EdPolicy
MasteryConnect Receives $1 Million to Expand Common Core Efforts
NewSchools Venture Fund announced today that MasteryConnect, an online assessment sharing community around Common Core Standards, received more than $1 million in seed funding to scale the organization and reach of its platform among teachers. NewSchools led the round of funding in support with Learn Capital, Imagine K12 and others.
Infographic: The Collapse of Public Education in America
The public opinion of the United States educational system is that it's in crisis, failing to meet competitive scores around the globe. This general opinion dates back to the 1950's and is largely linked to budget cuts that directly affect K-12 education. Online Universities published the infographic "The Collapse of Public Education in America" recently that outlines the ways that budget cuts hurt children's education and deteriorate their success in the future.
Top 10 Headlines On Getting Smart
Check out the most popular headlines on Getting Smart this Novmeber, which include "SKYRIM: How far r uu??!!," "Top 10+ TED Videos on Education and Learning," "Fixing Education: Fareed Zakaria's CNN Special Report," "WSJ Picks Problems, Misses the Promise of Learning Online" and more.
Staff Picks: Enterprise, Charity, & Governance
This week, Caroline picked a Michael Horn book review, Tom picked a David Brooks column, Sarah picked a Fordham piece on school governance, and Karen talks about the politics of private giving in public schools,
Fund the Child, Not the District
Mike Pettrelli and the Fordham Institute should be commended for starting the conversation on “school governance.” Mike’s two important posts on the topic can be found here and here. This triggered comments from the grande dames of the status quo, Randi Wiengarten and Diane Ravitch,. The discussion brings an important question into focus. Why do we even need “school districts?”
Our 10 Favorite Websites & Blogs
This week, we’d like to showcase some of our favorite websites and blogs for information around innovations and learning. Taking Note Taking Note, written by former PBS and NPR reporter John Merrow, is an extension of Learning Matters, which is an independent media production company…
Sorry, Talented: Striving Matters
Jonathan Wai wrote an important article in Psycholodgy Today where he noted that "No matter how talented you are, you still have to work like mad to become the very best. If you never do much with your talents, then being smart won't really mean much at all."
Staff Picks: OER Impacts, Learning Online, & the GS Community
This week, Tom picks OER. Karen picks technology as an efficient tool for learning in light of recent budget cuts. Sarah and Caroline pick YOU, our Getting Smart Community.
Equal Access to College Preparatory Curriculum
By: David Haglund. The California Student Bill of Rights Initiative, a project of Education Forward, seeks to remedy this inequity in access through an initiative slated for the November 2012 ballot.
Fixing Education: Fareed Zakaria’s CNN Special Report
CNN's Fareed Zakaria focused on education during his Sunday morning show GPS and had a prime time special with expanded coverage. The prime time show kicked off with a video review of South Korea's pressure-cooker test-driven system. Fareed contrasted the Korean system with Finland's lack of testing and focus on great teachers. Fareed interviewed Bill Gates who discussed the foundations focus on teacher effectiveness. The morning show (CNN's FAREED ZAKARIA GPS) and the evening special featured an interview with Secretary Arne Duncan.