EdTech 10: Pure Imagination

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.” 
In honor of Gene Wilder, our favorite Willy Wonka of all time, this week’s top edtech stories share how edleaders are making the imagined come true.
From offering free virtual tours of U.S. National Parks to offering free world-class education to anyone, anywhere, here are the movers and shakers in education making dreams into reality.

Cool Schools & Tools

1. New Pub from Highlander and Christensen 

NEW! 6 mgmt strategies for piloting, scaling ed innovation across trad’l systems https://t.co/zzaSKNd328 @ChristensenInst @HighlanderInst

— Carri Schneider (@CarriSchneider) August 29, 2016

We agree inspiration, incubation, intermediation are keys to next-gen learning at scale

Digital Developments

2. Google Parks 360º

AWESOME! @google now offers #360 #VR tours of 5 National Parks! https://t.co/GtFrZrzeeQ #GoogleExpeditions #edtech pic.twitter.com/Mr8PHDA2CZ

— Bryan L. Miller (@Edtechnerd) August 25, 2016

Let’s get students outside to learn–check out our place-based education campaign!
3. Duck, Duck, Moose!

We’ve joined @KhanAcademy, a nonprofit with a mission to provide free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere! pic.twitter.com/l26Y2qPESq
— Duck Duck Moose (@duckduckmoose) August 25, 2016

4. Career Exploration App

Meet the #ReachHigherApp winner @ThinkZoneGames, the team behind the Hats & Ladders app! https://t.co/xS35Wbqsgbpic.twitter.com/yAQgZVWDyB

— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) August 24, 2016

This new game-based app supports today’s students with career exploration–we talk about the skills they’ll need to succeed in their future careers in Learning for Life: New Skills for New Jobs.

5. Monetizing EdTech

How to Monetize Your Education Technology Product (Hint: Positioning Is Paramount) https://t.co/sn7gsU62lA #edtech
— EdSurge (@EdSurge) August 24, 2016

We’ve been studying learning platforms, here’s 8 observations.

Dollars & Deals

6. $42.8M to Panopto

.@Panopto raises $43M for #edu and enterprise video platform https://t.co/vaeXcjuT1n @geekwire #edtech pic.twitter.com/gSeG6rAbk1

— Tom Vander Ark (@tvanderark) August 25, 2016

7. $1M to Nepris

Nepris closes a $1 million seed funding round led by the @MSDF_Foundation and others https://t.co/PaTtG4agZn via @edweek
— nepris (@neprisapp) August 30, 2016

Stem Gems

8. 100 Days of Learning

.@Boeing celebrates 100 years with 100 Days of Learning; free #STEM activities and lessons. Learn more https://t.co/zEOeI5yvJ4
— Jessica Slusser (@Jess_Slusser) August 30, 2016

9. STEM Girls

Canvas Network Reveals Series of Open Courses Focusing on Engaging Girls in STEM Fields https://t.co/5GJ4CCFcwu via @YahooFinance #education
— Ed McKaveney (@EdTechFocus) August 29, 2016

Higher, Deeper, Further, Faster Learning

10. Reimagining Higher Education

College’s needs for Learning Relationship Management systems not just LMS (content) https://t.co/sVxKchyMOQ #highered#eswde5622
— James Kerr (@Kerr63) August 30, 2016

Speaking of lifetime learning, check out how to create your own anywhere, anytime playlist.

Bonus:

Guided Math and Reading Curriculum

#EdTech news | @Education_com Unveils a Guided Curriculum to Better Build Essential Math and Reading Skills | https://t.co/yxgLS9SItg

— The EdTech Roundup (@ETRoundup) August 31, 2016

Check out this Smart Bundle where we discuss the importance of teachers as curriculum designers.

For more, see:

• Virtual Reality – Hope or Hype?
• STEM And Making in Education is Growing
• The World is a Classroom & the Possibilities are Endless

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