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 This blog is no longer being updated.
Education
Opinion
Our Kids Can't Wait
By: Phyllis Lockett
About a decade ago in Chicago, there were at least 27 communities, mostly concentrated on the south and west sides, where over 75 percent of the schools
About a decade ago in Chicago, there were at least 27 communities, mostly concentrated on the south and west sides, where over 75 percent of the schools
Education
Opinion
Creating Innovative Ecosystems
When it comes to education innovation, all cities are not created equal.
Teaching
Opinion
Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning
Imagine a map of what a learner needs to know, different ways to learn it, and a collection of their demonstrations of competence. You're probably picturing a blended learning environment for students. Instead, imagine that every teacher has access to their own professional map--reflecting common expectations differentiated by speciality, subject, level, and school type--that offers a clear description of what teachers should know and be able to do.
School & District Management
Opinion
Smart Balances in Smart Blends
It can be a difficult challenge for teachers to meet students where they are and also teach grade-level mathematics. Negotiating that tension is the subject of this post, in which I'll offer some thoughts on striking smart balances in rotation models. I've also included thoughts from two mathematics teachers, Allyson ("Ryan") Redd of North Carolina and Peter Tang of Tennessee.
Education
Opinion
What Would Real Engagement Look Like?
When Preston Smith and I started Rocketship almost 9 years ago, one of the things he really cared about was the relationship between teachers and parents. It had been incredibly important to his success as both a teacher and principal. Preston built an incredibly deep culture of parent engagement at Rocketship with home visits to every family, monthly community meetings, and volunteer time in every classroom.
Education
Opinion
Policymaking and Innovation Mindsets
About a week into my tenure as the director of the new Race to the Top program in 2009, I found myself enmeshed in policy conversations that were wholly unfamiliar to me. "I understand that you want to give states all this freedom to innovate," I was told, "but how are we going to prevent bad actors from doing harm?"
Education
Opinion
Leveraging the Core Budget to Change America's Schools
Across Reynoldsburg City School District (RCS), personalization of learning is increasingly achieved at the classroom and individual student level through the shift to blended learning. Blended learning requires a fundamental redesign of instructional and organizational models, transforming the core elements of teaching and learning--changing roles, structures, schedules, staffing, and core budgets.
Education
Opinion
A Survey of Performance Assessment and Mastery Tracking Tools
It's testing season and lots of kids are taking multiple choice tests--more online than last year but lots of the same old item types. It's part of a 100 year old 'teach then test' cycle of assessment as a summative activity.
School & District Management
Opinion
Investing in Autonomy, Performance and Innovation
Most districts put "innovation" at the top of their agendas these days, but too few are innovating with a purpose. The Reynoldsburg City School District (RCS) is becoming an exemplar for how to unleash principals' and teachers' creativity in meaningful ways that are guided but not prescribed or limited by a central office agenda.
Education
Opinion
'Digital Leadership' a Must-Read for Educators at All Levels
"What am I prepared to do to improve all facets of my school?" This is the driving question in Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms for Changing Times by Eric Sheninger, principal of New Milford High School in New Milford, New Jersey.
Education
Opinion
How Government Helps and Harms Entrepreneurs
The local NPR station ran a great story by America Abroad Media (@America_Abroad) about how government helps and harms entrepreneurs (available on iTunes). Interest in job creation and the growth in the number of incubators makes this a timely topic.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Strong States & Common Standards
Strong states and common expectations are fundamental to the future of K-12 education in America. New tools create the opportunity for new schools; standards and states are the framework for quality at scale.
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Next Generation Blends will Teach to One
"We believe there's been a lack of transformative innovation in K-12," according to
Joel Rose, founder of nonprofit New Classrooms. His website proposes, "an alternate credible vision for what's possible in schools."
Classroom Technology
Opinion
Reflections on Khan Blends
It was a visit to Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto that inspired Scott Ellis to "really dive into blended learning." The math class using Khan Academy also impressed 60 Minutes (here's a short video description). Scott had five important observations.