Who Governs The Child?
North Carolina is host to the latest battle over expanding digital learning, charter schools, and parent choice. It involves attempts by the State Board of Education (SBE) and the NC School Boards Association to block a proposed online public charter school, North Carolina Virtual Academy (NCVA) from serving students this Fall. Yet, beyond the details of this one new charter school, this issue has sparked a renewed debate over governance, and whether the principal virtue of “local control” in education is district control or parent choice.
Kinesthetically Kinect to Learning
I am sitting here in the San Diego Airport, with my head spinning with new ideas from the incredible - and at the same time incredibly overwhelming - ISTE conference. Yet, as I run back through the list of sessions and events one concept that pops out at me that is just dripping with yet to be tapped potential, is integrating the Xbox Kinect into classroom learning.
Teaching Authentic Writing in a Socially Mediated World
I need to confess. As an English/Language Arts teacher with nearly three decades of experience teaching writing in her professional backpack, I am supposed to know what I am doing. But the radical changes in the way we communicate in contemporary society have led me to dive deep into an existential crisis.
7 Top Trends at ISTE 2012
It was rumored that more 18,000 people signed up for the annual ISTE conference this year. The exhibit hall was buzzing with big booths from all the usual suspects in education including: Google, Blackboard, Pearson, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and others. The traffic and engagement among attendees this year appeared much higher than 2011.
Pearson Foundation Launches ‘Five Things I’ve Learned’
The Pearson Foundation today announced a new project that aims to share the insights of education leaders whose daily efforts are improving outcomes for students inside and outside the classroom. Five Things I’ve Learned chronicles personal lessons learned from decades of real-world experience, sharing proven practice and wisdom about learning, teaching, and helping others.
Microsoft Launches Office 365 for Education
Starting today, Microsoft Office 365 for education is available, providing the world’s best productivity, communications and collaboration experiences to schools at no cost. Office 365 for education is a cloud-based suite that includes the familiar Microsoft Office desktop applications, as well as Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online and Microsoft Lync Online.
Adobe Foundation & Discovery Education Host a ‘Day of Discovery’
In coordination with the 2012 ISTE conference, the Adobe Foundation and Discovery Education hosted a ‘Day of Discovery’ and kicked off the event with an announcement on a partnership between the two. With a shared passion for the power of technology in enhancing teaching and learning, the Adobe Foundation and Discovery Education partnered to provide a first look at free media making curriculum and resources for educators.
Yong Zhao Says Globalization & Entrepreneurship are Key in Today’s Education
Dr. Yong Zhao, keynote at ISTE and Presidential Chair and Associate Dean at University of Oregon, spoke this morning on the importance of globalization, global competence and technology on education at ISTE 2012.
5 Things I’ve Learned About Startups (& Life)
The Pearson Foundation launched a cool project called 5 Things I've Learned, check it out. My contribution is below is focused on launching an organization or a project.
3 Signs of Quality You Should Look For In Instructional Content
The future will bring amazingly better instructional content for teacher and student use. If the market notices key signs of this, then more effective, comprehensive content will be broadly and rapidly adopted, to the benefit of teaching and learning. I believe there’s three signs the market should be looking for.