Personalized Learning
There is no Frigate like a Book
Robert Weisbuch, president of Drew University, and a big fan of poetry. Someday I’ll join him at the Dodge Poetry Festival. A few years ago he sent me this Emily Dickinson poem: There is no Frigate like a Book To take us Lands away…
Personalized Learning
Charters show the way forward
Given the US challenge of achieving quality at scale—the combination of equity and excellence—the most important innovation of the last decade is charter networks. Their success is undeniable. Their lessons are clear. Key elements include: clear goals and a strong college-bound no-excuses culture; data-driven instruction and performance-based employment; extended learning…
EdTech
Feds propose to make it harder to fund start ups
There is little public or private investment in innovation. As pointed out this week, federal spending on edu-R&D is a fraction of what they do in other sectors. Private investors—angel, venture, and private equity—are also leery of a fragmented market that is difficult to penetrate. It’s difficult for edu-entrepreneurs…
EdTech
A new twist to parent involvement–the 'reset' button
“Parent involvement” in education often means “make your kid behave” and “donate to the PTA.” Parent involvement is taking on a serious new role in Los Angles. If more than half of the parents of students in struggling demand change, educational options improve—charter schools are opened in their neighborhood, their…
EdTech
KIPP has optimized the Standards v1.0 school
Standards and common assessments were introduced 15 years ago. KIPP took the expectations expressed by state tests seriously and made numerous process improvements to the old model of school. At the middle school I visited Monday, 100% of the Kipsters had passed the state math test. This KIPP school…
EdTech
Edu-innovation requires investment and incentives
On Monday I attended an education technology conference—a few hundred people reviewing very simple education tools. On Wednesday I attended a military learning technology conference (I/ITSEC)—16,000 people experiencing sophisticated and realistic simulations of flying a fighter, piloting a battleship, and patrolling a village. US education and defense budgets are…
EdTech
Brighter Choices in Albany
Spent an amazing day touring Brighter Choice schools in Albany–the best example of high charter market share and high quality. Brighter Choice serves about 25% of Albany public school students and that will grow to more than 40% as approved schools achieve full enrollment. Of particular note: Most of…
EdTech
SIIA showcases edu-ventures
SIIA is holding their annual EdTech Summit today. Karen Billings kicked things off last night with a lighting round of presentations by education ventures–an interesting mixture of for-profit and non-profit organizations. The well attended session signals the growing interest from funders in education innovation and healthier market dynamics.
EdTech
Racing to the top in Baton Rouge
Duncan’s Race to the Top is not simply a race to beat out other states for funding, or to pass “qualifying” language at the last minute, it is a competition to see who can work collaboratively and innovatively with real commitment to education reform. The challenge is so great…
Personalized Learning
In defense of the good school promise
While channel surfing on Thanksgiving morning, I found a school board association meeting where a famous prof was railing on standards and testing with lots of applause from the audience (in a state contemplating delaying college-ready math and science standards until 2015). I agreed with many of his assertions like…