EdTech 10: School is Out, Learning is On

Several members of the Getting Smart team were originally teachers, so we know first hand that teachers don’t really have the whole summer “off.” Sure, the rhythm is different, but just because school is out it doesn’t mean that learning stops.
This week’s top ten list has news about some really cool opportunities for teachers to learn new things, test new tools and get inspired. Plus, we just launched an awesome new campaign called “It’s A Project-Based World.” If you’ve got a summer project you’re working on, we’d love for you to tell us about it in a blog, tweet us a picture or share a link using #ProjectBased.

Blended Schools & Tools

1. A League of Their Own

Apply to Join the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools: https://t.co/I0kCtHXS5Z #DPLIS pic.twitter.com/cH7s6Fj7g6

— Digital Promise (@DigitalPromise) June 9, 2016

2. Free MinecraftEDU Summer Pilot

.@Microsoft launches free trial of @MinecraftEdu for #teachers to test over the summer https://t.co/79avV2XrZQ @techcrunch #minecraftedu
— Carri Schneider (@CarriSchneider) June 10, 2016

3. Apple Launches Swift Playgrounds

Apple launches Swift Playgrounds app that teaches kids to code #WWDC2016 https://t.co/uOYec21tRj

— Fast Company (@FastCompany) June 14, 2016

Digital Developments

4. MIT Media Lab & Learning Machine Tackle Blockchain-Based Credentials

Learning Machine and MIT Media Lab Release Blockchain Technology for Educational Credentials https://t.co/1uSk68QbsO Interesting. #edchat
— Will Richardson (@willrich45) June 8, 2016

5. McREL International + Discovery Education = Dynamic Digital Learning Environments

.@McREL & @DiscoveryEd partner on creation of dynamic digital learning environments using innovation config maps https://t.co/loYPaQTdlw

— McREL International (@McREL) June 7, 2016

Dollars & Deals

6. Citelighter Raises $2.1 Million More in Funding

Citelighter Raises $2.1 Million More to Help Students Build Writing Chops: https://t.co/05FkXSLuF1 #edtech #edchat pic.twitter.com/czquhZA4N6
— EdSurge (@EdSurge) June 8, 2016

Stem Gems

7. Exploring Harmony

New #SmartBundle from @Getting_Smart wraps 6-month exploration of @HarmonyEdu #STEMSOS model https://t.co/CVq1Qfc0Qv

— Harmony STEM (@STEMCONNECT) June 10, 2016

GenDIY

8. LaunchMyCareer Colorado

What’s the best #highered pathway for you? Learn here. https://t.co/3SVclGbbBc #LaunchMyCareerCO pic.twitter.com/4hj57WZWW4
— USCCF Ed & Workforce (@USCCFeducation) June 9, 2016

The Big “D”

9. Trusting the EdTech Environment

Furthering our work in the states, we released “Building a Trusted Environment for Education Technology Products” https://t.co/DVO7kTlmO1

— Digital Learning Now (@DigLearningNow) June 7, 2016

Movers, Shakers & Groundbreakers

10. Duncan Joins Pluralsight Board

Exclusive: Arne Duncan joins the board of ed-tech unicorn Pluralsight https://t.co/VMAzg4p9E8
— Fast Company (@FastCompany) June 9, 2016

Stay in-the-know with all things EdTech and innovations in learning by signing up to receive the weekly Smart Update. This post includes mentions of a Getting Smart partner. For a full list of partners, affiliate organizations and all other disclosures please see our Partner page.