Posts by Tom Vander Ark
Personalized Learning
A GPS for Every Secondary Student: 10 Key Features
There are 10 benefits that secondary students should expect from school advisory, counseling and guidance systems. These services are gaining importance as digital learning options expand.
Leadership
Signaling Job Readiness: Degrees Decline in Value, Alternatives Emerge
The combination of inflated costs, mounting student debt, and crushing young adult unemployment during the Great Recession have caused many to question the value of degrees.
Ed Policy
How the Feds Could Contribute to Competency Education
iNACOL released a paper--A K-12 Federal Policy Framework for Competency Education--the most comprehensive look at the federal role in supporting the shift to competency-based education.
Ed Policy
Better Assessment of Teacher Preparedness
When it comes to determining preparedness to teach, there is a nationwide movement from credit accumulation to skill demonstration.
Ed Policy
Rapid Path for Proven Performers is Great; Also Need Innovation Authorization
We can do better. It's time for states to update 20 year old charter laws and for states new to the game to take a more innovative approach.
Ed Policy
Alpine Advances Online and in Blended Learning
Alpine School District , the largest in Utah, serves more than 73,000 students in 80 schools in a sprawling area south of Salt Lake City. It has among the lowest per-pupil-funding in the country, but strong academic results. The district has several partnerships with local companies resulting in school-wide improvements and individual student success stories.
Leadership
Progress in Pakistan: Must Watch 10 Min Video on EdReform
This 10 minute video tells the exciting story of measurable progress. More than 1.5 million children were added to enrollments. Teacher attendance improved from 80 to 92%.. School facilities were improved.
Ed Policy
What To Read?
A person who knows state government but is relatively new to the digital learning revolution asked what to read to get up to speed. Here is a quick list...
Leadership
Getting Kids to the Colleges They Deserve
Ustrive, now in beta, "is like eHarmony for admissions instead of dating," said Carter, "It tells students where they are likely to get in and graduate."
Ed Policy
Nonprofit DigiLEARN Seeks Innovation & Acceleration
The Digital Learning Institute, DigiLEARN, officially launched this week to accelerate digital learning and education innovation. The non-profit organization was founded and will be chaired by former North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue, with former Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer serving as vice chair.