Vander Ark on Innovation
This blog was written by Tom Vander Ark (@tvanderark), an education advocate, adviser, and author of Getting Smart: How Personal Digital Learning is Changing the World. Tom is Founder and Executive Editor of Getting Smart and a partner in Learn Capital. This blog is no longer being updated.
School & District Management
Opinion
2020 Vision: A History of the Future
Written in past tense, 2020 Vision: A History of the Future is 440 pages of time travel into a best case scenario of how the next five years could be transformational for global learning. Organized around 10 signpost developments, each of the well designed chapters includes a problem statement and a list of solutions, profiles of GSV investees and sector leaders.
Assessment
Opinion
Assessment for Learning Project
The National Center for Innovation in Education at the University of Kentucky, in partnership with NGLC, announced a new program of work called the Assessment for Learning Project.
The project addresses three limitations of our current system: we don't measure enough of the right things, we don't measure in ways that enhance teaching and learning, and we don't engage educators.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Grant-Beacon Middle School Builds Character, Extends and Blends Learning
Three elements have served as the pillars of work for Grant-Beacon Middle School as they sought to change what learning looked liked for their students: blended learning, extended learning opportunities, and charter development. This southeast Denver middle school serves 460 students, predominantly of color, 85% live in/near poverty and 40% are English language learners.
Education
Opinion
LearnZillion Aligns Dream Team Content with Assessment and Professional Development
As an open, cloud-based curriculum, what's different about LearnZillion? The teacher created curriculum is open and online with assessment and professional learning experiences created to support it. With the central premise being that core curriculum is driven by teachers.
School & District Management
Opinion
20 Ways Education Will Improve by 2020
From Machine Learning to competency-based models, low-cost options to guidance systems, education will change drastically in the next five years. In general, it's getting easier to learn anything anywhere and it's getting easier to create learning environments that work better for teachers and students. Here are 20 things that education will improve on by 2020.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Getting Smart Podcast | Santa Ana Unified School District
Santa Ana Unified School District serves a high need southern California community with three important innovations. In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast we talk with Santa Ana USD's Deputy Superintendent David Haglund about the forward-learning work of the district and the Advanced Learning Academy.
Education
Opinion
Getting Smart Podcast | Leadership: Key Competencies for Whole-System Change
As longtime fans of both Lyle Kirtman and Michael Fullan, we had a chance to connect with them on their new book 'Leadership: Key Competencies for Whole-System Change' in this new episode of the Getting Smart podcast. Listen now for the promo code to get 30% off the book.
Education
Opinion
Where the OECD Ed-Tech Report Missed the Mark
The recent OECD report reviewed results in developed countries and attempted inferences regarding the use of what they call information computer technology. It resulted in kneejerk headlines like, "don't bother buying computers for schools." Here is what the report says that the news didn't report.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Learner-Centered Vision Will Frame Next Generation Learning
Blending face-to-face and digital learning, the emerging vision suggests each learner should have a unique path and pace, progressing as they demonstrate mastery. Education Reimagined, outlines five elements of this emerging vision: Competency-based, personalization, learner agency, social embedding, and open-walled learning.
Education
Opinion
Innovative Blend Could be the Spark for South Africa
Located in between what a local school head called "up market apartments" in a converted five story office building in Johannesburg, SPARK Ferndale is an attractive and inviting facility on a tiny lot where every square meter is utilized. The first of four SPARK Schools serves 529 K-4 students in a flexible, blended model. Director of School Design Bailey Thomson was a Teach for America teacher at the original Rocketship school.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Corporate Support for Coding
Corporate support for coding is growing. This is the story of Grant Smith, who worked in Silicon Valley and who is now creating curricula, strategies and processes for teaching coding in Phoenix and Park City. It's great that Silicon Valley funders are pouring millions of dollars into learning-to-code organizations but ongoing professional development and supports are still needed.
Student Achievement
Opinion
New Routes to the Classroom: Online Teacher Prep
TEACH-NOW from the Educatore School of Education is an example of innovative, learn by doing, online teacher prep and certification program that provides an interactive collaborative and efficient certification option for next-gen educators. TEACH-NOW candidates come from all over the world, nearly 40% are international. Candidates can receive a master's in education research or globalization and international education
School & District Management
Opinion
Engagement Templates: Six Ways to Structure Learning Experiences
There appear to be six basic strategies for capturing engagement and initiating a learning cycle. These six engagement templates progress from instructor- and content-centric to learner-centric. Teachers might call these lesson plan templates, but with the expanding array of professional and informal learning this is an attempt to build a broader framework applicable to impact games, meetings, conference sessions, open resources, and professional development.
School & District Management
Opinion
Utah Education Leaders Consider Competency
Elected officials, state board members, K-12 and higher education leaders gathered at Southern Utah University for a Joint Education Conference to talk system improvement and innovation. The discussions addressed five potential next steps including flexibility from time based systems, a transition to proficiency-based diplomas and anytime, anywhere learning.