Blending Math Games Gets Big Results in Big Trials
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.
SmartTech Roundup: 2012 Predictions & Digital Reading
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.
Lesson Plans for Time Management
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?
Science Worth Reading in the New Year
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?
Good Work: The Politics of Superintending
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.
Audrey’s Excellent Adventure: Top 10 EdTech Startups
Audrey Watters covers the edtech space--particularly startups--really well. Last week she published her top 10 list of startups. We thought it was worth sharing.
Staff Picks: OER Debate, EdReform
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.
Infographic: Tomorrow’s Business Leaders Also Lead Cheating
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.
Top 10 Stories in Education in 2011
After reflecting on the ed-tech space over the last year, I have aggregated the top 10 stories in education (technology). Where the pieces settle will be largely up to the oncoming year, but we think the following trends have the potential to hugely change the education landscape.
Education Evolving: Five Predictions for Higher Education—2012
An adult with a bachelor’s degree will earn about one third more over a lifetime than someone who doesn’t complete college. And today’s employers are increasingly requiring degrees as a prerequisite for high-skill jobs. To remain employable and guarantee financial security during extended careers and into retirement, millions more Americans must commit to obtaining a higher education.