Posts by Tom Vander Ark
EdPolicy Education: New MOOCs from ExcelinEd
The Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) launched EdPolicy Leaders Online a new resource to help education policymakers better understand and implement education reform efforts. These new Massively Open Online Courses (MOOC) feature nearly 40 experts across the education landscape.
What Should High School Graduates Know And Be Able To Do?
Students and community members deserve a more compelling and complete set of goals and metrics. It remains challenging to describe the aims and measures of a rigorous well-rounded education. Here are some examples of schools and districts setting the bar beyond basic reading, writing, and math.
Helping Chief Academic Officers Make The Shift From Managed Instruction To Personalized Learning
School district CAOs know how to build and run managed instruction regimes.Now they're trying to pivot to blended learning and they're getting a lot of pressure from their boss and teachers to consider updates. We explore the difference between managed instruction and next generation learning, and share 10 elements of comprehensive solutions to the challenge of helping chief academic officers reframe their work.
SXSWedu: Smart Cities
Every region needs to improve learning opportunities fast. This was the focal point of the discussion at SXSWedu that engaged contributors of the recently published 'Smart Cities' book.
Leadership Development in US Schools: The Opposite of Good
The new demands being put on school and systems leaders mean we need new ways of developing and cultivating school leadership.
Highlander Institute Blends Rhode Island
Every region of the country needs a blended learning technical assistance group like Highlander Institute. Tom visits five schools in Rhode Island creating environments that are engaging for students that are leading to higher levels of achievement and completion.
Most Likely to Succeed: A Film About What School Could Be
With stubbornly high levels of young adult unemployment and underemployment, "Most Likely To Succeed" explores the broken bargain that diplomas equal employability.
Take A Judo Lesson, Leverage Trends To Make An Impact
Against the backdrop of black swan events, broken politics, and the increasing priority of initiative, here is a recap of relevant trends and judo instructions for impact investors and "edupreneurs" interested in leveraging some of those trends.
The Primacy of Relationships
Powerful tools can help us know our students better; they can help teachers connect them with powerful experiences. But it's leaders that create the context--from classroom to city--for life-shaping relationships.
Wojcicki’s Classroom and Book Encourage Shooting for the Moon
For 30 years, Wojcicki taught journalism classes in a portable building at Palo Alto High School. Now students in what I've called the nation's biggest and best journalism program learn valuable skills in a beautiful Media Arts Center with Wojcicki whose recently released book shares lessons from the program.