Posts by Tom Vander Ark
Leaning Forward: 13 Conversations
another 13 reasons I'm optimistic about the future of learning #url#
Common Core: A Platform for Achievement & Innovation
We've tried to avoid presidential politics here, but some comments about the federal role in education this week (covered well by K-12 Politics ) suggested the need to reiterate the importance of common standards and the constructive role that the federal government and national organizations can play.
How Children Succeed: Attachment, Advisory & Adversity
Paul Tough takes on the enormous question of How Children Succeed in his new book. In a well-produced long interview with Ira Glass, Tough said, "We don't teach the most important skills," a list that includes "persistence, self-control, curiosity, conscientiousness, grit and self-confidence."
DIY: Sweat Equity Brand Building
It has never been easier and cheaper to build brand equity--a favorable impression with an audience that matters to you. Sure, it's noisy out there, but with a little sweat equity you can build support for your school, project, or product.
MOOCs Shift From Curiosity to Employability
With huge investments and lots of fanfare, massive open online courses (MOOC) are the higher ed topic of the year. They’ve been around for years, but when more than 100,000 people signed up for a Stanford artificial intelligence course it was obvious that MOOCs had arrived.
Charters, Common Core & EdTech Headline Education Nation
Mayor Bloomberg kicked off the morning with a growling defense of Chicago mayor Rahm Emauel. He said, "We should evaluate and pay teachers as skilled professionals." He announced expanded access to full day K next year and the first Eeducare school an early childhool leadership institute thanks to Susan Buffet.
Good Work with a Loudspeaker
The Harlem and Williamsburg (Brooklyn) film festivals featured a trio of TEACHED shorts from Loudspeaker Films. Kelly Amis is former TFA teacher with serious edreform credentials now using film to build support for transformation and education equality.
Vittra International: Personalized Swedish Network on a Mission
Vittra International is a network of high tech elementary schools in Sweden. Vitta has 12 schools were every student has an Apple laptop. Architecturally and academically it's clear that there is an underlying design--a clear intellectual mission that makes these schools a great place to learn and work. Vittra expresses the design principles through six promises.
Maps, Playlists, & Badges: Key Blended Learning Themes
On Tuesday we co-hosted OpenBlend, a blended learning conference with the Tacoma Public Schools and the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) featuring a full-day track of Khan Academy workshops as well as other innovative and open tools.
Blended Learning: Iterating Toward Better Learning At Scale
"Instead of 'fixing' K-12, let's build something better," said Alex Hernandez fromCharter Growth Fund (@ThinkSchools) who opened a conversation among experts in the future of learning. "Blended learning is not about technology, it's about personalizing learning for students. We can give students the instruction they need, when they need it."