Blended Learning
During a couple breakout sessions at a Rhode Island conference on Innovation Powered by Technology (#iptrideconf) I spent time with teachers and principals thinking about next steps as they prepare for the shift to personal digital learning. We discussed 10 next steps.
Good Work: Bureaucracy Busting Starts With a Positive Presupposition
I watched Rhode Island Commissioner Deb Gist in action yesterday, first on television answering tough questions from a panel of reporters then speaking to and interacting with a conference of educators. She is struggling with the limitations of an old bureaucracy while helping her colleagues invent the future. She set’s the vision, outlines the challenges, encourages collaboration, and does it all with unusual grace and charm. It looks like her positive presupposition has earned the benefit of the doubt.
10 Benefits & 10 Concerns About the Shift to Digital Learning
Rhode Island has produced leading innovations like the Big Picture network but it is in the back of the pack when it comes to online and blended learning (see the Digital Learning Now scorecard) but Gist's team is working hard to change that. If the enthusiastic group of 300 adult learners that spent the day at Rhode Island College are any indication, learning opportunities will improve for Rhode Island kids in the next year.
Staff Picks: Global Ed, Online Learning & Flex Schools
Karen Picks “Turkish Kids Are Getting Tablets. What’s Your State Doing?” Karen says, “I was very pleased to listen to a group from the Philippines this week tell us about the digital/eLearn space across the other side of the world. Some of the same issues and some…
When Worlds Collide
It was a tough week for those of us that supported NCLB for the bipartisan support for equity it signaled and the baseline school accountability system it required. Obama announced waivers and Kline just wants the feds out of education. Fordham offered a better solution.
Could Teacher Evaluation Initiatives Power Down Technology-driven Innovation?
Teacher quality is arguably the largest policy shift in education today and will have a lasting impact on our public education system. Legislatures across the country are hammering out systems intended to improve, reward, and redistribute quality instruction – including teacher evaluation systems and systems to differentiate compensation.
Flex Schools Personalize, Enhance and Accelerate Learning
Flex schools offer an online core curriculum with on-site academic support and guidance, integration and application opportunities, and extracurricular activities. Students in flex schools progress as they demonstrate mastery in most courses. Every community should have a flex option that provides a fully supported individualized pathways to graduation.
ST Math Demonstrates Positive Results at Las Vegas Elementary Schools
Clark County School District released Tuesday positive results from a five-year pilot with MIND Research Institute's ST Math, a visual learning math game. This week, MIND joined school officials to recognize Sewell Elementary and Henderson Elementary schools for achievements in math.
New Survey Shows Demand for Personalized & Adaptive Learning Assessments
The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and Grunwald Associates LLC released today "For every child, multiple measures," a study that evaluates parent and teacher support for timely, actionable assessments that monitor individual student performance.