Personalized Learning
Personalized learning is a mindset and approach to teaching that focuses on meeting each learner where they are and tailoring a curriculum that considers their interests, prior knowledge and skill level, and pace. Such a demand on the teacher requires sophisticated usage of technology in a combination of personalized, blended and online learning.
Relationships Key to High Quality Online Instruction
Last week we explored the importance of quality content but it is teachers that bring it to life. This week, Digital Learning Now released a video summary of Element #6, high quality instruction.
Richtel’s Rearview Mirror Misses the Mark
Matt Richtel wrote the rearview mirror story of the last decade—technology layered on top of how we’ve always done school yielding meager results at least when measured in traditional ways. The story of this decade is that personal digital learning will change the world. The Sunday feature…
ImagineK12 Ready to Demo Edupreneurs
ImagineK12 helps form and guide new companies focused on improving elementary and secondary education. I agree with their view of the opportunity: The infrastructure, hardware, software, and platforms are either available or being developed that will change the nature of how we teach our children in profound…
Six premises, seven ideas for better teacher training
At the Twitter Town Hall with Education Secretary Arne Duncan (related: the full transcript of that dialogue is online) on August 24, he promised some new initiatives regarding schools of education. In the hope that the suggestion box is still open, I have a suggestion — not for the Secretary but for schools and colleges of education.
Confronting the 15,000-Hour Problem
But we must also contend with the 15,000-hour problem. Most Americans have attended schools for 13 years—and have watched teachers teach for more than 15,000 hours, usually in the company of 25 or 30 other students (40 or 50 in hard times). And while most Americans may want improved schools and better teaching, they do not want teaching and learning to look all that different from when they were in school themselves. The public’sfamiliarity with teaching reifies expectations. It may even breed contempt for the specialized skills that effective teachers and administrators need to develop—after all, an expert teacher can make the job look easy.
Leading the Shift to Personal Digital Learning
The shift to digital learning is expanding educational opportunity in the U.S. and even more significantly in emerging economies. The potential to customize learning, to boost engagement, and to extend learning at reduced costs is a set of world-changing opportunities.
Debating Petrilli’s Post “One size fits most” for Ed Reform
By Bruno Behrend We education reformers are a fractious lot. We like to debate each other more than we like to take on the obstacles to transforming education. One exception to this rule is Mike Petrilli of The Fordham Foundation. He is well known for his tendency…
Innovative Content is Driving the Learning Revolution
MangaHIgh math game Digital Learning Now, an advocacy initiative chaired by former governors Jeb Bush and Bob Wise, released a video this week about promoting high quality digital content. Among the 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning, the governors recommend “Digital content, instructional…
College Prep For All Agenda is Working
The National Journal reflects on increasing college enrollment rates as reported by the Pew Research college enrollment continues at record high levels. That’s what the Pew Research Center found last week in a report on college enrollment and ethnicity. Fawn Johnson explains: In October 2010, the United States hit…
Digital Learning in Kentucky
KY Commissioner Terry Holliday By Terry Holliday Kentucky was one of the early leaders in virtual learning. Today, we are struggling to find the appropriate methods for funding, support and innovation. Over the past two years, we have been working first…