Innov8: Random Acts of Kindness

It’s National Random Acts of Kindness week—what are you doing to take part? If you are a teacher, do you have any activities planned in your classroom? Be sure to download the Online Kindness Generator app for inspiration and add your acts of kindness this week to its global tracker to inspire others.

Whatever your choice, we invite you to join us in making the world a better place to be this week, as those listed in our top eight stories are doing as they continue raising the bar on innovations in education.

#NewSchools & #EdTech Tools

1.  Instructional Material Review 2.0

New Online Tool from @SETDA Helps #EdLeaders Choose Instructional Materials https://t.co/GT5k8f0vS6 @educationweek

— Tom Vander Ark (@tvanderark) February 13, 2017

With the wealth of instructional materials out there today, how can EdLeaders choose? What is curriculum? This new tool can help.

Dollars & Deals

2. Rethink Education Re-ups EdTech Fund

Rethink Education Re-Ups Commitment to Edtech With $107.5 Million Fund https://t.co/tFWWVUqWHH #edtech #highered via @HigherEdSurge

— Dr. Will (@iamDrWill) February 13, 2017

Rethink’s Matt Greenfield and Getting Smart’s Tom Vander Ark made the case for EdTech investment in Boosting Impact. The appendix includes Rethink’s well constructed impact criteria.

Cool Schools

3. School Networks

School networks urge expansion in Denver https://t.co/9DOp8P8xyi via @dnvrite

— Tom Vander Ark (@tvanderark) February 14, 2017

We appreciate the leadership of Denver’s elected board (stay tuned for podcast with them next week) and the importance of high performing school networks.

#EdPolicy Pieces

4. School Choice

Governors, state lawmakers roll out new #SchoolChoice proposals https://t.co/XUaydsFlpg #edpolicy #edchat #edpolitics #education pic.twitter.com/vrCeN2vWyW

— Arianna Prothero (@AriannaProthero) February 13, 2017

If student choice is key for a 100% graduation rate, school choice is crucial in the struggle for college and career readiness for all.

Let’s Get Personalized

5. Teachers Talk Personalized Learning

Upcoming #Teacher Talk #Webinar: (2/16, 6-7pm ET) How #Teachers Are Leading Change for #PersonalizedLearning: https://t.co/7GNnJcnF7J pic.twitter.com/esICpOv53v

— iNACOL (@nacol) February 13, 2017

Who better to design personalized learning experiences than the teachers who know the students personally? Teachers can even marry personalized learning and PBL.

#Teachers & #EdLeaders

6. Science and Civics Report

Science & Civics: A Guide for Collaborative Action – This report is part of the Science & Civics initiative by … https://t.co/1e791PNrgi

— B. Castillo de Lerín (@castillodelerin) February 14, 2017

7. Career Readiness Prep

Too many of our high school students are #Meandering2Grad https://t.co/cyFy6uToEV pic.twitter.com/cVkbRvvoyL

— The Education Trust (@EdTrust) August 29, 2016

Getting high schoolers motivated is a key aspect of college and career readiness.

8. Become A Teacher

Top story: How to Become a Teacher: The Complete Guide – Teachers of Tomorrow https://t.co/IUeKRKExOn, see more https://t.co/4myvmiKAg6

— Stephanie Dulmage (@stdulmage) February 13, 2017

Not yet ready for talks of teacher PD? Need to become a teacher first? This guide can help.

Have a news item you’d like us to consider for next Wednesday’s edition? Tweet us @Getting_Smart using #innov8 or to email [email protected] with “Innov8” in the subject line. For more ideas on what type of stories we run, check out the full Innov8 series on our blog.

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.