I am looking to compile a list of other state k12 technology organizations. Here is a list of a couple that I know of so far. I would like to ask any of you to send me more k12 technology education groups.
Name of the organization, State, Contact information of the organization.
Please send this information to me at this email address.
sharpstf@gmail.com
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
TEDxGrandRapids - Mickey McManus - Innovate: Education
What if there were a basic literacy, beyond reading, writing, and arithmetics that we missed, or that wasn't really necessary until this moment in our history? What if that new literacy were MORE important than STEM education to the future of our children? Or if it helped rationalize STEM and SEL (social, emotional, learning) in a way that organized these two, at times mutually exclusive, threads of critical thinking? What if other countries were figuring it out and America was caught fighting over educational approaches mired in philosophies and patterns suited for the 1900s instead of the 21st century and missed the boat entirely? What if it fostered thinking so that kids could grow up to be critical, creative, collaborative, and resilient? What if you did something about it before it's too late?
Speaker Bio: Mickey McManus is president, CEO, and principal of MAYA Design, Inc., a technology design and innovation lab focused on meeting the needs of people in the connected world. To maximize opportunities for innovation at the intersection of users and information, he leads a team of cognitive psychologists, ethnographers, computer scientists, mathematicians, visual and industrial designers, architects, and filmmakers. This team works with a range of clients from Fortune 500 global companies to foundations, government organizations, and startups.
In 2005, Mickey spearheaded the launch of MAYA's Pervasive Computing practice, which focuses on ways to take connected experiences out of the lab and into the marketplace through smart products, services, and environments. He speaks nationally and internationally about the future of information and how it will impact humans in a massively connected world of at least a trillion nodes.
Mickey holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois, with extended studies in communication design and mathematics.
http://www.maya.com
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxGrandRapids, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxGrandRapids event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized
Speaker Bio: Mickey McManus is president, CEO, and principal of MAYA Design, Inc., a technology design and innovation lab focused on meeting the needs of people in the connected world. To maximize opportunities for innovation at the intersection of users and information, he leads a team of cognitive psychologists, ethnographers, computer scientists, mathematicians, visual and industrial designers, architects, and filmmakers. This team works with a range of clients from Fortune 500 global companies to foundations, government organizations, and startups.
In 2005, Mickey spearheaded the launch of MAYA's Pervasive Computing practice, which focuses on ways to take connected experiences out of the lab and into the marketplace through smart products, services, and environments. He speaks nationally and internationally about the future of information and how it will impact humans in a massively connected world of at least a trillion nodes.
Mickey holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois, with extended studies in communication design and mathematics.
http://www.maya.com
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxGrandRapids, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxGrandRapids event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized
TEDxPhilly - Chris Lehmann - Education is broken
Chris Lehmann introduces a revolutionary idea in education: Encourage learning by allowing students to do things they are good at instead of restricting them. While that may sound elementary, Lehmann's speech carves out an innovative way to teach students success so they will strive for success in the post-graduate world.
Hailing from Manhattan, Chris Lehmann is breathing fresh air into the Philadelphia School District by providing immediate feedback to teachers using an iPad, asking teachers to practice kindness in the classroom, and promoting a student-centered school.
practicaltheory.org
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxPhilly, where x = independently organized TED event.
At our TEDxPhilly event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
Hailing from Manhattan, Chris Lehmann is breathing fresh air into the Philadelphia School District by providing immediate feedback to teachers using an iPad, asking teachers to practice kindness in the classroom, and promoting a student-centered school.
practicaltheory.org
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxPhilly, where x = independently organized TED event.
At our TEDxPhilly event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
TEDxEastsidePrep - Shawn Cornally - The Future of Education Without Coer...
Shawn Cornally's tagline to his blog sums him up well: "Dealing with the fear of being a boring teacher." Clearly Shawn is successfully combating this fear. Blogging extensively and generating conversations among educators across the world, Shawn brings us some perspective on how the tools of today can be put to work in the classroom.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
TEDxPeachtree - Michael Horn - Toward Student-Centric Learning
Can digital learning revolutionize the American education system? Can it transform the current status quo to a student-centric one in which each student receives personalized learning according to his or her unique needs? Michael Horn explores these issues and more in his talk.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Response to Intervention: A Tiered Approach to Instructing All Students
Response to Interventions RtI offers students multiple levels, or tiers, of evidence-based instruction & interventions. At each tier in the framework, students receive effective, differentiated instruction. The intensity of instruction at each tier will vary depending on students' learning needs. A video explaining how it works.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
An Ever Changing World
A short animation looking at the technological and social changes that have happened in recent years, each change affects the way we interact not only with each other but the world in which we live... how do you survive and adapt?
