Archive
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Leadership
Staff Picks: Early College, Friday Films, Technovation Challenge, Jeb Bush
Karen says, "Couldn't pick just one, these two are great. First pick is Friday Films by SchoolTube: Educator Demonstrates STEM Concepts With Origami. I was completely entranced with this project. Great fun! Second pick is Breaking News Alert: Bloggers Are Getting Smart from our blogger Adam Renfro. Nothing says it better, glad to set it straight".
Personalized Learning
What I’m seeing: anything, anytime learning
This is the second in a series of ten (or more) blogs on edtech startup categories where there seems to be strong activity. Yesterday I wrote about productive post-sec--folks serious about academic outcomes as well as cost. Today we’re exploring the dynamic category of Informal learning, mostly--non-degree seeking “I need/want to learn something” category. In some cases these options are an alternative to formal post-sec. What I’m seeing is activity in three categories: peer, now, do.
Personalized Learning
10 impact opportunities for donors and sponsors
Are you looking for investment opportunities to improve equality and equity in education? This week, we’ve compiled a list of 10 great philanthropic and sponsor opportunities: Make new state tests as good as possible by sponsoring a design prize for innovative math and logical reasoning assessment items. The first two…
Personalized Learning
How to Leverage Backchanneling & the Long Tail of Learning
We’ve all been there. Two colleagues across the room tap away at their phones, while the principal describes the rationale for cutbacks in funding for new technology initiatives. (Or switch out the colleagues for students while you are delivering an essential lecture on freedom of speech.) Their jabbing thumbs are punctuated by muffled giggles, as the digital text flies across the room. Is this a rude disruption or an extension of learning?
EdTech
10 Elementary Learning Apps Recommended by a Speech Therapist
Increasingly, apps and games are used in the classroom to motivate learning around language, math and more. Many companies are leveraging the talents and specialties of education professionals and therapists to deliver increased learning quality in its technologies.
EdTech
Startups Say a New Platform is Dawning in the Wake of LMS
A new generation of learning management systems (LMS) is currently dawning, says CEO Paul Lambert of the upcoming startup Matygo. Matygo, a course delivery platform developed in Vancouver, B.C., was a LAUNCHedu finalist at SXSWedu in Austin, Texas this March.
EdTech
SmartTech Roundup: Deals, Raises, Launches & Smart Assessment
Combinatoriality No, we’re not talking about the twelve tone musical technique, we’re talking deals—and we had some interesting ones in the last week. Blackboard announced the launch of Blackboard Education Open Source Services with the purchase of MoodleRooms. Tom thinks it’s a good thing for…
EdTech
Review: JFF’s Curricular Opportunities in the Digital Age
“Historically, most classrooms have been “curriculum centered” rather than “student centered.” David Rose, a Harvard developmental neuropsychologist, and Jenna Gravel, a doctoral student, open their recent paper Curricular Opportunities in the Digital Age. If you’ve been working with adpative technologies, you won’t find any new information here. If you teach in a traditional environment, this would be a good paper to discuss in a professional development session, but pair it with The Rise of Blended Learning.
EdTech
LearnZillion Raise Will Support More Common Core Lessons
LearnZillion, the DC-based developer of a web-based platform that features videos of 3-5 minute math and literacy lessons taught by teachers from around the country, said on Thursday it has raised $2.4 million in its first round of funding.
Personalized Learning
Getting Ready for Online Assessment
Online assessment are at the heart of the promise of digital learning. Online assessments provide real time diagnostics that identify learning levels and gaps. Online assessment provides instant feedback in reading, writing, math and other subjects. Online assessment will power the future of customized learning—the best chance we have to dramatically boost achievement levels. It's time for states and districts to get ready for online assessment.