Posts by Tom Vander Ark
Leaderboards: Learning Lessons From Research & Gamification
While more research needs to be done to support leaderboard use in educational settings, for now there is promise in using the gamification process to support student engagement and academic growth.
The Greenest School in the World
Tom recently visited The Green School in Bali, where three rules guide every decision: be local; let your environment be your guide; and envisage how your grandchildren will be affected by your actions.
Reflecting on Performance
Performance monitoring can inspire or embarrass students. Since the intent is performance reflection and engagement in growth, EdLeaders should be thoughtful about how data is used and presented.
Meeting the Needs of English Learners in Big LA Schools
Meeting the needs of English Learners requires innovative approaches such as the ones being implemented by Veronica Melvin and her team at LA's Promise. Among those are bringing high quality tools, family and community supports and blended learning to reach the growing numbers of English learners in the area.
Shift To Digital: EdTech ‘Look Fors’
The shift to digital isn’t about if, it’s about when. So in your research, if you see these 10 edtech 'look fors' you'll know there’s a plan in place to support teachers and deliver powerful learning experiences for students.
Grants for New Assessment Systems Signal the End of the Big Test
The Assessment for Learning Project signals the beginning of the end of week long standardized tests, and will shape measurement and progress reporting in the coming decade.
Goal 2025: 60% of Americans with Degrees
The Lumina Foundation is leading and supporting American efforts to boost college degree completion from about 40% to 60% by 2025. The Indianapolis-based foundation is focused on quality degrees as well as recognized job credentials.
To Leaderboard or Not: The Art of Motivating and Monitoring Performance
While we can appreciate how leaderboards focus on achievement and the commitment to transparency for students, could it actually be a serious detriment for many struggling students?
Generic vs Coherent Teacher Prep
We’ve inherited sedimentary layers of local, state and federal EdPolicy--not system designed to prepare young people for the idea economy and not an easy system in which to teach. In contrast we know that good schools are coherent--everything is mission-aligned to benefit teachers and students. The benefits of purpose-built coherent teacher preparation hold the potential to extend quality learning for all teachers and students.
EdTech Products Supporting ELL
Globalization means more interaction between native speakers of different languages, and continued U.S. immigration means more English Language Learners (ELL). Both are served by the expansion of mobile access, the explosion of EdApps and the rise of machine learning. Here are nearly 100 programs and apps we reviewed over the last month that can benefit ELLs in some way.