Archive: 2013
Taking the Classroom Out of Physics With Mobile Devices
Despite the ever-growing penetration of mobile devices and wider acceptance of BYOD, I feel that a lot of the potential of mobile learning is being underexploited. Many of the solutions are focused on wrapping up content and disseminating it to students. As important this is, we should demand more.
Why do you teach? And, why do you stay?
Some enter the teaching profession because of an amazing teacher, or several amazing teachers. Some feel teaching is simply what they were meant to do. Some become teachers to contribute to the common good. Others become teachers because of one, or many, bad experiences.
3 Simple Tools to Support the CCSS Academic Vocabulary Shift
The Common Core identifies six instructional shifts needed to effectively implement the standards in ELA/Literacy. Shift 6 suggests an instructional change in the teaching of Academic Vocabulary. While there are many specific vocabulary standards in the K-12 Language strand, it's helpful and important to look at Academic Vocabulary from the big picture view known as Shift 6.
MangaHigh: UK vs US in Middle Math Challenge
It’s been 240 years since the Tea Party. To commemorate, UK teachers have throw down a challenge to US teachers on Mangahigh.com. They have invited your school to take part in this free middle grade math competition.
D.H. Lawrence: The Best of School
D.H. Lawrence learned first hand of the joys and frustrations of teaching in a school for boys. His poem The Best of School captures the thrill of watching puzzled looks turn into the satisfaction of learning. Lawrence reflects, “their thrills are mine.”
K12 Report Shows Growth, Calls for Better Measures
Thirteen years ago, when his daughter was six, Ron Packard was a dad searching the Internet for math lessons. He started what became the world’s largest online learning provider, a public company with annual revenues close to $1 billion serving 110,000 full time students in 33 states.
It’s Time to Separate Facilities From Operations
The way we build, manage and maintain public school buildings is inefficient and exacerbates some of the biggest challenge in public education. With the recent growth of the public charter school sector, the rise of tech-infused learning models, and the migration of student populations across options and geographies, it's time for us to rethink the relationship between learning programs and public facilities. It's time to decouple the delivery and the ownership of school buildings.
EdTech 10
The shift to blended learning is getting a bit easier. Digital Learning Now! has provided a roadmap. New tools and schools show the way forward.
Magical Transformation to Digital is not Magic
Huntsville City Schools deployed 1:1 access to technology this year in partnership with Pearson. Scott Drossos leads Pearson's 1:1 team and visited Huntsville on Digital Learning Day.
Q&A With a Rural Superintendent
Oklahoma Chief Janet Barresi points to Howe High School in Southeastern Oklahoma as a digital learning leader. Superintendent Scott Parks leads a 1:1 district that makes extensive use of online learning. "It is amazing what they are accomplishing," said Barresi. The state board will be visiting Howe this month.