On the Blended Learning Road with DSST’s Jake Firman
Jake Firman, Denver School of Science and Technology is on a blended learning road trip. In the first of a series, he considers individualized instruction for students, rich banks of digital content, and achievement recognition systems.
Good Work: Leave a Legacy, Teach
M. Scott Peck suggests that love is extending yourself to serve another person’s growth. In this sense, teaching is the essence of love. To teach is to leave a legacy of expanded human potential. It is a calling that every man, women and child has the opportunity to participate in - the highest calling of human existence and the greatest gift of the human spirit.
What I’m Seeing: Show What You Know
It’s the beginning of the end of pointless post-secondary. Thousands of young people accumulated mountains of debt from college degrees that aren’t worth much–they didn’t learn much and they aren’t employable. The last two days in GettingSmart.com I’ve discussed the increased focus on outcomes and the development…
Staff Picks: Early College, Friday Films, Technovation Challenge, Jeb Bush
Karen says, "Couldn't pick just one, these two are great. First pick is Friday Films by SchoolTube: Educator Demonstrates STEM Concepts With Origami. I was completely entranced with this project. Great fun! Second pick is Breaking News Alert: Bloggers Are Getting Smart from our blogger Adam Renfro. Nothing says it better, glad to set it straight".
What I’m seeing: anything, anytime learning
This is the second in a series of ten (or more) blogs on edtech startup categories where there seems to be strong activity. Yesterday I wrote about productive post-sec--folks serious about academic outcomes as well as cost. Today we’re exploring the dynamic category of Informal learning, mostly--non-degree seeking “I need/want to learn something” category. In some cases these options are an alternative to formal post-sec. What I’m seeing is activity in three categories: peer, now, do.
Breaking News Alert: Bloggers Are Getting Smart
News broke out late Thursday that there's some discrepancy over the real role of Getting Smart Bloggers. The blog's team of teachers hold strong with the statement that they're spending their time "getting smart." Yet, other sources claim that the bloggers are simply putting their feet up, wasting their time with 140 characters.
Educator Demonstrates STEM Concepts With Origami
An educator at Jersey Shore Middle School in Jersey Shore, PA published a video on origami hang gliders that float on waves of air. The video explores the ways that the paper hang gliders model the same concepts as hang glider pilots, surfers and more to create lift to carry weight over a wave of air or water.
10 impact opportunities for donors and sponsors
Are you looking for investment opportunities to improve equality and equity in education? This week, we’ve compiled a list of 10 great philanthropic and sponsor opportunities: Make new state tests as good as possible by sponsoring a design prize for innovative math and logical reasoning assessment items. The first two…
How to Leverage Backchanneling & the Long Tail of Learning
We’ve all been there. Two colleagues across the room tap away at their phones, while the principal describes the rationale for cutbacks in funding for new technology initiatives. (Or switch out the colleagues for students while you are delivering an essential lecture on freedom of speech.) Their jabbing thumbs are punctuated by muffled giggles, as the digital text flies across the room. Is this a rude disruption or an extension of learning?
What I’m Seeing: Productive Post-Secondary
Wow, the edtech space seems to have exploded. The number and quality of startups is remarkable as is the inflow of talent and investment. Over the next weeks I’ll discuss some of the emerging capabilities I’m seeing in these ten categories: Productive post-secondary: taking outcomes and value seriously…