Digital Learning Now
EdTech
SmartTech Roundup
Blended Schools & Tools Who needs a hard-drive? New Google Chromebook “gets it right” and, with plans to offer a steep discount to schools, might answer the call of blended-curious districts. Alabama moves ahead! Thanks to H.B.165, the Alabama Ahead Act, participating high school students and teachers will have better access to electronic textbooks and mobile learning devices.
Personalized Learning
Digital Learning is Critical for Move to Learner-Centered Instruction
Preparing all students to succeed in today’s increasingly complex world requires a shift from a teacher-centric culture to learner-centered instruction that recognizes students’ individual learning needs, according to a new report from the Alliance for Excellent Education. The report, Culture Shift: Teaching in a Learner-Centered Environment Powered by Digital Learning, examines the support that educators and schools will require to implement genuine teaching practices that are personalized for each student.
EdTech
Nearpod: Go Mobile While Presenting
Nearpod is like the Join.me for iPad presentations - but better. I haven't seen a mobile presentation tool quite like this. I've seen iPad browser sharing tools and even presentation managers, yet nothing with the suite of tools Nearpod offers.
Personalized Learning
Should corporations run publicly funded online schools?
Private enterprise should be eligible for statewide operating contracts for public schools and programs. Private companies have the unique ability to provide quality services at scale. Private enterprise has three unique benefits compared to government agencies and nonprofits. The ability to raise and invest capital is critical to building quality content and learning platforms--investments that can easily exceed $100 million. The ability to rapidly respond to increased demand and operate at scale is another key advantage. The third benefit is the ability to manage to outcomes--data driven decision making combined with operational flexibility.
EdTech
Q&A: Classroom Coding Creates Trajectory Toward Career Application
Educator Chris Bartlo at Wilson High School in Portland, Ore. joins us today to discuss the programs at his school and the importance of computer science for students’ futures.
Personalized Learning
Innovations High: Tour the Future of Education
This May I had a personal tour of the future of education. I toured Innovations High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. I left supercharged by the potential and, honestly, a little bewildered that a traditional school district had actually created this blended learning marvel I witnessed.
Personalized Learning
Parents Are First Line of Defense In Preventing “Summer Learning Loss”
With summer fast approaching, now is the time for parents to start planning ways to keep their children’s minds and bodies active during their vacation months.
Personalized Learning
SETDA Releases Report On K-12 Infrastructure Needs
Today the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) released The Broadband Imperative: Recommendations to Address K-‐12 Education Infrastructure Needs. This report examines current trends driving the need for more broadband in teaching, learning and school operations; provides state and district examples of the impact of robust deployment of broadband; and offers specific recommendations for the broadband capacity needed to ensure all students have access to the tools and resources they need to be college and career ready.
Personalized Learning
Connections Education Opens Blended High Schools
Connections Education (www.ConnectionsEducation.com), a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable online andblended learning, will open high schools in Fall 2012 that offer students acomprehensive high school experience (including 18 Advanced Placement and many more honors level courses), in a more personalized, innovative and flexible school setting. The new Nexus Academy schools are tuition-free, open enrollment public high schools focused on college prep.
Personalized Learning
Q&A: Video Tutoring Improves Textbook Learning
Textbook Tactics matches 10-15 minute videos and assessment questions to high school and college course textbooks. Tutors can harness the platform to deliver select playlists for students, meeting their learning needs anytime, anywhere. Shawn Cox, the founder of the video-tutoring platform Textbook Tactics, joins us today to discuss how parents and students can leverage technology to receive faster, cheaper and more effective tutoring instruction.