Posts by Guest Author
4 Steps to Making BYOD Work
Just a few years ago, the “smart money” for school districts was on 1:1 computing where schools issued each student a laptop. While there is a role for 1:1 initiatives, increasingly the dialogue has evolved to bring-your-own-device (BYOD), which focuses on the use of student-owned mobile devices, and for good reason. Research shows that “active learners” (students who have grown up with technology and expect it to be readily available) want to bring their own devices to school – and are driving changes in mobile phone use policies.
Competency-Based Learning and FLVS
Competency based learning has its origins in the business world. High school graduates who decide to become a barber, for example, would need specialized training in cutting hair. They would take an assessment to verify competency before receiving a license to cut hair. In order to maintain global standing, industry and education leaders teamed up to create a description of elements for 21st century outcomes.
How We’ll Learn in 2013
Here are three big stories concerning education and learning that you'll be hearing about in the year ahead—and some pointers on how to think about them.
Moving to a ‘Split Screen’ Strategy for K-12
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.
3 Lessons on Faculty Development from an Education Innovator
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?
7 Steps to Flipped Professional Development
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.
10 Exam Studying Tips For the 21st Century Learner
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.
8 Educational Apps for Homeschooling
Homeschooling your children can sometimes be difficult, but as with everything, there is an app for that. There are a ton of educational smartphone apps that are on the market these days. The subjects of these apps can range anywhere from history to math or even to physics. If you are looking to change up your children's lesson plan or even need something extra help to make learning fun, try using an app to help get the information across.
When Blended Learning Becomes Calvinball
So, it took me a while to write this because I was waiting for the right words to come to me. I’ve had the topic for a while – it was just the vocabulary that was not coming. This past weekend, the authors of this blog were featured on the State of Tech podcast (you can download it from iTunes or online at thestateoftech.org) and it was listening to my colleagues that finally brought the words to me for this post. So with that, I begin with the end in mind.
Chicago Appoints Jack Elsey Chief Innovations Officer
Jack J. Elsey Jr. joined Chicago Public Schools as Chief of Innovation and Incubation. Formerly Elsey was Chief Schools Officer for Detroit Rising College Preparatory Schools and Assistant Superintendent in the Detroit Public Schools.