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.
Blended Learning Leverages Great Teachers
Opportunity at the Top, a great report from Public Impact, points out that it’s great teachers that close achievement gaps but that all current efforts will fall well short of ensuring that all US students see the benefits. The problem is that we’re trying to solve the wrong problem–there’s just…
CapEx Thinking
Private capital plays an important role in public education, because most superintendents can't raise money to invest in productivity improvement.
Dumb Research Supports a Dumb Argument
The WSJ hosted a now tired debate: does the Internet make us smarter or dumber?
A Real MBA
A real MBA in entrepreneurship would involve building a company. Imagine how much you would learn with money at stake.
Just A Chance
The new personalization technology will allow us to rethink turnaround efforts and the rules of thumb that have driven a century of productive school development.
Inflection Point
Fritjof Capra (systems thinker pre-Senge/Wheatley) said that we alway think that we're at some kind of tipping point--but this week really feels like an inflection.
The Edu-Innovation Opportunity
A reporter asked me “what went wrong with the small schools idea?” It’s odd question because all the networks developing highly effective new schools—KIPP, Achievement First, Success Network, Green Dot, Alliance and dozens more—still use the tried and true rule of thumb of 100 students per grade. The better…
Iterative Development
Qualcom technologist Marie Bjerede wonders if the top-down reform model doesn’t work, why there’s not more iterative development: In the software world, we address this dilemma through an iterative development model. That is, we assume that when we are thinking about what users might need or how they will…
Not Welcome Sign = No R&D
When states ban or limit the role of private enterprise in public education, they dampen investment in R&D and perpetuate the status quo. Instead, they should frame opportunities and invite investment partners.
7 Charter Investment Strategies
Seven suggested investment strategies for a charter-friendly foundation seeking broader impact