Archive: 2013
Science Outreach with Teachers, Dinosaurs
The fossils and data collected all help UW scientists investigate the extinction that ended the age of dinosaurs 66 million years ago. DIG teachers aren't just adding to paleontology research - they're a part of it.
Mythbusting: Q&A with K12 Leadership
Following up on the release of a candid academic report in February, Tom Vander Ark visited K12 Executives last week and shares a recap of their conversation.
It’s Time for The Next Big Advance: Comparable Growth Measures
The most important next step in the shift to personal digital learning is the need for comparable growth measures for individual students. With the explosion of adaptive assessment and instruction and the widespread use of digital curriculum with embedded assessments, there is a growing need to be able to compare measures of student progress.
CEOs Want Hard-Working Decision-Making Team Players
A survey of chief executives indicates that 92% say education is very or the most important national competitiveness issue. But the survey, conducted by the The Business Council and The Conference Board, isn't a flattering picture of U.S. education.
EdTech 10: PD and Pilgrims
When you’re the parent of a 5 year old, you hear lots of jokes. Maybe you’ve heard this one - “If April Showers bring May Flowers, what do May Flowers bring?” That’s right - “Pilgrims!”
Think Outside the Box for Las Vegas Schools
The Getting Smart team led a school design workshop for The Executive Leadership Academy, hosted by The Public Education Foundation in Las Vegas last week. Teams of principals designed next-gen K-8 and high schools and taught lessons on blended learning components.
Making Tech Work for Kids and Teachers
Advances in technology in the classroom often focus on how it is improving teaching and not learning. Why don't we invite students to help change the format and flow of the learning?
Three Ring: Bringing Qualitative Work into Focus
Rescue forgotten student work from the bottom of backpacks or hidden in endless stacks of binders—everything is organized seamlessly and ready to be used for teaching and learning.
Four Ways to Get Your Students Involved in the Classroom
In a day and age when the American education system is under fire, teachers need to think outside of the box in order to engage their students in learning.
Why We Need Common Standards and Better Tests
It’s testing season--and it’s easy to criticize state tests these days. However, those tests represent an important commitment to equity. The Common Core is a big step forward and so are the tests that come with it.