Posts by Tom Vander Ark
Personalized Learning
Mission scaling
It’s tough for non-profit organizations to find scaling capital—especially now. Donations come and go. Foundations provide restricted grants for pet projects. Even with a strong sustainable business plan, it’s hard to find unrestricted grants to grow. That’s why I’m encouraged by a new generation of non-profit venture and growth…
Personalized Learning
Turning the textbook world upside down
Flatworld, a start up company that just raised $8 million, is launching a free line of college textbooks. Like Wireless Generation, which distributes www.FreeReading.net, they make money by selling related services. For the last 15 years, textbook publishers have given away CDs and digital assets to sell textbooks.
Personalized Learning
Learning outside of the classroom—culture and context will drive spiky use
TeachStreet is one of the latest entrants in informal peer-to-peer learning space. See interview with CEO Dave Shappell on The Deal. There was lots of conversation about P2P learning at the Union Square’s recent Hacking Education conference. Universities see this coming and are tripping over themselves…
Personalized Learning
In favor of risk
Risk capital made this country great—that and an amazing foundation of founding principles. But we’re getting ready to send risk capital overseas. The uniquely American combination of market capitalism, extraordinary universities, and risk capital—specifically venture capital and growth equity—are the engine behind a century of remarkable…
Personalized Learning
6 EdTech trends that will affect education
eSchool News reports on the six technologies soon to affect education – One year or less: collaborative environments and online communication tools – Two to three years: mobile devices and cloud computing – Four to five years: smart objects and the personal web…
Personalized Learning
Learning online tidbits
1. “Students say there should be more use of mobile devices in their learning.” This blinding flash of the obvious is from a recent Speak Up survey. So why is it that nearly all kids in the developed world have mobile devices and we don’t use them…
Personalized Learning
A new kind of B school: Kauffman shows the way
The Kauffman Foundation is clearly the most entrepreneurial philanthropy. Their deep understanding of the importance of entrepreneurship to job creation and economic vitality is, unfortunately, unique in philanthropy and public policy. High Tech High, San Diego, is my favorite school because it encourages kids to…
Personalized Learning
Tech augmented teacher supply
Here’s the intro to an AEI discussion on teacher supply next week; it’s a good summary of the challenge: Today’s most successful K–12 schools have a voracious appetite for talent. Indeed, successful charter school networks—like KIPP and Achievement First—are perhaps most notable for their ability to create a “no excuses”…
Personalized Learning
10 Notable CMOs
Following are 10 notable education leaders and their charter management organizations: 1. Larry Rosenstock, High Tech High: the best example of applied and integrated learning I’ve seen. 2. Dacia Toll, Achievement First: the best operator in the business—it’s the relentless pursuit for excellence through execution that…
Personalized Learning
Spectacular Hartford Magnet schools
Connecticut was a late comer to charters and still has relative few (but very high quality like Achievement First). The state has made a substantial financial commitment to magnet schools in part as a response to a desegregation case. Hartford is home to the Learning Corridor, a…