Personalized Learning

Online PE: Not Just a Virtual Workout

Guest Author

More than one in three American children are currently overweight or obese. These astounding statistics have been screaming the need for change for many years now. Online learning has provided solutions in academic arenas, but can it help our children’s health as well. Let’s enter the online world of physical education (PE).

EdTech

10 Tips for Kindle in the Classroom

Guest Author

I have been using a Kindle eReader for some time now and really enjoy the convenience and ease of use of these dedicated devices. When I travel to schools, I see more and more schools pilot eReaders in the classroom, especially for students who struggle or who are unmotivated to read. For many students who struggle in reading many are now more inspired to read books on an eReader device as compared to a traditional book. Here are 10 tips for using Kindles in the classroom that I know you will find helpful.

Personalized Learning

Blending Math Games Gets Big Results in Big Trials

Tom Vander Ark

MIND Research Institute, an southern California nonprofit, developed an innovative way to teach math—and it works. Trials involving almost 60,000 students indicate that it typically doubles math gains. They use visual games that all involve moving a penguin named Jiji across the screen. It’s all done without a word of instruction. The visual approach works for visual learners, students new to English, or students experiencing reading difficulties—in other words, it works for most kids.

EdTech

SmartTech Roundup: 2012 Predictions & Digital Reading

Getting Smart Staff

Wow, what a year: Google got social, Netflix screwed up, Kindle lit a fire, and Steve Jobs left us. Murdoch bought Wireless, Pearson bought Connections, America's Choice, and China-based Global Education and Technology. Venture and M&A activity doubled (deal & dollars) from 2009 to 2011. Now that we’ve wrapped up 2011, experts are looking to the horizon of 2012 with new predictions for what will shape the next year. See highlights of digital reading and eReaders.

Personalized Learning

Lesson Plans for Time Management

Guest Author

Whether you are a business executive, teacher, parent, recent college degree graduate, or if you fill any combination of these daily roles, it’s likely that every minute of your day counts and any spare time is valuable. So how can you use your time wisely?

EdTech

Science Worth Reading in the New Year

Tom Vander Ark

Lisa Randall, a Professor of Physics at Harvard, was Fareed Zakaria’s GPS this morning talking about her new book Knocking on Heaven’s Door. Fareed also interviewed Daniel Kaheman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow. We added a few more recommendations for great science reading in 2012. What's on your reading list?

Leadership

Good Work: The Politics of Superintending

Tom Vander Ark

Personalities and strategies are part of a superintendent search, but hiring a superintendent is most often a political decision. And what I came to understand is that the job is inherently about winning hearts, minds, and ultimately votes—it is all about politics.

Leadership

Staff Picks: OER Debate, EdReform

Getting Smart Staff

Tom picks his article on "How EdTech Will Benefit Low Income Students" while Karen follows up with a similar discussion of OER with the article "Radical Openness in Educational Materials: The Next Step in Washington." Sarah highlights a guest blogger's post on Getting Smart that discusses the student-centered, subscription method to education.

EdTech

Infographic: Tomorrow’s Business Leaders Also Lead Cheating

Getting Smart Staff

Cheating is a growing problem and concern among K-20 institutions. Students are equipped with technologies that increasingly blur the lines of cheating. OnlineMastersDegree.com published an infographic this week on "Cheaters: Kindergarten to High School, College to Working World," which looks at the ways cheating begins and carries out through students' professional lives.