Posts by Tom Vander Ark
EdTech
Plugging Into Professional Learning Communities
We're celebrating Connected Educator Month with Edmodo , the largest social learning network- where the educators ARE connected educators. Many districts and teacher networks connect on Edmodo, the free social learning platform. Following are five examples:
Personalized Learning
4 Opportunities in Blended Special Education
We discuss the 5 critical decisions that schools and districts need to make (as outlined in the recently released, new & improved Blended Learning Implementation Guide) while considering special needs students:
Leadership
Hypothesis: We Can Change the Learning Curve
My life is a hypothesis—that personal digital learning will change the world.
EdTech
MasteryConnect Powers PLC Connected Educators
Solution Tree, a midsize innovator headquartered in Bloomington Indiana, helped introduced American educators to the power of professional learning communities (PLCs) through books, events and professional development. In contrast to top down PD, PLC are an authentic way for teachers to collaborate and learn together. Sanger Unified, Schaumburg,…
Ed Policy
Building Buzz in Detroit
The EAA has built a blended professional development course for teachers inside of Buzz that uses a variety of resources to help teachers learn how to build a strong learning environment through fostering relationships, creating a common language, developing a shared classroom vision and establishing rituals and routines.
Ed Policy
10 Promising Models & What it Means for Leaders
The shift to digital holds great promise for students and teachers but it will be challenging and confusing for leaders. As the toolset improves, it will become somewhat easier to create high performing platform-centric districts and networks.
Ed Policy
The 10 Elements: Forward Lean Versus Fast Retreat
The chance to create new tools and new schools that work better for students and teachers has never been better. In this decade we have the opportunity to dramatically improve education in Detroit as well as Delhi.
Personalized Learning
Deeper Learning in High Need Schools
Many of the schools we studied this summer serve high challenge low income communities. They share six characteristics that appear to support the success of low-income students.
Leadership
Leadership Implications of the Brave New Blended World
As the number of blended models proliferates, teaching and leadership roles are beginning to vary considerably from model to model. As a result, it will become increasingly important to make a large percentage of teacher and leader preparation model specific.
Leadership
The Rise of The Edupreneur
Being an edupreneur means creating a new capacity. It could be a new tool or a new school, a new way to learn or a new way to share. Some teach, some lead, some fix, edupreneurs start something new. Impact is my second criteria is impact: measurable benefit for students and teachers. That implies a scalable and sustainable capacity.