Digital Directions: December 17, 2015: December 17, 2015

Smart strategies for ed-tech leaders, December 17, 2015. View as web page.

Arizona District Teaches Coding to K-8 Students

As big districts like New York and Chicago gear up to teach computer science, the coding lessons are already going full tilt in Avondale, Ariz., schools. Read more.

• A Tale of Two Coding Programs

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New National Ed-Tech Plan Calls for Improved Teacher Prep, Assessment

Improving teachers' preparation to use technology, and refining the use of online assessments, are among the issues emphasized in the 2016 National Education Technology Plan. Read more.

(Digital Education)

Richard Culatta Resigning as Ed-Tech Director at U.S. Department of Education

Richard Culatta, an advocate for "open" resources and better technology coordination in districts, is resigning as director of the U.S. Department of Education's office of technology. Read more.

(Digital Education)

Complaint Accuses Google of Breaking Student-Privacy Pledge

A prominent nonprofit that supports digital privacy filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that the tech giant has strayed from a pledge to protect student privacy. Read more.

(Digital Education)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Reversing a Raw Deal

A three-part series that delves into the federal effort to deliver high-speed Internet to disconnected districts. Read more.

(Education Week)

• The Slowest Internet in Mississippi

• 'They Rake Us Over the Coals'

• 'Washington Gave Us Leverage'

OPINION

Thinking About Texting Parents? Best Practices for School-to-Parent Texting

Tips from Harvard Kennedy School researchers about effectively using text messages to support students. Read more.

(EdTech Researcher)

OPINION

Why a Startup Business Plan Is Still Worth Writing

It used to be the case that every startup needed a business plan, but recently the value of the business plan has been hotly debated. Read more.

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			21 Trends for the 21st Century In this go-to-guide for thinking and planning, futurist Gary Marx provides concrete strategies for engaging students, staff, and colleagues in active learning and keeping up with rapid changes in schools and communities. Read Now.

MORE HEADLINES

Investors' Advice to Ed-Tech Startups: Focus on Unmet 'Gaps' in Schools
(Digital Education)

OPINION

Education for Change: Turning Around Oakland
(Vander Ark on Innovation)

OPINION

Startups Find School District Procurement a Challenging Puzzle
(The Startup Blog)

OPINION

Some Advice for Chan & Zuckerberg on Technology and Equity
(EdTech Researcher)

OPINION

School Hacks as Professional Learning
(Vander Ark on Innovation)

OPINION

Top Five Reasons to Jump Into a Twitter Chat

(Reinventing K-12 Learning)

UPCOMING EVENTS

SPONSOR WEBINAR - Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, 12 to 1 p.m. ET

Districts' Push for "Interoperability": Managing the Sea of Ed-Tech Content

In this webinar, our guests describe district demands for "interoperability"—or the requirement that ed-tech vendors ensure that their data and content can "talk" with each other. The goal is free teachers and students from having to navigate a sea of sign-ons and websites used for different proprietary systems. Click here to attend this free live event.

Content provided by: Microsoft

FREE WEBINAR - Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, 2 to 3 p.m. ET

Wiring Rural Schools

Rural schools often pay exorbitant rates for poor Internet services. How can recent changes to the federal E-rate program and new efforts by government, broadband advocacy groups, and school technology leaders fix the problem? Click here to attend this free live event.

EDUCATION WEEK SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight on Parent and Community Involvement

In this Spotlight, see how leaders are involving parent groups in district decision-making, how national organizations are introducing the common-core standards to parents, and see how digital tools and social media are playing a role in parent communications. See other Spotlights.

MOST POPULAR STORIES

1. 'Big Three' Publishers Rethink K-12 Strategies

2. New National Ed-Tech Plan Calls for Improved Teacher Prep, Assessment

3. Richard Culatta Resigning as Ed-Tech Director at U.S. Department of Education

4. Hands-On Learning vs. Lecturing

5. Student Data Privacy Mostly Missing in ESEA Reauthorization

+ Manager of Staff Recruitment & Student Enrichment The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, Manhattan, NY

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