Coaching to Develop Agents of Change — Not Compliance
School coaches ought to be capacity builders that unlock educators' potential and help their school communities grow. Effective coaches help to develop agents of change -- not educators who learn to comply and follow someone else’s lead.
AI4All Extends The Power of Artificial Intelligence to High School Girls
Al4ALL is a new Oakland nonprofit that is introducing artificial intelligence to high school students —and, more specifically — girls. The goal is to help high school students learn to use AI for good and to increase diversity and inclusion in computer science. In this new podcast episode, Tom talk with Executive Director Tess Posner.
What School Could Be: Ted Dintersmith on Powerful Learning
After his success with the film "Most Likely to Succeed," venture investor and executive producer Ted Dintersmith launched a 50 state tour to promote readiness for the innovation economy. His new book, What School Could Be, outlines what he learned.
Learning from Leadership at Detroit Prep Academy
Emily recently traveled to Detroit Prep Academy and wanted to share the school's story with our podcast listeners. Join her and Head of School Jen McMillan to hear more about the current education climate in Detroit, what’s working well at Detroit Prep, and key lessons learned in leading a school.
The Science of Deliberate Practice: What it Means for Education
There is growing evidence that individuals can achieve high levels of performance through extended training. In this week's episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom chats with Gene Kerns about his new book, which analyzes the implications of this evidence for K-12 education.
What Is Formative Assessment? Voices from the Field
We interviewed half a dozen thought leaders and participants involved in the How I Know pilot to find out what exactly is formative assessment and what they hope to accomplish as part of the initiative. Download and press play!
High Tech Exec Advocates for High Agency Learning
What skills will be important in five years? What can schools do to plan for the skills that will be necessary for students to have mastered? Tom and Marie Bjerede discuss both and the importance of student agency in this week's podcast.
Design Thinking and Its Impact on Education Innovation
Have you heard of design thinking? Are you using it in the classroom? Emily and Adam from the Getting Smart team dive into the topic to share what it is, how it can improve practice and how educators can rethink how they facilitate learning.
Balancing Improvement and Innovation
Tom looks back at his years as a Superintendent and how new technology and innovations affected the district, how focusing on innovating and improving can dramatically improve learning and common innovation obstacles.
iLead: Student-Centered, Career Focused, Accelerated Learning
iLead Academy is preparing students to succeed in an increasingly project-based, global economy. Tom recently visited iLead to learn why it's successful, what obstacles they've overcome and what advice they have for others looking to start a new school.