EdPolicy
The Transformative Power of Education & the Imperative to Educate Our Children Well: Pratham’s Footprint in India
I grew up knowing my family’s history through repeated narratives by my grandmother. She was, as I came to realize, an incredible woman. My own conviction in the transformative power of education derives directly from her experiences and commitments; my life as an Indian-American who has made the United States her permanent home and my professional life as Executive Director of Pratham USA also derive from my memory of her unfulfilled aspirations.
New Visions Builds On New School Success With Innovation Agenda
New Visions for Public Schools has probably been the most effective intermediary of the last decade. By launching 135 new secondary schools and helped to develop other intermediaries that developed hundreds more, they dramatically improved the quality of high school options in New York City. Thousands of students each year graduate from high school and go to college because New Visions created high schools.
What the Learning Sciences Tell Us About Competency Education
At a recent meeting sponsored by iNACOL to think deeply about competency and assessment, we talked about what impact the last few decades of learning science should have on doing the best job planning and using competencies for learning.
Cornerstone Anchors Detroit’s Blended Future
Tom Willis isn't playing golf this summer. In a few weeks, Willis will open two new schools in Detroit, an elementary (opening K-4) and a high school (starting with ninth graders). CEO of the Cornerstone Charter Schools, Willis is a construction manager this month.
GSV Launches American Revolution 2.0
GSV Advisors released the white paper "American Revolution 2.0: How Education Innovation is Going to Revitalize America and Transform the U.S. Economy," which takes a close look at the climate of education and the latest trends on the horizon of innovation, this week.
10 Things I’d Do Right Now as a High School Principal
At the Moorseville edtech conference (#Connection12 on Twitter) this week a Midwest high school principal serving about 700 students asked me for some advice on the shift to digital learning. Borrowing from advice to superintendents, here's 10 things I'd do right now as a high school principal.
Student Chooses Online Learning to Succeed
For some kids, an online school is their school of choice. That was true for Emily Boucher, the 2012 valedictorian of the Wisconsin Virtual Academy. Her hometown newspaper recently called her, "Burlington's 'Other' Valedictorian."
Bloomboard Powers Improved Teacher Effectiveness in Colorado
The push for better teacher observation, evaluation and development started about the same time Jason Lange was finishing up a master's degree in education at Stanford. Jason could see there was a big opportunity for easy to use tools and personalized learning for teachers. Jason applied to be part of the first cohort of edtech incubator Imagine K12, and Palo Alto-based Bloomboard was born.
Staff Picks: LPS, Innovation, Documentaries, Global Learning
This week's staff picks focus on politics of innovation, Leadership Public Schools, documentaries as learning experiences and global low cost private schools.
NRC Report Highlights Importance of Deeper Learning
While the NRC definition of deeper learning purportedly shifts from "21st century skills" to broader "21st century competencies" including skills, knowledge, and expertise, the definition seems accurate - but a bit shallow.