future of learning
Personalized Learning
Teaching Students to Code with PowerPoint
Regardless of perceived academic ability, every single student who set about creating their very first computer game on PowerPoint software started thinking in ways that so many of us only hope for in our language, science, or math classrooms.
Personalized Learning
Infographic: Why US STEM Initiative Shouldn’t Over Look Computer Science
It is time to start teaching our students to code. Code.org wants all teachers to sign up for The Hour of Code coming in December. Teaching kids to code does not mean you have to be an expert- read Dave Guymon's post that went live today, Teaching Students to Code With PowerPoint.
Leadership
How Many Educators Does it Take to Organize a Local Maker Faire?
If, perhaps, you are searching for a Maker event in your area but don’t see one planned anywhere close by- it might be time to plan your own! It’s really pretty easy and an ideal way to get conversations happening and relationships building between schools, parents, organizations and businesses in your community- and when you plan your own, it’s tailored to your area and customized for the students you are intending to reach.
Personalized Learning
Disrupting Pedagogy – Part 2
And only if, innovators develop digital content that supports authentic pedagogy – and that provides sufficient context for students to understand, not just memorize – and then make that available for adoption and co-evolution within on-line schools and other smaller markets.
Innov8
EdTech 10: Awards, Blends, & Connections at #iNACOL13
The Getting Smart team enjoyed every minute of the iNACOL Blended and Online Learning Symposium this week, the biggest and best blended learning conference on the calendar. Read more for other big stories this week!
Personalized Learning
Disrupting Pedagogy – Part 1
The Clayton Christensen Institute recently published a paper that goes much further, describing the unique characteristics of the education system as a market and introducing us to the theory of hybrid innovation. Michael Horn explains that a key characteristic in the education market that changes how disruptive innovation will work for education is a lack of non-consumption – nearly all kids go to school and the market for schooling outside the system is comparatively small.
Personalized Learning
#iNACOL13: The Happiest Place on Earth
This year’s iNACOL conference brought to life the true meaning of online and blended learning- it has to be a give and take and the more you contribute, the more knowledge you take away. As always our team is blown away by the passion and dedication of education leaders around the country and feel privileged to cover and participate in these amazing events. We were humbled by how much was given and the amount of knowledge we received.
Leadership
Seven Trends Impacting Edu-Jobs
Seven Trends. As we explore in a new free e-book Navigating the Digital Shift, a confluence of forces has created the best opportunity we've ever had to dramatically boost achievement and completion rates.
EdTech
Relax. It is You . . . And Them
Yes, it all happened. Everything we feared would come true did to some degree. We had students that got off task in class and missed the assignments or the lecture or the project. We had students download music in the hallways between classes so they could listen to it in the next period. We had students at home not doing the work they didn't due in class because they were playing games, or on Facebook, or tweeting, or listening. Yes, it all happened.
Ed Policy
Try This: 10 Things Every State Should Do Now
A state chief asked for a list of things that his state should try. With help from Eric Smith, Chiefs for Change, here's a list of the top ten list of things every state should do now: