Smarter Balanced & PARCC Will Support Tablets for Testing
The Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) and the Partnership for Assessment Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) today issued future purchasing guidance designed to inform schools and districts on hardware and operating system specifications covering the vast majority of commercially available computers and tablets.
Fordham Launches New Digital Learning Volume for EdReform
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute today launched "Education Reform for the Digital Era," a new digital learning volume with papers in its Creating Sound Policy for Digital Learning series.
How Formative Assessment Supports Writing to Learn
One MIT prof thinks he can game one engine and the New York Times and NPR do stories on his anecdotal claims and miss the evidence of many large scientific studies including the study released this month. ASAP was designed to create evidence that supports the use of automated essay scoring to affordably incorporate more writing on their annual tests and avoid tests limited to multiple choice items. ASAP has provided sufficient evidence to support widespread use of automated scoring.
Infographic: How to Extend the Reach of Excellent Teachers
Did you know that only 25 percent of classes are taught by excellent teachers? We need to find ways to leverage great teachers and extend their talents to more students through the use of technology, new classroom models, and more.
Better Tests, More Writing, Deeper Learning
In a recent private vendor demonstration, nine testing companies showed that “Machine scoring engines did as well or better than the human graders,” as reported by Dr. Mark Shermis. In an open competition, top engines will share $100,000 prize purse to be awarded May 9 in Washington DC.
Students Compete in Statewide Oregon Computer Game Challenge
The Oregon Game Project Challenge (OGPC), managed and sponsored by TechStart Education Foundation, hosts its main event at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore. Saturday, April 28, 2012. The OGPC introduces middle and high school students to computer programming basics through games designed to be fun, challenging and innovative around a socially responsible annual theme.
In the Future, Teachers Remain Key to Student Success
New technologies and 21st century students will change tomorrow’s classrooms but quality instruction will remain the most important indicator of student achievement, which is why we must invest in professional development for teachers today.
Adobe Launches Cloud Solutions & Next Gen Creative Suite for Students & Educators
Educators have taken advantage of Adobe's Creative Suite to engage high school and college students in learning about design, games, video production and more. Today, Adobe announced the launch of Adobe Creative Cloud Student and Teacher Edition, and Creative Suite 6 Student and Teacher Edition for institutions worldwide.
Sloan Blended Classroom Conference
Blended learning has the potential to support a series of customized experiences for each student. It should support individual progress models based on demonstrated mastery. It should promote a team-based work environment that leverages the talent of experienced teachers while supporting the development of new teachers. All of these benefits will be derived from well constructed, engaging, and often adaptive content for at least a portion of the student day.
SmartTech Roundup
Launches SchoolTube announces launch of personalized educator channels. Educators can now grab their own video channel URL. Pearson powers Propero, a low-cost higher ed solution that will help colleges complete with low-cost providers. Pearson also launched an online learning exchange (OLE) election series to facilitate political…