future of learning

Personalized Learning

The Shift Is On: iNACOL Conference Attendees Inventing the Future of Learning

When I joined the iNACOL board three years ago, I was hoping to see a shift in emphasis from virtual schools to a focus on helping all schools incorporate online and personal digital learning. That shift was evident in the name, Inventing the Future of Learning, and content of the Virtual School Symposium program this week in New Orleans.

Ed Policy

Creative Cities: Oakland

Social justice advocates have been working in Oakland for 20 years. Recently, they've been joined by reformers, talent developers, school networks, and investors seeking an affordable Bay Area hub.

EdTech

10 Cool EdTech Incubators Aiming to Change Education Forever

While there are more than 7,000 business incubators around the world, very few focus specifically on education technology. In fact, only in the past few years has there been major growth in the number of these highly-focused incubators. Part of this increased attention is an outgrowth of a mission to genuinely help education.

Personalized Learning

NCTAF Learning Studios: The Future of Learning

Every once in awhile, we see pictures of the future -- a graphic image, a set of relationships, new tools at work, the buzz of a culture that feels remarkably productive. For me, site visits to Big Picture and Edvision schools were really influential 12 years ago -- and why I'm still enthusiastic about flex school models that engage and empower students.

EdTech

Classroom Management Software: Training Wheels for Student Technology?

When I worked in the high-tech industry, our products sometimes included what we called “check-box features.” These were features that would never, in reality, be used by the end customer but which purchasing agents would look at when they compared our product against our competitors. In many ways I think of classroom management software as falling into this category – with the fears about technology use that absolutely do exist among parents and educators, having a checkbox that says, “Don’t worry – we can control student technology use,” feels like a must-have.

Personalized Learning

How a Prof Used 1 Tech Tool to Build 3 Co-Learning Spaces

Student presentations, like many rituals of teaching and learning, have changed very little over the years. But when technology transformed the way artists, entrepreneurs, and…well, anyone…presented their work and ideas, it was only a matter of time until student presentations got a similar makeover.

EdTech

DIY: Sweat Equity Brand Building

It has never been easier and cheaper to build brand equity--a favorable impression with an audience that matters to you. Sure, it's noisy out there, but with a little sweat equity you can build support for your school, project, or product.