Archive
component:where.staffing-and-scheduling
EdTech
Class Messenger Provides Next-Gen Classroom Communication
Teachers put a lot of effort into tweeting, blogging, email etc. but like TV advertising…have no idea if it’s working. We’re making our big push in 2014 to start changing that by giving them the data on their communication.
EdTech
The Human Touch in the Age of Technology
Lessons from informal learning, online higher education, and corporate training are useful guideposts, but the U.S. K-12 shift is really a hunch about the importance of personalization and relationships. Prioritizing these two factors also suggests that its time to rethink how schools are structured and how students progress.
Personalized Learning
Competency Education: The Solution to Retention
As we turn the corner in designing new learning systems, the notion of considering retention can now be safely set aside. In a competency based learning system, no child is retained. It is as simple as that. Why?
Personalized Learning
Next-Gen Learning Models Blend Tech & Experiences
Critics argue that blended and competency-based learning is just testing all the time. They chafe at what appears to be more mindless box checking. When I visit credit recovery labs and see students flying through online lessons and taking end of unit multiple choice quizzes, we worry that there is some truth to the criticism.
Ed Policy
14 Developments to Watch for in 2014
It's been a big year for innovations in learning. If 2012 was the year of the MOOC, 2013 was the year blended learning went mainstream--even schools that were just layering tabs on top of an obsolete model called it "blended." The following are 14 developments to watch for in 2014.
Leadership
Next-Gen Advisory: 10 Keys to College & Career Readiness
All of the great high schools that I visit have a strong distributed counseling system and advisory structure--a souped up homeroom that promotes a sustained relationship with an advisor, academic monitoring and management, and links to services.
EdTech
SAS Curriculum Pathways Provides Online Resources at No Cost
SAS Curriculum Pathways can be implemented at the district, school or individual classroom level. This highly interactive curriculum resource provides teachers with specific topic related lessons as well as interactive skill building tools.
Leadership
Closing the Motivation Gap
The fact that the best professors in the world are making their courses freely available is an important milestone in learning opportunity, but MOOCs are largely serving the college educated seeking additional education.
Personalized Learning
Surviving the Holidays, New Teacher Advice
Ask for help - you have parents that want to help in your classroom, many are just waiting to be asked. If you are feeling overwhelmed, send out an email or Remind 101 text asking for help. Be specific about what you need and when you need it. Parents will come through.
Ed Policy
10 Elements of Next-Generation K-12 Systems
Next generation systems--across a state or region--will share ten elements: goals, standards, a focus on personalized learning, assessments, talent development, authorizing, data systems, accountability, funding, connections, and supports.