Career & Technical Ed
EdTech
Personalized Learning
Is There Still A Gender Gap in Education and Technology?
The stereotype of technology as a male-dominated interest and career path is slowly fading. We no longer associate computers just with geeky, pale boys in thick glasses poring over gaming screens. Technology in schools and in daily life has become much more accessible and user-friendly for everyone. But do males still have an edge when it comes to technology in the classroom? Are there still gender differences in how educational technology tools are used?
EdTech
Part 2: 36 Smart Ways to Use Smartphones in Class
In continuation of last week’s article, Part 1: 44 Smart Ways to Use Smartphones in the Classroom, here is a newer list of thirty-six additional ideas to help leverage the power of these tech gadgets into the learning environment. In this blog post, I have attempted to avoid any redundancies, and I sincerely hope my endeavors were successful.
EdTech
Hire Edupreneurs: Advice for School Start-Ups
In the jargon-filled world of education, neologisms should be used sparingly. For a new school aimed at inspiring innovators and entrepreneurial leaders with a new learning model, the termedupreneur is indispensible. Edupreneur combines the concepts of education and entrepreneur – a person who undertakes any enterprise or venture, usually with considerable initiative and risk.
EdTech
EdTech 10: Blended Core
The Common Core has become quite the common discussion, right? It’s certainly nothing short of buzz topic of the New Year. We’re keeping pace with the discussion and news, which is rich with reports, commentary, analysis, and questions.
Personalized Learning
Creatively Funding Your Blended Learning Program
Last month the U.S. Department of Education announced the 16 Race to The Top District competition winners. The nearly $400 million awarded for the Race to the Top District competition (RTT-D) sounds like it is a lot of money. It is, in fact, a lot of money, and we are excited about the potential that this funding infusion will have on student achievement in those districts. That being said, we know that among 370+ applicants, there were more than just 16 great plans for building personalized learning environments.
EdTech
GOOD Sparks Creative Education Innovation in LA
GOOD and Marriott's Live, Work and Create in L.A. Maker Challenge selected three of 10 finalists who are young entrepreneurs with big plans to make a difference in education. The entrepreneur with the best idea will provide one finalist with the opportunity to spend a week in GOOD’s offices in Los Angeles to further develop their idea so they can make a real difference in education.
EdTech
Is 1:1 the New One Size Fits All?
Earlier this week I was having dinner with some fellow educational technologists. The conversation took the inevitable turn to discussing 1:1 philosophy. 1:1 is most typically defined as the ratio of one student to one device where that device is provided by the school. During our discussion, the question was posed as “1:1, Chromebooks or iPads?” While I am a fan of both Chromebooks and iPads, I was troubled by this conversation. Not, of course, because I am opposed to the student use of technology, but because I am starting to realize that 1:1 is a parallel philosophy to “one size fits all.”
EdTech
5 Virtual Field Trip Experiences
Today the field trip is not being used as it once was. Stories of my father being taken to the meat packing plant in his small town are old news. Even being taken to cultural museums are a thing of the past and are even considered safety hazards, because of the intrigue that students have in everything that is going on around them. Sharing a unique experience with classmates is being taken away. Luckily, we now have technology that is being implemented in the classroom that allows these students to go on a field trip anywhere in the world without leaving the classroom.
EdTech
The Learning Accelerator Receives a $750,000 Grant to Support Blended Learning
The Learning Accelerator, a new nonprofit organization supporting the implementation of blended learning in school districts, announced that it has received a $750,000 operating grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Personalized Learning
Smart Cities: San Francisco Schools Improving, But Impervious to Creative City Assets
San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) appears to be in a time warp. Yesterday, I outlined the leadership role that the Bay Area, especially the city of San Francisco, plays in learning innovation. However, the contrast between one of the most creative cities on the planet and the local school districts is stark. The district has higher test scores than other California urbans but it is small and has a relatively low level of poverty.