teachers

EdTech

First-Ever Open Education Week Launches Today

The first-ever Open Education Week kicks off today online and at locally-hosted events around the globe. The event, which will run through March 10, 2012, is intended to raise awareness around the benefit, impact, and success of open education resources (OER) around the world. The open education movement strives…

Personalized Learning

Welcome to the Post Textbook World: Ten Elements

A friend asked what I thought about Jay Mathew’s post on textbooks. I thought the rear view mirror critique of a process to pick better textbooks read more like a 1982, not a 2012 discussion – and certainly not the 2015 conversation we should be having.

EdTech

SmartTech Roundup: Shattering Barriers to Edu

Shattering Barriers to Education MIT plans to launch MITx, its first free, online course designed to be fully automated, this March.  With no fee or prior entrance requirements, this online program is breaking down the longstanding barriers of education. Now, all you need is a computer and Internet connection.

Personalized Learning

CIS: Meeting Kids Where They Are

CIS is the brainchild of youth advocate Bill Milliken, a man determined to improve the lives of all students, no matter what life challenges they face. Milliken wanted to bring community resources in to public schools where they could be accessible, coordinated and accountable.

EdTech

SmartTech Roundup: 2012 Predictions & Digital Reading

Wow, what a year: Google got social, Netflix screwed up, Kindle lit a fire, and Steve Jobs left us. Murdoch bought Wireless, Pearson bought Connections, America's Choice, and China-based Global Education and Technology. Venture and M&A activity doubled (deal & dollars) from 2009 to 2011. Now that we’ve wrapped up 2011, experts are looking to the horizon of 2012 with new predictions for what will shape the next year. See highlights of digital reading and eReaders.

Leadership

Staff Picks: OER Debate, EdReform

Tom picks his article on "How EdTech Will Benefit Low Income Students" while Karen follows up with a similar discussion of OER with the article "Radical Openness in Educational Materials: The Next Step in Washington." Sarah highlights a guest blogger's post on Getting Smart that discusses the student-centered, subscription method to education.

EdTech

Top 10 Stories in Education in 2011

After reflecting on the ed-tech space over the last year, I have aggregated the top 10 stories in education (technology). Where the pieces settle will be largely up to the oncoming year, but we think the following trends have the potential to hugely change the education landscape.

Personalized Learning

How EdTech Will Benefit Low Income Students

Digital learning won’t necessarily close the achievement gap between income groups, but it will lift the floor. More students will be more academically successful. Five years from now, a higher percentage of students will soon graduate from high school ready for college and careers. Most will have benefited from Common Core expectations. Some will have benefited from Race to the Top funded programs. Many will have benefited from these 10 reasons that digital learning will benefit low income students.