Posts by Tom Vander Ark
EdTech
Study Confirms Gains From Game-Based ST Math
A WestEd study released this week confirmed gains tracked by schools using the innovative ST Math program from MIND Research Institute. More than 1,700 schools use the supplemental math games.
EdTech
ImagineK12 Launches 10 More EdTech Startups
Palo Alto edtech accelerator ImagineK12 held its third demo day on Thursday. The cohort of 10 startups made competent pitches. Some, like content sharing app Padlet, have good early traction.
Personalized Learning
Nexus Lansing: A New High School Experience
Nexus Academy, supported by Connections Learning, is a personalized competency-based environment--a great example of a flex blend with lots of extra features. It's worth a visit.
Leadership
You Don’t Know Jack
I want to wake up with the same enthusiasm for life (at least after coffee) and learn with the same conviction that she hits the trail with.
Personalized Learning
Pondering Urban High School Improvement
“We want people to be perplexed—to embrace the paradox of starting new schools,” said Larry Rosenstock in the opening to the A+ Urban High School Summit in Denver Wednesday. As usually Larry has a rich list of quotes on the subject.
Personalized Learning
Blended Learning Webinar Q&A
The Getting Smart team participated in an Education Week blended learning webinar today with Dreambox. The chat was lively and we didn’t get to all the questions.
Leadership
The High School Challenge: Improvement vs. Innovation
How to help more students graduate ready for college and careers? We’re exploring the perennial question at the A+ Urban High School Summit in Denver.
Personalized Learning
Blended STEM: Project Lead The Way
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a leading provider of STEM curriculum for U.S. secondary schools. PLTW is launching an elementary program, a computer science strand, and improving its blended STEM offering with updates to the online and hands-on learning experience.
Ed Policy
Authorizing Great Schools & Encouraging New Models
The good news is that, "More authorizers are adopting practices that will lead to high-performing charter portfolios," according to NACSA in a report released todary, The State of Charter School Authorizing. They concluded that "States are improving their laws and policies on charter accountability, and some are breaking new ground in holding authorizers accountable for outcomes of their work
Ed Policy
Funding Students, Options & Achievement
Money matters. The way districts and states fund schools influences leadership behaviors. We need to create funding systems that encourage innovation, power options, and promote achievement.