Leadership
Content that enables educators, edleaders, organizations and families to increase capacity, apply a growth mindset and implement what’s next in learning on behalf of those entrusted to them.
Good Work: What Did You Accomplish This Week?
Source: Getty Images After college I started calling my parents on Sunday night. My dad would start the conversation by asking, “What did you accomplish this week?” Simple but frustrating, it called me to account. It made me ask if the world was a better place by an…
Staff Picks: OER Impacts, Learning Online, & the GS Community
This week, Tom picks OER. Karen picks technology as an efficient tool for learning in light of recent budget cuts. Sarah and Caroline pick YOU, our Getting Smart Community.
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…
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.
Good Work: A Pretty Good Place to Work
After a long weekend I was excited about coming back to work as a public school superintendent but fresh holiday intentions were distracted an hour into the day. People were lined up at my door, “I just can’t get along with her.” “I don’t get any recognition for my hard work.” “It’s out of control—you need to fix this.”
Staff Picks: Danny Glover, Games for Learning, & the Virtual School Symposium
This was a busy week for the Getting Smart team! For this week's staff picks, Karen chose an article about Danny Glover at the 'Freedom Awards,' Caroline picked an article highlighting the ways games can transform schools, and Sarah picked the great iNACOL conference this week!
Good Work: Enabling Others to Act
Give the folks you work with ownership by involving them in decision making, delegating authority as well as responsibility, and backing them up when they fail. They will work harder, stay longer, and make it better. Enable others to do good work.
Staff Picks: Big Data, OER, Teacher Professional Development
Tom picks "BIG data" this week. Karen picks the article "The State and OER" on the new OER programs in Washington State while Caroline picks the article "Sacramento mayor, former NBA star Kevin Johnson in Tacoma tonight." Sarah picks the article "Digital Age Teacher Council Outlines Teaching Transformation."
Good Work: Challenging the Status Quo
During early morning coffee shop tutorials, Rudy Crew would carefully smooth a napkin and then draw a picture of how things should work. When I was a school superintendent, Dr. Crew was superintendent in the neighboring district. One of the first ways he encouraged me to challenge the…
Staff Picks: Charter Authorizing, Charter Days, Solar Power & Cloud Textbooks
Karen picks the article "Emanuel Takes Push for Longer Day to Charter Schools." Sarah picks the article "Publishers Turn to Cloud Computing to Offer Digital Content" on McGraw-Hill Education's Cinch platform. Tom picks performance contracting as the idea of the week.