A Brief History of Technology in Education
A short video on changes in technology that effect student learning.
Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age - Day 1 - Keynote - Geoff Canada
Geoff Canada
Description: Geoff Canada, of the Harlem Children's Zone talks about the danger of allowing technology to widen the gap between rich kids and poor kids and our responsiblity to ensure that this does not happen.
Description: Geoff Canada, of the Harlem Children's Zone talks about the danger of allowing technology to widen the gap between rich kids and poor kids and our responsiblity to ensure that this does not happen.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Accelerated math instructional video
This video helps to show you how to use Accelerated Math with in your math program.
Bringing Math To The Next Level
So this video talks about how to take your students to the next level in math.
Literary Non-Fiction in Grades 6-12: Opening New Worlds for Teachers and...
• Expanded use of literary non-fiction in later grades
• In-depth discussion about the value of teacher expertise in cultivating students' deeper understanding of complex and varied texts
• In-depth discussion about the value of teacher expertise in cultivating students' deeper understanding of complex and varied texts
Michigan Online Resources for Educators
This site has many good resources for Michigan educators. It also has some good information for Core Content.
Montessori Education for the Early Childhood Years
This is an excerpt from "Nurturing the Love of Learning" produced by the American Montessori Society. It shows how Montessori education nurtures learning for children who are 3-6. It is available from www.edvid.com. Over 1,000 schools are using this DVD to educate parents. Edvid now offers schools free parent orientation video podcasts that can be posted on your school's website with DVD purchase.
The lynda.com Story
About lynda.com
The lynda.com Story | by Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin
View this entire course and more in the lynda.com Online Training Library®.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Helps Santa Claus Optimize His IT
Every year, billions of people rely on Santa and his elves to make their dreams come true. But who do they turn to when they need a hand? They turn to the People Who Get IT at CDW. CDW has hardware, software, services and solutions organizations need to address their biggest IT challenges.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Mizuko Ito on Why Time Spent Online Is Important for Teen Development
It might surprise parents to learn that it is not a waste of time for their teens to hang out online," says Mizuko Ito, University of California, Irvine researcher and the lead author of the most extensive U.S. study to date on teens and their use of digital media. The study showed that America's youth are developing important social and technical skills online often in ways adults do not understand or value. More information at http://www.macfound.org/dmlethnography.
What is Your Calling? Dr. Wayne W. Dyer - Going Beyond Self-imposed Limi...
Inspiration what it means to be inspired.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
The Flipped Classroom
Peer into Aaron Sams' classroom as he explains why he flipped his classroom. Aaron Sams, along with Jonathan Bergmann were the first to flip their classes. The currently teach in Woodland Park Colorado and are writing a book about the Flipped Class.
The video was made by techsmith.com so there is a plug for their product at the end of the video
The video was made by techsmith.com so there is a plug for their product at the end of the video
YouTube for Schools: Join the Global Classroom Today!
Youube for Schools in now available in a school near you... Yes YouTube has open up an educational section to there site. So it is time to get your school filter open to adding www.YouTube.com/schools.
Writing Tools
Here is an interesting program for primary school students that helps them learn to become better writers. It also has vocabulary and spelling help built in. If you buy the full version for about $1.67 a student it also help keep track of student progress. Check it out today.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Robotic Legos Teach Elementary School Students STEM Skills
How to engage students using STEM and experiential learning.
Monday, December 12, 2011
SlideShare a way to share your Powerpoint in school and on the Internet
SlideShare 101
View more presentations from Amit Ranjan
http://www.edmodo.com/Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Public "Education" has become indoctrination and distraction
People are not being educated they're being tested for levels of obedience. School is about memorizing what you are told short term and repeating it. The bulk of how you are graded is by completely daily busy work. This is for the work force the most important quality in a worker bee actually is obedience.
