Archive
component:whats-next.landscape-analysis
Four Strategies in Four Years that Will Transform a Community Forever
Annually, for more than 45 years, the city of Reynoldsburg, Ohio has celebrated the Tomato Festival-- a nod to its heritage as the birthplace of the commercial tomato. This middle-America town also boasts one other claim to fame: A so-called "traditional" LEA, namely Reynoldsburg City Schools (RCS), which is poised to be a breakout star among serious implementers of thoroughly re-engineered conceptions of learning and schooling.
No, You’re Not Doing Blended Learning
When our consulting team approaches educators about a new blended learning implementation, we typically hear three reasons for why they won’t engage: blended learning costs too much, teachers won’t like it, and we’re already doing it.
RTT-District: Scaling Personalizing Innovations
Last week the Department issued the final guidance on Race to the Top District(RTT-D) competition. It's a big opportunity to improvement for underserved kids.
4 Characteristics of Education Programs That Actually Work
“Education” is a huge conversation, but almost all of the conversation is about the education problem. There is not a serious or mature conversation about solutions. Meanwhile lots of resources and, as important, attention, are going into an ever-changing, wide variety of programs which, it is hoped, will be part of some solution. How do we know when we’re looking at any given program, whether it can have game-changing impact on K-12 schools, or has no chance? I call the former, programs that “Actually Work.” Here I identify and describe four characteristics of any program that Actually Works: Scope,Results, Robustness, and Scalability. Failure at any one of these is failure to Work.
Evolution of Edu-Business Models
I’m meeting with an LA nonprofit today. One topic will be building a sustainable and scalable business model–an important topic regardless of tax status. It deserves white paper treatment (point me to one if there is one you like). We’ll be discussing four dimensions: Inside or outside: will…
Putting Your "Beta" Foot Forward
When technology administrators or edtech coordinators make technology decisions for schools, it is important to understand the cultural impact it will have on all stakeholders. Make cultural and workflow awareness part of your "beta" tech reforms.
Paul Pastorek: It Takes a Mighty Effort to Reform
Rick Hess interviews Paul Pastorek, Lousiana's state schools chief after Lousiana comes up short in the second round of RttT.
Project Foundry
Guest blogger Chad Sansing interviews Project Foundry founder Shane Krukowski.
Iterative Development
Qualcom technologist Marie Bjerede wonders if the top-down reform model doesn’t work, why there’s not more iterative development: In the software world, we address this dilemma through an iterative development model. That is, we assume that when we are thinking about what users might need or how they will…
i3 Reviews
Had five conversations about i3 in the last 24 hours: Three focused on applicant eligibility. There is a very high bar for applicants. Read this section carefully. It requires a very strong track record of student achievement with a couple exceptions for nonprofits producing results leading to achievement. Don’t apply…