Career & Technical Ed
future of learning
EdTech
Why College Students Should Invest in New Learning Innovations
Throughout young students’ educations, the topics they study have largely been decided for them. They’ve probably spent most of their academic time studying core topics like English, mathematics, science and history, with the possibility of some elective courses and extracurricular activities during high school.
Personalized Learning
SXSWedu Halftime Report
The Getting Smart team is live from Austin, TX this week covering the SXSWedu conference. The event, in its third year expects up to 5,000 attendees this week, a large jump from the 800 its first year. We took a break from breakfast tacos for a first half recap.
EdTech
SXSWedu Preview
The Getting Smart team is excited to participate in SXSWedu for the third straight year. The conference continues to grow every year adding new events, speakers and an expanded audience. We’re excited for the addition of an education film festival and dinner with other edtech women!
Personalized Learning
What Guides Your Work? And, Why Do You Teach What You Teach?
In my last post, Why do you teach? And, why do you stay?, I hoped to start a conversation about teaching -- why in the world are we here, and what keeps us here? I now want to look at what guides our work, and why we teach what we teach. For most of my teaching career, I did not know why I taught what I taught, or I thought I knew, but didn’t.
Personalized Learning
Reynoldsburg Schools Attracting Rave Reviews
Yesterday I visited the Reynoldsburg Schools in Columbus, Ohio and had a chance to see the great work being done in the schools that is drawing attention not only statewide but nationally. In this piece by the Columbus Dispatch the schools’ efforts at innovating around STEM and career and college readiness was highlighted with a visit from U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education Deb Delisle to tour the innovative programs.
Leadership
Smart Cities: San Diego
Running the San Diego County Office of Education seems pretty tame after tours of duty as state administrator in Oakland and Compton, but Randy Ward argues that county offices are more relevant than ever. With half a million kids and 42 districts there’s plenty to worry about.
Personalized Learning
Free Choice Learning: What Teachers Can Learn From Museums
What does a public school classroom have in common with a museum exhibition hall? The answer has nothing to do with oversized models or informative laminated labels - and everything to do with the joy of learning.
Personalized Learning
Changing How We Think About Student Choice in Learning: Recombinant Education
An explosion of innovation has been transforming how we think about learning, and how we organize talent and resources to support learning experiences. School as we once knew it has become ‘unbundled.’ While Ohio has been debating charter schools, vouchers, and e-schools for years, emerging digital and blended learning models have created additional opportunities and new paradigms for thinking about student choice, and with them some demands for navigating this new learning ecosystem.
Ed Policy
7 Ways States & Districts Can Use Authorizing to Boost Quality & Innovation
Performance contracting is a services agreement with clear outcomes. States and districts have been using performance contracts for public charter schools, private school special education placements, information and business services, and for energy efficiency partnerships.
Personalized Learning
Making Room for Innovation
Despite steady progress on achievement and graduation rates, big gaps remain. Earlier this month Ted Kolderie, Education Evolving, addressed state charter school leaders. He made six important points addressed in this blog.