Platforms for change
It's time to look at platforms that will change education, especially blended learning models that increase peer-to-peer learning and a good mix of online and tech.
Radical choice
EdSector is holding an interesting online chat about online learning and the implications for choice. We’re trapped in the mindset of ‘this school or that school.’ That’s all going to change (relatively) fast. We’re headed for radical choice–not just school choice but choice to the lesson level. We’ll…
Another interesting day at EdReformer.com
Here’s a quick summary of a couple of today’s conversations: 1. Parent Revolution plans to support full implementation of Yolie’s initiative in LA and the intent to send all new schools and school in need of improvement for 5 or more years out to bid. Their work is/will…
Are data systems worth the risk/cost?
National Journal asked “are state data systems worth the risk?” The terminal outcomes of K-12 aren’t only test scores and graduation rates, they should include college completion and employment. We can’t really measure K-12 effectiveness without the ability to know where high school leavers/graduates go. Our college dropout…
ESEA + ARRA = Big Lever
I spent most of the last 48 hours thinking about ESEA and ARRA. If NCLB is any precedent, we can assume that new and improved ESEA will frame most of the next decade. ARRA is a potent package of grants reflecting a core theory of change: common standards, measurement, strong…
Lit Instructor, Stafford
In The Courage To Teach, Parker Palmer uses this Bill Stafford (former poet laureate of Oregon) poem to open a chapter titled A Culture of Fear. Lit Instructor Day after day up there beating my wings with all of the softness truth requires…
Platform deal flow
Seeing more platform plays these days including social learning, adaptive content, and blogging. Powerful application development platforms are making it so much easier to develop new apps–you can see the difference in 09 code compared to older vintage. Guaranteach was incubated by Christensen-inspired Innosight. They have more than…
DigiPen prepares gamers for jobs
My wife and I visited DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond today. It’s a private college located between Microsoft and Nintendo in Redmond WA. They offer associate, bachelor, and masters degrees in game development. The curriculum is no game–it’s packed with math and science. An MS degree requires 154…
How will digital learning replace print?
A consultant working for an instructional materials vendor called today to discuss market dynamics around the shift from print to digital. We discussed eight forces of change: 1. Cheap access devices. When I was a superintendent, laptops were $2500; now you can get a more powerful netbook for a…
Rocketship takes off
Rocketship Education was a prize winner at CSGF‘s Innovation Competition last month (I served as ajudge). My friend Gisele Huff has been trying to get me to visit them for years because of their interesting blended model that incorporates online learning. The first school of San Jose nonprofit is in the…