Archive: 2013

Personalized Learning

Assessment All the Time? Why Not?

When talking with people who are not educators, I often think of Fannee Doollee, a character from the Zoom television series, which ran on PBS in the late seventies, who has a fascination with double letters. Fannee Doollee loves one thing but hates something very similar. For example, she loves swEEts but hates candy (notice the double EE in sweets). Similarly, in my conversation with parents and community leaders, I am always amazed at how they can advocate for one thing while mocking a possible solution.

EdTech

Physical Education, Meet Gaming

One in three children are now considered overweight or obese, according to a study from USC Rossier School of Education. As a result, many schools are feeling pressure to ensure their students get adequate exercise and healthy meals, which has recently caused an innovative meshing of video games and the physical education curriculum.

Personalized Learning

Buildings That Teach

10,000. That’s the number that appeared on Craig Schiller’s computer screen at the start of his presentation to a small group of parents and faculty at my daughter’s school this week.

Personalized Learning

Ready to Implement Blended Learning?

Districts across the country are starting to see the blended learning light. We’re encouraged by the growing number of forward-thinking leaders who are past the point of needing to be convinced about the potential of blended learning; and are now ready to get serious about implementation.

Personalized Learning

Flip a Class & Create a Movie: A Dream Come True

Recently, one of my dreams became reality. Our literature class, affectionately dubbed Studio 113 by students years ago, was granted our wish. In fact, the goal for next year’s American Literature Honors students is to flip a class and create an original movie. It’s a dream come true.

Personalized Learning

Hall Davidson at TASA 2013: Tablet Device as Backpack

I had never heard Hall Davidson speak until I saw him at the Midwinter meeting of the Texas Association of Schools Administrators. If you have not heard his presentation, you are in for a treat: enthusiasm, energy, state-of-the-art information. As we say around here in Texas, it was the whole enchilada.

Personalized Learning

Identifying & Meeting Student Needs Is Getting Easier With lookred

After spending a day with Microsoft Innovative Schools and before visiting BETT, I toured Cornwallis Academy, a K-12 school outside of London and managed by the Future Schools Trust. The leadership team demonstrated lookred®, an information system key to their approach to "personalise" learning and "pastoral care."