Archive: 2013

EdTech

ASU Opening: Is America a Submerging Economy?

Investor Robert Grady moderated the opening panel at the ASU/GSV Education Innovation Conference in Scottsdale with perennial presenter Chris Whittle, CEO of the pricey global school network Avenues, and Jon Schnur, America Achieves. They agreed that patterns of excellence have emerged from world class models domestically and internationally: high expectations, relentless focus on good teaching, a spirit of continuous improvement, and attention to granular details matter. It’s clear that we have world beating schools in the U.S--we just need more of them.

EdTech

What Could lynda.com Do For Your School?

Lynda Weinman, co-founder of popular video learning site lynda.com, will deliver the breakfast keynote on April 17 at the ASU/GVS Education Innovation Summit. We asked her how their videos could help schools, what lessons they have learned, and where they’re headed.

Personalized Learning

Aerospace Scholars Offers Blended STEM Experience

While demand for engineers in the workplace is growing, student interest in the STEM field is declining. In particular, students who enter high school interested in engineering, tend to become disengaged in the field as they approach graduation. An educational program located in Washington State hopes to stop that trend by engaging students in the STEM field in new and interesting ways. The Washington Aerospace Scholars Program offers an innovative approach to STEM education by combining online and applied hands on learning.

Leadership

Good Work: Tapping the Dark Matter

“Education is like the night sky; edreform offers a few points of light and the rest is dark matter,” said Nick Donohue. “The real opportunity is deeper public engagement--tapping the dark matter.”

Personalized Learning

Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Engineers

The infusion of entrepreneurship into engineering programs at Lawrence Tech, Detroit, was supported by a grant from the Kern Family Foundation. According to Jim Rahn, president of the foundation, said Lawrence Tech “really embraced the program making it mission central.” Their goal is to prepare students “not only to compete within an industry but to lead it.”

EdTech

EdTech 10: Innovation on the Brain

Team Getting Smart has “ innovation on the brain” this week (even more than usual) as we gear up for next week’s ASU/GSV Education Innovation Summit (#EIsummit). The Getting Smart crew will be there learning, speaking, and blogging about eduinnovation.

Personalized Learning

Preparing for the Future

The future of education will be on display next week in Arizona, at the Education Innovation Summit. There will be a wide range of speakers and panel discussions, which I am really looking forward to hearing.