Leadership Blog

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 This blog is no longer being updated.

Teaching Opinion To Use Their Minds Well: Great Hearts
Great Hearts is a great example of a network of school communities animated by big ideas, powerful relationships, and great teaching. Serving over 9,500 students in 19 Arizona campuses, Great Hearts' goal is to graduate "great-hearted" young men and women who possess a sense of destiny and purpose that is directed to the service of the greater good.
Tom Vander Ark, February 2, 2015
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5 min read
Education Opinion How Learning Will Work in the Near Future: 12 Features of Next-Gen Platforms
Learning platforms will be foundational to the development and adoption of next-gen learning. Following are core elements of next-gen platforms, how platforms can develop into ecosystems, and investment mechanisms, and example initiatives for philanthropists who want to accelerate progress.
Tom Vander Ark, January 28, 2015
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10 min read
Teaching Opinion National Academy Foundation Launches Career-Ready Certificate
Over 30 years ago Citi CEO Sandy Weill launched the non-profit National Academy Foundation to boost high school graduation and career preparation. The movement has quietly grown to 667 career-focused high school academies serving 81,000 students in 38 states.
Tom Vander Ark, January 26, 2015
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4 min read
School & District Management Opinion Preparing for New Jobs: Two Next-Gen Career Centers
Carl Wunsche High School in Texas and Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies in Kansas, are two next-gen high schools schools redefining the career center.
Tom Vander Ark, January 21, 2015
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3 min read
Education Opinion The Quest for an AA Degree in High School
Early college students have the opportunity to earn college credit, up to a full associates degree with their high school diploma. The innovative opportunity is working at Quest Early College—last year over 70 percent of graduates left with a diploma from Lone Star College as well as Quest.
Tom Vander Ark, January 20, 2015
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4 min read
Classroom Technology Opinion Six Things That Make Metro Great, but Different From Your Neighborhood High School
Last week while in Columbus I got to tour Metro Early College High School and Middle School. Here are six things worth sharing that make Metro a great example of next-gen schools.
Tom Vander Ark, January 15, 2015
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3 min read
Education Opinion Where is the Accountability in Education?
We must hold ourselves responsible for imposing accountability in education. Why we need credible evaluations and content and programs to show ability for renewed competition to improve the tools we give our teachers.
Tom Vander Ark, January 13, 2015
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3 min read
Classroom Technology Opinion Next-Gen Learning in Brooklyn
In the heart of the Brooklyn Tech Triangle, Next Generation Learning Challenge grantee Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School (LAB) is personalizing learning for low-income students. Using their custom learning management system, the Brooklyn LAB team is generating actionable evidence that serves and informs both teaching and learning.
Tom Vander Ark, January 7, 2015
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3 min read
Education Opinion Experiencing Success at Work: High School Internships
There's no better way to earn job skills than on the job. A summary of notable high school internship programs, and given growing interest in high paying manufacturing jobs, a sample of pathway and internship programs in manufacturing.
Tom Vander Ark, January 5, 2015
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6 min read
Education Opinion New Staffing Structures Piloted in Nashville Schools
Innovative staffing strategies are being deployed by a group of districts including Nashville Public Schools. The effort is led by Public Impact, an organization identifying and testing strategies to extend the influence of great teachers and improve working conditions and learning opportunities for all educators.
Tom Vander Ark, December 22, 2014
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3 min read
School & District Management Opinion Fostering an Innovation Mindset Online
In addition to knowledge and skills, research in the last five years suggests that mindset matters—for academic success today and for careers down the road. Mindset and big challenges help students appreciate the importance of effort, initiative, and collaboration.
Tom Vander Ark, December 18, 2014
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4 min read
Education Opinion Betting on a Better Counseling Approach for College and Careers
Low-income students deserve new solutions that empower them as informed consumers of postsecondary education and training options. There's tremendous potential for ed tech to help opportunity youth and other low-income learners make more informed decisions about postsecondary and career pathways.
Tom Vander Ark, December 15, 2014
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6 min read
Classroom Technology Opinion New Study Shows Benefits of Visual, Game-Based Math
A WestEd study showed significant achievement gains from the use of visual, game-based ST Math in 129 California elementary schools. The blended-learning math program, developed by a southern California nonprofit, has more than 10 years of demonstrated results at scale.
Tom Vander Ark, December 8, 2014
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2 min read
Classroom Technology Opinion New Classrooms' Blended Math Program Yields Big Gains for Struggling Students
Report on New Classrooms shows promising results from their blended learning Teach to One program. The impact on student outcomes, the remarkable benefits for teachers, and why the program is the best picture of personalized learning out there.
Tom Vander Ark, December 4, 2014
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2 min read
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