Deeper Learning: Engaging Students Across the Humanities
Personalized math products are becoming more common in classrooms from kindergarten to college. These tools are really promising for building math skills and fluency. But I hear a growing number of people that compartmentalize learning technologies to skill building. Since raising my kids on Dr Brain, Oregon Trail, and Sim…
How the Best Math Software Avoids the Worst Teaching Mistakes
Like many of us in the education community, my first year of teaching was a disaster. Five periods of Algebra I with 10th and 11th graders at an urban Los Angeles high school was a tough start, and on top of it I made pretty much every mistake in the book. Classroom management was one thing, but the bigger frustration was that I knew I was making no headway in actually teaching math to my students.
Evolution of Edu-Business Models
I’m meeting with an LA nonprofit today. One topic will be building a sustainable and scalable business model–an important topic regardless of tax status. It deserves white paper treatment (point me to one if there is one you like). We’ll be discussing four dimensions: Inside or outside: will…
Equal Access to College Preparatory Curriculum
By: David Haglund. The California Student Bill of Rights Initiative, a project of Education Forward, seeks to remedy this inequity in access through an initiative slated for the November 2012 ballot.
Good Work: Flower Planting & Brand Building
Choosing a discipline is the choice of winners. –Michael Tracy and Fred Wiersema The Nike swoosh on so many shoes and clothes has become synonymous with the “Just Do It” attitude. It captures the soul of the youth culture and personifies Nike’s niche. Brands like the Nike swoosh…
SKYRIM: How far r uu??!!
Pretty far, compared with typical learning environments. Not just for kids either: according to the Entertainment Software Association, the average age of video-gamers these days is 37, with 29% over the age of 50! (You know who you are.
Staff Picks: AEI & Fordham Reports, McGraw-Hill Language Arts
This week, Karen picks the AEI report Good and Evil. Caroline picks the launch of McGraw-Hill Education's new online language arts program. Sarah picks an article by Lauren Wanger on improving online learning with self-directed learning measures. Tom picks two must read papers from Fordham Institute.
The Nation Hit Piece Had Little to do With What’s Good For Students
The Nation ran a long piece condemning anyone promoting innovation in education. The article didn't have much to do with what's good for students.
Free, Mobile, Clouds and Other Innovation Topics
We can’t reform our way to the education our kids need for their future. The gap between what they need and what our Bismarckian schools can produce is widening. This is a problem of obsolesce not effort or intent (at least in most places). Telling one teacher to differentiate instruction…
Infographic: Does America Have the Right Stuff?
Knewton recently published an infographic on STEM Education in the U.S. It poses the question: Does American have the right stuff to produce to the next Pete Conrad, Steve Jobs and others? At the rate we're going with our STEM Education approach, the infographic implies that the answer is simply - no.