Personalized Learning
Attending and Remembering
We moved to Washington State in 1994 when my oldest daughter was in fourth grade. She had the good fortune to attend a brand new school, the first connected to the World Wide Web and fully equipped with computers. In fourth grade, students in her district studied…
Personalized Learning
The disruptive power of learning technology
Had a little sidebar in the NYTimes Magazine this morning. There were supposed to be a dozen short responses to “What is the most important – or hardest – thing to change in education today and how would you change it?” Sounds like the piece got axed…
Personalized Learning
Picking the right college is about to get easier
It’s only the beginning of the school year but for high school juniors the college preparation and selection clock is ticking. For those planning to attend college, the last two years of high school are a busy timeline with a series of complicated milestones: tests, essay, online searches,…
Personalized Learning
Spiky Palo Alto and other VC reflections
Palo Alto is one of those spiky places that Richard Florida writes about—an extraordinary caldron of talent and money. My wife and I attended a reception on tree lined University Avenue in a building where a hot data company now occupied space that once had been leased…
Personalized Learning
One round of RttT and fast reauthorization?
AP speculating on 2010 attempted ESEA reauthorization. Related rumors that RttT may be one round. Both bad ideas. There won’t be more than 6-8 great RttT proposals by November even with McKinsey/Parthenon help. We need at least 18 months of action to reshape the landscape and debate…
Personalized Learning
Harlem miracle and thoughts on authorization
Now old new, last week’s release of Hoxby‘s report demonstrating the superiority of New Yorks’s charter schools is a BFO for those of us that spend time in NYC schools. Following up on my recent post on the best school operators, it’s worth highlighting two ladies running networks of extraordinarily good…
Personalized Learning
Pressure for more RttT winners
Eduflack reflects on pressure to expand the number of RttT winners. To his observations I’d add growing White House and Congressional pressure to spread the peanut butter and to make more awards in phase 1. Patrick’s post made me re-read the application and eligibility requirements and the selection criteria (…
Personalized Learning
Attacking the dropout crisis with 'restarts'
The National Journal topic this week was the drop out crisis. I think Secretary Duncan is right, we should improve/replace the worst schools in the country. This would quickly improve the drop out problem. The improvement in holding power of Locke High School after Green Dot took over is an…
Personalized Learning
The education bubble
Marketplace economics correspondent Chris Ferrell suggested that we’re nearing the end of an “education bubble” where college is not worth what families are spending. Ferrell suggested that the hyperinflation in higher ed costs is mainly because of widely available inexpensive student loans. Ferrell suggests that…
Personalized Learning
Online learning news & views
1. Met the management team of Provost last week and was impressed with their plans. They’re the first 2nd gen virtual provider that I know—they’re developing their content as learning objects with the ability to customize the curriculum for each learner by level and modality. Also…