Posts by Tom Vander Ark
Personalized Learning
Union High: How a Big School Makes Learning Personal
In some districts, big schools mean some young people, especially those that haven’t been well served or supported, to feel disconnected and fall through the cracks. Superintendent Kirt Hartzler explains that Union High School bucks the trend with a commitment to 100% graduation and college and career readiness for all students.
Future of Learning
The Rise of AI: What’s Happening, What it Means, How to Prepare?
At SXSW EDU last week we hosted a meetup to discuss the implications of artificial intelligence on education. Thought leaders and forward thinkers discussed what’s happening, what it means and how we can prepare.
Future of Learning
Bots & Big Cities: What Do They Mean for Our Kids?
This post was originally published in April of 2016. Since then, the world has changed in a number of big (and unexpected) ways. We hope this glance into the recent past will serve as a powerful reminder of why you are working to improve the learning of the students you serve, and lend a sense of urgency to the important work you are doing.
Project-Based Learning
Introducing a Framework for High Quality Project Based Learning
By Tom Vander Ark and Emily Liebtag - Projects are an easy way to engage students in authentic challenges, but delivering all of the possible benefits requires well-constructed, sustained and supported experiences. This new Framework can help develop such experiences.
Project-Based Learning
Napa Junction: Deeper Learning for All
South of the vineyards in Napa is a school that serves a diverse body of K-5 learners. They are a prime example of how a committed staff and effective leaders can work with like-minded schools to create powerful learning for all students.
EdTech
What the Rise of Podcasts Tell Us About Learning
If we zoom out from podcasts and consider tech more broadly, it’s clear that something important is going on. Now that we’re all connected with powerful devices and ubiquitous broadband, digital platforms have transformed the way we live, work, travel, learn and play.
Future of Learning
Total Impact Leadership in Business and Education
The head of the world’s biggest investment management firm recently told CEOs to stop fixating on quarterly profits and focus on total impact. Here's what that means for education.
STEM & Maker
All About STEM High Schools
Tom shares three dozen STEM schools that are engaging students in design challenges and high-quality project-based learning, highlighting what makes these schools special and innovative.
Project-Based Learning
George Saunders On Learning to Write–and Writing to Learn
George Saunders might be the most critically acclaimed contemporary American author. He has inspired thousands of young writers with his writing and teaching. Tom recently caught up with him to learn more about his approach to teaching and writing.
Future of Work
Collaboration: Key to Successful Teams and Projects
By Tom Vander Ark and Emily Liebtag. Collaboration is key to successful teams and projects. It is sometimes thought of as a “soft skill” but in high-performance organizations, collaboration is the result of the intentional design of culture, structure, and tools, and the cultivation of individual mindsets and skill sets.