Posts by Getting Smart Staff
Aerospace Scholars Offers Blended STEM Experience
While demand for engineers in the workplace is growing, student interest in the STEM field is declining. In particular, students who enter high school interested in engineering, tend to become disengaged in the field as they approach graduation. An educational program located in Washington State hopes to stop that trend by engaging students in the STEM field in new and interesting ways. The Washington Aerospace Scholars Program offers an innovative approach to STEM education by combining online and applied hands on learning.
Oregon School District Shows Success With Individualized Online Learning
Early indicators suggest that Lebanon School District’s implementation and access of online learning materials, has been a success. Lebanon School District is located in a rural area of Oregon which suffers from high unemployment and high dropout rates. With the help of Oregon iSchool, developed by K12 Inc., 450 students, who might not have otherwise been enrolled in school, have enrolled in the online courses. Giving students who face low socioeconomic challenges more options to attend school, could result in higher attrition rates.
Microsoft Launches Imagine Cup Gaming Competition
Interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among children has been in decline over the past decade. If these trends continue, there could be a possible shortage of STEM graduates and careers in computer programming and software design may go unfilled in coming years.
MasteryConnect Powers Solution Tree PLC
Through a newly formed partnership with MasteryConnect, Solution Tree now has the technology solution to take their PLC work to the next level.
Video: The Transformational Power of Education Technology
Throughout history technology has helped society improve in endless ways. Advanced tools have helped doctors and architects become more effective and efficient, teachers could also now benefit immensely from access to new technological tools. Customized student instruction via online data tracking means that students who are behind, no longer have to stay behind.
“Digital Learning Transition” MOOC
A brand new, free, Massive Online Open Course or MOOC focusing on “Digital Learning Transition” was announced today by the Alliance for Excellent Education and Friday Institute for Educational Innovation.
EdTech10: A Weird Good Week
Seven letters dominated the news in our world this week - S X S W E D U. (Well, six letters technically, but you get our point.) The Getting Smart team had a great time in Austin. It was the perfect balance of informative sessions and engaging conversations before and after them.
SXSWedu: Keeping it Weird
Much like Austin, SXSWedu kept it weird for the third annual conference. Weird in a good way. Suits traded in for boots and jeans. Typical presentations traded in for interactive discussions. Its one of the few conferences that skips the exhibit hall and puts more emphasis on networking time. SXSWedu also features the best music of any education conference. From music before session starts to live performances by Wheeler Brothers and Alpha Rev we felt the Austin music spirit. For more on the first part of the week check out our halftime report.
Q&A: Monica Jordan, Memphis City Schools
As part of professional development and growth for Memphis City School Teachers, video resources are being added into schools. Teachers will gain experience, support and professional development for use of videos in their classrooms. Support for the video solution in schools is being provided by Teachscape, a pioneer in classroom video use.
Gates Foundation Launches Literacy Courseware Challenge
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be making grants of up $6 million to organizations that develop software that supports students in "mastering literacy skills for writing, writing to read, and writing to learn."