Posts by Tom Vander Ark
Maine goes 7-12 laptop program
Maine is expanding it’s 1:1 computing progam from 7th to 12th grade in the fall, as reported in eSchool News. Former Gov. Angus King provided the initial vision and political capital to get this started eight years ago. It’s great to see Gov. John Baldacci continue Maine’s leadership role. …
It’s all about relationships
David Brooks column yesterday is particularly thoughtful reflection on Obama’s education speech. In particular, he focused on the importance of relationships: We’ve spent years working on ways to restructure schools, but what matters most is the relationship between one student and one teacher. You ask a…
2nd Gen Content: flat & sequential to engaging & adaptive
We’re at the beginning of the end of the first generation of online learning content. First gen content was mostly flat and sequential—digital textbooks. Second gen content will be far more engaging and adaptive. For more than a decade, computer games have continuously assessed skill and interest and…
Education—The Sexy Profession!?
Ten years of investment are paying off in a human capital shift and ecosystems of edu-entrepreneurship. We’re seeing top grads at the Ivies and professional schools considering a career in education. …
Making Good on the Good Schools Promise
Making Good on the Good Schools Promise Only one thing needs to change in failing high schools—everything. In the…
The Good School Promise
ConnCan is probably the most effective state-based education advocacy organization. Education policy is particularly complicated in CT with a legacy of strong local control (e.g., the state provides less than 40% of…
College in High School
1. The conversation we should have with every 8th grader In his state of the union message, President Obama challenged Americans to get at…
Investing in Innovation
In the long run, it’s all about innovation—that’s true for our economy and our schools. Tom Friedman makes the case for innovation investment in addition to the bailouts:…
Leadership Challenge: Execution & Innovation
Over the next decade education will migrate from print-centric batch-processing to personal digital learning services (see www.disruptingclass.com). This transition will result from a combination of…