EdPolicy
Ed Policy
Answers For & Lessons From Critics of Competency-Based Learning
I'm trying to square two things that happened last week. The Nellie Mae Foundation issued a great report called Making Mastery Work: A Close Up View of Competency Education (MMW), a visit to 11 cool schools. The other event was a Facebook dialog with unschoolers that think competency-based schemes are more testing in a fancy package.
Personalized Learning
Its Time States Fully Embrace Innovative Educational Options
You may have heard that everything is bigger in Texas. Most of the time, we take pride in that. However, the disturbingly large number of students in Texas on charter school wait lists is a source of disappointment, concern. These wait lists and other obstacles to alternative learning options are a cause for action.
EdTech
HMH & Knewton Partner With DOE to Educate Youth at Correctional Facilities
Today at the U.S.Department of Education, global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and leading educational technology company Knewton announced the launch of an adaptive learning solution designed to improve educational outcomes in correctional facilities. SkillsTutor Powered by Knewton is one of a set of highlighted innovations aimed at providing the country’s millions of court-involved youth and adults with the academic and life skills needed to transition successfully to traditional education or employment.
Ed Policy
Revising Federal Rules Would Promote Innovation, Improve Performance
In times of scarce resources and limited dollars, finding cost-effective ways to promote innovations in education is imperative. If federal education officials really want to help improve student performance, they should be doing all they can to promote technology-driven innovations in public schools.
Ed Policy
Alliance For Excellent Education Releases Report to Inform Education Leadership Challenges
The Alliance for Excellent Education released today The Nation's Schools Are Stepping Up to Higher Standards, a report that identifies four key challenges that public school district leaders must systematically address in the next two years and outlines the essential elements for developing a comprehensive digital strategy.
Ed Policy
Student-Centered Learning Need Not Cost Districts More
A new study of the financial implications for public schools embracing student-centered learning (SCL) models reveals that districts don’t need to spend more on these schools if they fund all schools fairly, and then allow schools to make choices about how they use their resources.
Leadership
Good Work: Candidates & Causes
I appreciate the folks that ran for office for all the right reasons--especially those that were not able to finance their own campaigns. Running for office requires constant groveling for donations, being exposed to malicious claims, and a grinding campaign schedule. Following are 3 good things to come from election 2012 and three bad things.
Leadership
Avoid Hit-or-Miss Professional Development
As a former principal and curriculum director, I can easily tell the difference between good and bad professional development. I’m embarrassed to admit that I have had my hand in delivering some poor quality events in my career. Some of my colleagues refer to past trainings as a “spray and pray” approach to learning something.
EdTech
KnowledgeWorks Releases New Forecast to Regenerate the Learning Ecosystem
KnowledgeWorks released the third edition of its groundbreaking education forecast, which describes where education stakeholders will have greater and easier access to entrepreneurship and capital, where educators will redefine professional roles, and where career pathways will require increased acquired skills and certifications, this week.
Leadership
Good Work: Sector Advance People
Association leaders don't just serve their members, they try to advance the sector by deliver value while leading them to a better place. It requires understanding and corralling lots of different views, building and maintaining a Rolodex of connections, and developing and executing multi-faceted change strategy. These folks travel constantly and don’t make as much as they could in the private sector. Their commitment to advancing the field and improving outcomes for kids is inspiring.