Posts by Tom Vander Ark

Future of Learning

How to Create Experiences and Scale Environments That Change Lives

Jan 17, 2017

Learn more about creating successful learning networks, where groups of like-minded schools support each other through a common vision, powerful learning experiences for both students and teachers, and common tools and systems.

Leadership

On Becoming An Idea Machine

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 15, 2017

James Altucher says ideas are the currency of life and we should keep our idea machine at top performance levels by flexing the idea muscle daily. So here is my list for today--what's on your list?

Leadership

Curriculum Associates: Blended Success Story

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 11, 2017

Curriculum Associates may be the most important EdTech success story you don’t know about. Learn more about its backstory, how it grew into a blended learning giant and recently donated most of it's stock to a university

Student using controller to manipulate robot

EdTech

Tell Kids to Get Good at Stuff Smart Machines Can’t Do (Yet)

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 10, 2017

Smart machines will change the face of the economy, and today's young people will need a different set of skills to succeed than past generations did. In particular, they will need to get good at things machines can not do.

Two EdLeaders Shaking Hands in a business meeting after finishing with agreement crafting

Leadership

Agreement Crafting: The New Work of EdLeaders

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 6, 2017

It’s a series of agreements that help a school community meet new challenges, adopt new learning models and leverage new partnerships—these are the agreements that EdLeaders should be prepared to make.

EdLeaders sitting around discussing whether they're an innovator or an improver and working on school development plans

Leadership

Are You an Improver or an Innovator? Differentiating EdLeader Roles

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 5, 2017

Schools go through seasons—some periods demand an innovation sprint, while other periods require a sustained focus on improvement. The question is, does every EdLeader need to be a master of both?

teacher helping students with project that she was able to build herself, because she was not working in a managed instruction environment

Personalized Learning

What is Curriculum? From Managed Instruction to Personalized Learning

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 3, 2017

Teachers have always supplemented core curriculum to meet the needs of students, but the digital classroom of today has created a blended, mix-and-match, DIY world of education. In this environment, what is curriculum, and who develops it?

Students smiling while working together because of the psychological safety in their classroom

Leadership

Promoting Psychological Safety in Classrooms for Student Success

Tom Vander Ark

Dec 29, 2016

Helping young people develop the skills and confidence needed to become self-directed learners, creators, problem-solvers and project managers all begins by creating a safe place to learn.

Future of Learning

Getting Smart Podcast | Stanford CTO Provokes Good Questions Online (and Off)

Tom Vander Ark

Dec 27, 2016

In this podcast, Paul Kim, CTO and Assistant Dean at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, chats with Tom about the importance of asking good questions and the future of learning in a world of AI and smart machines.

Leadership

Use Projects to Manage Change and Develop Leaders

Tom Vander Ark

Dec 20, 2016

Assigning project management to emerging leaders is a great way to distribute leadership, manage change and develop leadership. Here are just a few success stories in the education field.

	Beginning	Piloting	Implementing
From Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery	BeginningFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Beginning	PilotingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Piloting	ImplementingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Implementing
From One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning	BeginningFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Implementing
From Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry	BeginningFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Beginning	PilotingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Piloting	ImplementingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Implementing
From Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning	BeginningFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Implementing
From Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities	BeginningFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Beginning	PilotingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Piloting	ImplementingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Implementing
From Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment	BeginningFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Beginning	PilotingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Piloting	ImplementingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Implementing
From Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets	BeginningFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Beginning	PilotingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Piloting	ImplementingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Implementing

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Posts by Tom Vander Ark