Posts by Tom Vander Ark

EdTech

Reflections on Khan Blends

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 28, 2014

It was a visit to a class at Eastside College Prep using Khan Academy that inspired Scott Ellis to “really dive into blended.” Scott shares his observations along with a recent SRI report.

Ed Policy

Barber on the Future of Education

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 25, 2014

The Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE) commissioned the Brightlines team led by Sir Michael Barber (@michaelbarber9) to consider the future of education in Massachusetts. The New Opportunity to Lead is a comprehensive 120 page report that sets out an agenda for the next 20 years, beyond the Common Core and standards based reform.

Personalized Learning

Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 23, 2014

Lots of folks are talking about grit, but perseverance and growth mindset as a goal can be disconnected from a sense of purpose. Entrepreneurial mindset, as described by the KEEN network, is a more productive way to describe the dispositions we should be helping young people develop.

Leadership

Managed Instruction or Digital Learning?

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 22, 2014

It's easy to say that managed instruction is old school and digital learning is the future, but this debate is worth unpacking.

Personalized Learning

Mooresville Adopts Gateway Projects in 4 Grades

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 18, 2014

The Mooresville Graded School District recently adopted requirements for four large scale multimedia projects in 3rd, 6th, 8th and 12th grade. Beginning next year, students would add products from these projects to their digital portfolio.

EdTech

Nominate Organizations Creating a ‘Return on Education’

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 17, 2014

The ASU+GSV Summit is seeking nominations for firms producing a "Return On Education." Just tweet your nomination to #ROE14. The deadline is April 4.

EdTech

5 Reasons A Software Subscription May Beat a Content Purchase

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 16, 2014

There are 5 big differences--and potential advantages--to buying subscription-based software services compared to products, but state and district policy aren’t ready for the change.

Ed Policy

Privacy Bills Block Personalization, Seek Private Benefit

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 15, 2014

Dozens of seemingly well-intentioned student privacy bills have been dropped on state houses recently-- not exactly a coincidence.Those interested in maintaining a centralized approach to data management-- and software sales have suddenly caught the privacy religion.

Ed Policy

Almost Half The States Improved Digital Learning Policies in 2013

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 14, 2014

The nation’s digital learning health is improving. A new report card out today shows that 473 bills were introduced last year and 132 were enacted resulting in 22 states improving their grade on the 2013 Digital Learning Report Cards. The report card weighs state policies against the 10…

Ed Policy

Zip Code Boundaries for Online Learning Defeat the Purpose

Tom Vander Ark

Mar 11, 2014

Creating zip code boundaries around virtual opportunities sort of defeats the purpose, right? That’s just one of the recommendations from NEPC in their annual plea to block progress.

	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