Posts by Tom Vander Ark
Better Learning Online
Learning online is rapidly becoming part of every student's day whether it's a game on a smart phone, a workstation in a classroom, or an online course with a teacher at a distance. As full and part-time online learning becomes more ubiquitous, critics have become more vocal. Reports have criticized mixed results on traditional measures. State leaders press for effectiveness and efficiency.
The 50 Best Books of All Time
OK, these are probably not the best books of all time but these mostly non-fiction titles were important to me when I read them over the last twenty years.
Good Work: Get Involved
If there is only one work, the great work of the universe going on, then, the universe itself is sacrament; it is a sacred place, and it is bestowing graces on us. Our work, if it is tapping into the great work, is tapping into this bestowal of grace. Therefore…
Something In Common: The Common Core Standards
Robert Rothman wrote the first definitive book on new national standards last year:Something in Common: The Common Core Standards and the Next Chapter in American Education. It provides a history of what, with new online assessments, will prove to frame the next decade of American education.
RTT-District: Scaling Personalizing Innovations
Last week the Department issued the final guidance on Race to the Top District(RTT-D) competition. It's a big opportunity to improvement for underserved kids.
Learning Untethered: Conclusions From a 5th Grade Tablet Pilot
Learning Untethered is a “collaborative exploration” that introduced 7 inch Samsung Galaxy tablets running Android 2.2, a mobile data plan, and using Internet filtering from Kajeet into an Oregon fifth grade classroom. The report made important observations about writing and mobile device management.
Poverty: High on the Edu Agenda, Not a Campaign Issue
Frank McCaughey is a teacher in the Bronx where 80 percent of the students in his school live in or near poverty. Frank posted a blog today, “The Biggest Challenge I Face in my Classroom,” where he urged policy makers to take on “the devastation that extreme poverty…
20 Schools Innovating With Digital Tools
Hans Renman in Stockholm (@tankom_hans) asked on Twitter, "Do you know any US schools that are REALLY using digital tools in an INTERESTING way for communication, marketing, or learning?" That tweet kicked off a few days of snooping around. Here is the list of 20 we came up with. We look forward to your additions!
Pearson’s 1:1 Learning Framework Furthers Personalized Learning & Common Core
"The Huntsville City School district is ditching textbooks and passing out laptops instead," reported a Huntsville TV station. Huntsville Alabama is one of many districts making the shift to digital learning this fall. Students from fourth to twelfth grade will receive laptops starting this week.
DIY: Building a Team
Recently, folks at the Pearson Foundation asked me to write about " Five Things I've Learned About Startups" and I listed building a great team as a key to success. Whether launching a startup or leading a school district change initiative, building a team is important but difficult work. As I noted, "When you get the talent, trust and focus right, the results are extraordinary."