future of learning
Motivation May be More Important than Style
Jay Mathews dug up a report that suggested there was little evidence “to justify incorporating learning-styles assessments into general educational practice.” I think most teachers would agree that it’s obvious that kids learn in different ways. But it’s fair to say that books like multiple intelligences was taken…
Creativity and Accountability
Yong Zhao is back in receptive Seattle this week preaching his gospel of edu-innovation. The anti-standards, pro-creativity Zhao is a Chinese-born prof at Michigan State. Here’s his thesis in a nutshell: In my new book Catching Up or Leading the Way, I mostly focus on issues facing…
New Frame for ESEA: Half Right, Big Risk
Message refined, Secretary Duncan is doing the morning show circuit socializing a proposal for the reauthorization of federal education policy. He’s attempting to assemble the first bipartisan coalition of the Obama administration to address a major piece of legislation. It won’t be easy and it probably won’t happen this year…
10 Reasons This is the Decade of Edupreneurs
Here’s 9 reasons that this will be a great decade for edupreneurs. new money foundations focused on new school development a multiplying horde of venture/private equity investors interested in disruptive learning technology a small but growing number of impact funds investing for return and social impact mature engines of social…
New School Ecosystems
There are interesting parallels between charter schools in the US and affordable private school in India. Both focus on the urban poor, promote choice, and often develop within an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Whether it’s New Orleans or Hyderabad, there are a dozen accelerants that promote access and quality: 1. Incubation…
Emerging Vision for Learning Platforms
There are a handful of conversations swirling around about next generation learning platforms that will combine adaptive/personalized content, assessment, learning communities, with aligned student, teacher, and school services. The ones that gain wide usage will combine open and proprietary content (e.g., basic and premium cable) with a open app platform…
India's Edu-challenge has Global Consequences
“If 250 million kids get left behind, it’s a liability for India and the world” Sandeep Aneja runs Kaizen, an Indian education investment fund. He warns of widespread unrest, an increase in terrorism, and a massive loss of development potential if half of India’s youth don’t gain access to quality…
Affordable Private School in India
There’s an emerging ecosystem of low cost (some would say ‘affordable’) private schools in India. The definition is fuzzy but generally less than 600 rupees with many targeting 200 rupees for primary and 300 rupees in 10th grade. In urban areas it’s common for more than 60% of students to…
Developments
Developments: Provost Academy launched a virtual high school in CO; Provost is an early example of 2nd gen content developed as learning objects A couple start-ups working around the big guys and developing high school elective content More evidence that charters work as outlined by James Merriman…
STEM Culture
The country’s first CTO, Aneesh Chopra, mentioned the President’s science and math initiative on his blog which includes a video of the president’s speech this week and showcases FIRST, the best STEM initiative in the US. At the 12 minute mark, President Obama recalls asking South Korea’s…