Posts by Tom Vander Ark
Good Work: Celebrating Second Mile People
 Evil is laziness…love is the antithesis of laziness.  -M. Scott Peck Labor Day is a reminder that all work has dignity and that all workers deserve dignity. Everyone in this country has the right to an education, to self-expression, and the freedom to contribute both to their personal well-being. More…
SMARTER Reading & Writing?
Fordham's Kathleen Porter-Magee criticized the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium reading assessment strategy
ImagineK12 Ready to Demo Edupreneurs
ImagineK12 helps form and guide new companies focused on improving elementary and secondary education. I agree with their view of the opportunity: The infrastructure, hardware, software, and platforms are either available or being developed that will change the nature of how we teach our children in profound…
Leading the Shift to Personal Digital Learning
The shift to digital learning is expanding educational opportunity in the U.S. and even more significantly in emerging economies. The potential to customize learning, to boost engagement, and to extend learning at reduced costs is a set of world-changing opportunities.
Innovative Content is Driving the Learning Revolution
MangaHIgh math game Digital Learning Now, an advocacy initiative chaired by former governors Jeb Bush and Bob Wise, released a video this week about promoting high quality digital content.  Among the 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning, the governors recommend “Digital content, instructional…
Indiana Chief Outlines Reforms
Tony Bennett is Indiana superintendent of public education. Bennet chairs Chiefs for Change and was recently recognized by Fordham as a leading reformer. Here's a few excerpts from his blog today.
College Prep For All Agenda is Working
The National Journal reflects on increasing college enrollment rates as reported by the Pew Research college enrollment continues at record high levels. That’s what the Pew Research Center found last week in a report on college enrollment and ethnicity.  Fawn Johnson explains: In October 2010, the United States hit…
Good Work: Keeping the Dream Alive
Go see The Help, the movie based on the best selling book by Kathryn Stockett. Watching the film is a fitting way to to mark the anniversary of MLK’s 1963 I Have a Dream Speech.
18 Low Tech Ways to Help Kids & Educators Get Smart
I frequently write about new learning technologies, but there are lots of low tech learning innovations (i.e., produce better outcomes and potentially cost less). Here’s a lit of 18. I bet you can add two to the list to make it an even 20. At this point, some aren’t…
Jefferson County eSchool Offers Online Options
The Jefferson County Public Schools e-School in Louisville KY provides part time and supplemental education to students locally and nationally.  We interviewed Artie Dietz, the Assistant Principal. GS: What is eSchool? Dietz: We offer online learning opportunities to students grade 3-13 including dual credit courses. …