Archive: 2013
EdTech

Two Pathways to EdTech Impact

Tom Vander Ark

Shelly Blake-Plock wrote an impassioned blog recently claiming, "edtech doesn't exist." He argued for a "thrust of imagination and creativity" that combines semantic web and "new forms of interaction between the Internet and humans."
Personalized Learning

Moving to a ‘Split Screen’ Strategy for K-12

Guest Author

Education|Evolving – a long a source of challenging analysis and new ideas for public education -- is circulating a proposal for a fundamental change in the way America goes about redesigning K-12 education. Tom Vander Ark has cited it. Here is a summary. You can read the full text at http://www.educationevolving.org/strategy.
Personalized Learning

Ed.gov Advocates for New Approaches to Capturing Evidence

Tom Vander Ark

Expanding Evidence Approaches for Learning in a Digital World is a new report from the EdTech Office at the Department of Education. "The report discusses the promise of sophisticated digital learning systems for collecting and analyzing very large amounts of fine-grained data ("big data") as users interact with the systems," said Karen Cator, the outgoing EdTech Director. "It proposes that this data can be used by developers and researchers to improve these learning systems and strive to discover more about how people learn. It discusses the potential of developing more sophisticated ways of measuring what learners know and adaptive systems that can personalize learners' experiences."
EdTech

12 Wishes for a Creative New Year

Susan Davis

Call me hopelessly Romantic in the 19th-century sense, but I believe deeply in creativity as the wellspring of a meaningful, productive, and happy life. I am never more joyful than when I am fully engaged in puzzling out a challenging problem, making something with my hands (including wiggling my fingers on a keyboard to craft something digitally), or building on the work of others to invent new ways for my students to learn. My philosophy of teaching, then, stands on a foundation of creativity.
Personalized Learning

3 Lessons on Faculty Development from an Education Innovator

Guest Author

Oregon State University went from not offering formal tech support to its faculty to having the director of its faculty tech training program named one of this year’s top 50 innovators in education. What can we learn from the success of OSU’s program?
Personalized Learning

7 Steps to Flipped Professional Development

Guest Author

Arriving home from San Diego and having just attended the ISTE (International Society of Technology in Education) conference I was scheduled to facilitate an all-day professional development for our district. I was excited to share as much of the conference as possible in a day without overwhelming everyone.
EdTech

10 Exam Studying Tips For the 21st Century Learner

Guest Author

Studying for an exam is not exactly the most exciting time in a student’s life, but it is a great excuse for gadget-loving 21st century teenagers to combine work and play. There is no “right” way to study and it is important that you study in a manner that suits your individual needs. Take advantage of the incredible technology available to today’s society and pass your exam with flying colors with this step-by-step guide.
Personalized Learning

Infographic: How Will We Reinvent College?

Getting Smart Staff

Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs), free online universities, and more are disrupting the traditional collegiate experience -- forcing universities and colleges to reinvent the delivery of courses and degrees to remain competitive in the market of higher education. Recently, OnlineUniversities.com shared "15 Ways to Reinvent College."
Personalized Learning

Yes! Zeens in the Classroom!

Alison Anderson

I know if I announced to my middle school students, “I want you to create your own digital magazine,” a lot of hands would be thrown over heads and many loudly whispered “yeses” would be heard immediately. With the new site Zeen.com, I actually can give my classes this dream assignment.