Posts by Tom Vander Ark
How a Poor Kid From Turkey Grew up to Create Anything Anywhere Learning
Udemy is the leading marketplace for anywhere anytime learning with 5000 courses and 400,000 students.
Great Boards for Great Schools
Two decades of experience with performance contracting in the delivery of public education has wrought some hard earned lessons. We know what good authorizing looks like. We know how to open great new schools.
5 Megatrends That Shaped 2012 Education
Five big trends that will shape education for the next decade became fully evident this year.
10 Things School Board Members Should Do in 2013
Set a high bar. Adopt the EPIC definition of college/career ready knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Insist on evidence of real college and career ready standards. Showcase examples of student work at board meetings.
The Pivot to Digital Learning: 40 Predictions Revisited
Two years ago I made 40 predictions. I said, "The education sector has not historically been very dynamic, but this year (2010) things changed. Despite the recession, we have seen more start-ups and more cool applications than ever before." In many areas we've seen accelerated progress in the last two years. In a few areas progress has been slower than I expected. Following is a review of how my one-, five-, and ten-year predictions are fairing.
6 Innovations in Social Emotional Learning
Social emotional learning "teaches the skills we all need to handle ourselves, our relationships, and our work, effectively and ethically," says Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). CASEL was formed almost two decades ago started by CEO Roger P. Weissberg who is also professor at UIC. In addition to Weissberg, CASEL's agenda has been influenced by Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence.
Don’t be Lame, Personalize Learning
At a Baltimore gathering of learning professionals we discussed six important advances underway: personalized learning, learner profiles and customized playlists, iPads and mobile learning, powerful platforms, and progress by demonstrated competency.
Bush-Sponsored Summit Calls for Excellence at Scale
The fifth annual Excellence in Action National Summit on Education Reform, was held in Washington DC the last two days. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush chair of the host organization, kicked off the event Tuesday by urging state policy makers to hold firm on college and career ready standards.
Will Common Core State Standards Accelerate or Slow Innovation?
Some friends are working on a paper on the topic of common standards and innovation. The primary question is how and whether the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) will accelerate or slow innovation.
Smart Cities: New York City is an EdTech Hotspot
New York City schools have been among the most innovative in the country as discussed last week. NYC is home to the most education industry leaders and the second most prolific tech startup and EdTech hotspot on the planet (after the Bay Area).