Digital Learning Now
EdTech
iNACOL Hosts Webinar On Digital Learning Policy Updates
The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) plans to host a webinar tomorrow, January 11, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. EST on "Next Steps for Digital Learning Now," which will focus on the continued work of the Digital Learning Council to implement state-level online learning policy changes.
Leadership
Staff Picks: Online Learning, Digital Learning Day
Tom picks "What Is the Newest Innovation In Online Learning?" while Karen picks "iLearn Project & Digital Learning Now! Host Wash. Online Learning Symposium." Sarah picks Digital Learning Day!
Personalized Learning
NYTimes Declares War on the Future
The NY Times has launched a full on war on education technology—except for when it’s in their own benefit. Yesterday it was Michael Winerup’s hit piece on Pearson. Today they ran another edtech hit piece. This one attacks Idaho chief Tom Luna, a terrific leader with a great reform and innovation agenda.
Personalized Learning
OER and the Achievement Gap
Justin Reich posted an interesting blog on his edtech site suggesting that Open Educational Resources will expand rather than contract the achievement gap. It caused a bit of an uproar. Where states and districts are proactive about extending learning opportunities, the preparation gap will narrow and that means more young people will have a shot at participating in the idea economy.
Personalized Learning
Education Funding Should Promote Equity, Performance & Innovation
Kansas governor Brownback is proposing a new school funding formula that would let counties raise their local property taxes rates to spend more on schools. He's right that school funding needs an overhaul, but he's missing all of the key ingredients: school funding should be weighted, portable, and performance-based.
EdTech
The old deal, the new deal, and the metrics
I don’t know about you, but I’m not paying much attention to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) debates in Washington. Â NCLB, flawed as it was, represented a bipartisan commitment to equity and an end to the toleration of chronic failure. Â What’s going on now (this weird local…
EdTech
Kentucky Commissioner of Education Terry Holiday Talks Digital Learning
Kentucky Educational Television published a video this week of Terry Holiday, the Kentucky Commissioner of Education, at the Kentucky Digital Summit this September. Holiday speaks about Digital Learning Now!, P-20 Innovation Labs, next generation learning and calls education leaders, policymakers and more to reform education.
Personalized Learning
It’s Complicated
From the movie It's Complicated An early reader of my book, Getting Smart, didn’t think I described the practical difficulties of using technology to improve education. Fair enough. I didn’t set out to write about the problems, I wrote about the promise. Â I attempted to simply state…
Personalized Learning
6 Reasons EdLeaders Should Let Kids Bring Devices to School
Bans on student use of mobile devices exist for some good reasons—kids use them inappropriately at school and there are safety and security concerns. So why bother considering a change?  There are six reasons to consider BYOD. Digital natives learn and live with technology. Most have and bring devices…
EdTech
Jeb Bush & Bob Wise Release Roadmap for Reform: Digital Learning
Governors Jeb Bush and Bob Wise, co-chairs of Digital Learning Now!, a nationwide initiative that advocates personal digital learning, released the Roadmap for Reform: Digital Learning during the Foundation for Excellence in Education's 2011 National Summit on Education Reform.