future of learning
EdTech
ASU Opening: Is America a Submerging Economy?
Investor Robert Grady moderated the opening panel at the ASU/GSV Education Innovation Conference in Scottsdale with perennial presenter Chris Whittle, CEO of the pricey global school network Avenues, and Jon Schnur, America Achieves. They agreed that patterns of excellence have emerged from world class models domestically and internationally: high expectations, relentless focus on good teaching, a spirit of continuous improvement, and attention to granular details matter. It’s clear that we have world beating schools in the U.S--we just need more of them.
Personalized Learning
Aerospace Scholars Offers Blended STEM Experience
While demand for engineers in the workplace is growing, student interest in the STEM field is declining. In particular, students who enter high school interested in engineering, tend to become disengaged in the field as they approach graduation. An educational program located in Washington State hopes to stop that trend by engaging students in the STEM field in new and interesting ways. The Washington Aerospace Scholars Program offers an innovative approach to STEM education by combining online and applied hands on learning.
Leadership
Good Work: Tapping the Dark Matter
“Education is like the night sky; edreform offers a few points of light and the rest is dark matter,” said Nick Donohue. “The real opportunity is deeper public engagement--tapping the dark matter.”
EdTech
EdTech 10: Innovation on the Brain
Team Getting Smart has “ innovation on the brain” this week (even more than usual) as we gear up for next week’s ASU/GSV Education Innovation Summit (#EIsummit). The Getting Smart crew will be there learning, speaking, and blogging about eduinnovation.
Personalized Learning
Preparing for the Future
The future of education will be on display next week in Arizona, at the Education Innovation Summit. There will be a wide range of speakers and panel discussions, which I am really looking forward to hearing.
Leadership
Smart Cities: Early Observations
We’re more than 20 cities into this weekly series examining education in American cities--a few things are becoming clear. I launched the series because everybody is talking about innovation (inside and outside of education) but I don’t think we know much about where it happens or how it spreads--or why it doesn’t.
Personalized Learning
Oregon School District Shows Success With Individualized Online Learning
Early indicators suggest that Lebanon School District’s implementation and access of online learning materials, has been a success. Lebanon School District is located in a rural area of Oregon which suffers from high unemployment and high dropout rates. With the help of Oregon iSchool, developed by K12 Inc., 450 students, who might not have otherwise been enrolled in school, have enrolled in the online courses. Giving students who face low socioeconomic challenges more options to attend school, could result in higher attrition rates.
Personalized Learning
What Sort of Research Should We Be Doing on Blended Learning?
A foundation advisor asked, “Is there a smart approach donors might take with blended learning research?” Following are seven areas that could use some attention.
Personalized Learning
Smart Cities: Raleigh/Durham
Research Triangle Park (RTP) is the nation’s largest R&D center with 7,000 acres and 170 companies including DuPont, Glaxo, IBM, EMC as well as NIH, EPA, and CDC. The triangle refers to three top-notch universities: Duke in Durham, UNC In Chapel Hill, and NC State in Raleigh. There’s also NC Central (an HBCU), a leader in biomanufacturing.
Ed Policy
NGLC 4: Grants Available for More Breakthrough Blends
With higher expectations, daunting challenges, and new technologies, it's a good time to start over. Creating new schools from scratch--particularly high schools--is a timely opportunity.