Career & Technical Ed
Personalized Learning
This week in America: the big scramble
1. As I travel the country, I see evidence of thousands of districts, charter networks, and non-profits scrambling to mobilize for stimulus money—the great ARRA premobilization. Everyone knows Duncan’s four priorities; everyone is trying to figure out how this is going to play out; everyone is trying to…
Personalized Learning
Markets in everything: Standards & Assessments
Borrowing a phrase from GMU economist/blogger Tyler Cowen, there are markets for (almost) everything. In the case of educational standards and assessments, it may be worth considering a competition of ideas for the most effective way to frame and measure learning goals. I had a discussion about these…
Personalized Learning
Great edu web developer wanted
We need an edu-passionate web developer for two new sites: 1. Urban charter school network: innovative blended secondary school network focused in the Northeast opening Sept 2010, hiring leaders now. Â Need simple phase 1 site up in Sept for hiring, phase 2 site in Jan for enrollement including 3…
Personalized Learning
RTT, data and teachers
The National Journal question of the week was, “Are Race to the Top Criteria Fair?” Â More specifically, “states that prohibit linking student achievement data to teacher and principal evaluation will not be eligible to apply. Is this fair?” Â The short answer is yes! Thank goodness that Jon…
Personalized Learning
Charter news & views
1. Miami Dade plans to open four new public schools, two replacement high schools and 13 new charter schools this fall. Three of the charter schools will be multi-shift blended models operated by Mavericks in Education. 2. I’m seeing more interest in Hebrew…
Personalized Learning
I don’t read books
After 28 years of reading a book a week, I’ve only read a handful in the last two years—none in print format. I’m reading more than ever, just not the hardbound books that line my library. It’s a case study of one but part of a…
Personalized Learning
More money for more innovation
This week I met with a private equity firm and talked to a new venture fund both interested in education. That makes a couple dozen of each that at least look at learning deals. Most of the VCs fall into the ‘hacking education’ category and only…
Personalized Learning
iSchool in the middle
I spent a day with the NYC iSchool co-principals thinking about a middle school design. Not surprisingly, we decided it should look at lot like iSchool: engaging integrated projects with individualized online learning. Other design elements we discussed included: · A month long ‘welcome to middle school’…
Personalized Learning
The NYC Small Schools Experiment
New York City has an extraordinary base of talented educators, education support groups, and community based organizations. Debbie Meier’s Central Park East was among the first breakout small schools (co-founder Julian Cohen now leads new school efforts for NYC DOE). Dick Beattie’s leadership and Irine Diamond’s funding lead…
Personalized Learning
Updated Grant Opportunities
I made the ultimate board member mistake of leaving off two exciting organizations off my great grant opportunities list. So here’s my updated list leading off with two groups that I support as a board member. (The list also includes friends, clients, and portfolio companies)…