Public "Education" has become indoctrination and distraction
People are not being educated they're being tested for levels of obedience. School is about memorizing what you are told short term and repeating it. The bulk of how you are graded is by completely daily busy work. This is for the work force the most important quality in a worker bee actually is obedience.
RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us
This lively RSAnimate, adapted from Dan Pink's talk at the RSA, illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and in the workplace.
www.theRSA.org
Monday, December 5, 2011
Michael Horn about blended learning
Michael Horn of Innosight Institute in Mountain View discusses how blended learning, combining online learning in a brick-and-mortar setting, will spread in California in the next decade, in a November 2011 interview with John Fensterwald, editor and co-writer of TOPed.org.
Innovations in education TED Talk Blended Learning
Talk title: Innovations in education Blended Learning
In cities such as Delhi and Nairobi around the world children have a passionate desire to learn, but little opportunity. Here at home, we face problems a well: a third of kids don't finish high school, and another third graduate unprepared for college or employment. We can do better. So far when we've taken technology to schools, we've layered the technology on top of the way we've always organized schools. Educators are now shifting delivery to online learning and a blended learning approach. When we teach kids in the right way and with the right modality, they learn more per hour. Personal digital learning is the next wave in education, and will allow us to customize the learning experience, motivate students and equalize opportunities for learning.
Tom Vander Ark is CEO of Open Education Solutions, an organization which provides blended learning services. He is a partner in Learn Capital, a venture capital firm investing in learning content, platforms, and services aimed at transforming educational engagement, access, and effectiveness. A prolific writer and speaker, Tom has published thousands of articles and blogs. He chairs the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), and serves on the board of LA's Promise and Strive for College. Tom received the Distinguished Achievement Medal.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxManhattanBeach, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxManhattanBeach event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
Demo of VMware View Client for the Android
Watch the demo of the VMware View desktop running on Android platform mobile devices. Read about the new features on the VMware View Blog and download the app from the Android Marketplace.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Working in Groups
Working in Groups
A Note to Faculty and a Quick Guide for Students
http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/html/icb.topic58474/wigintro.html
CELEBRATION OF TEACHING AND LEARNING.
Watch CTL 2011 Highlights Reel on PBS. See more from CELEBRATION OF TEACHING AND LEARNING.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Online - Digital Learning
I am not promoting the place that they list as a website. I just like the video and what it says about online learning.
Excellence in Action National Summit on Education Reform 2010, Highlights
Great mind on educational change.
Nominations edublog Awards
http://edublogawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/eddieslogo1.png
Nominations
Nominations are open for your favorite Edublog sites.... Like http://edtech-mi.blogspot.com/
Nominations
Nominations are open for your favorite Edublog sites.... Like http://edtech-mi.blogspot.com/
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Android 3.0, Honeycomb
Android A sneak peek at Android 3.0, Honeycomb, the next version of the Android platform, designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes, particularly tablets.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
John Kotter - The Heart of Change
I think this is an important step. When we want to change any thing are lives are project, what ever it is. We must speak with heart and passion. We must change our mind process and what we think.
John Kotter's Leading Bold Change (Our Iceberg Is Melting)
Where do we start on the changes that are needed to help create high preforming schools. This is a great book that helps give us a road map to becoming successful.
Management Skills VS Leadership Skills
Change and the real challenge is changing people and the way the system works.
Michelle Rhee on Education Reform
On June 15, 2011, Michelle Rhee, Founder and CEO of Students First, spoke at Roosevelt House on education reform and creating schools of excellence.
Michelle Rhee began her career as a Teach for America (TFA) corps member in a Harlem Park Community School in Baltimore City. Through her own trial and error in the classroom, she gained a tremendous respect for the hard work that teachers do every day. She also learned the lesson that would drive her mission for years to come: teachers are the most powerful driving force behind student achievement in our schools. In 1997 Ms. Rhee founded The New Teacher Project (TNTP) to bring more excellent teachers to classrooms across the country. Under her leadership TNTP became a leading organization in understanding and developing innovative solutions to the challenges of new teacher hiring. As Chief Executive Officer and President, Ms. Rhee partnered with school districts, state education agencies; non-profit organizations and unions to transform the way schools and other organizations recruit, select and train 23,000 highly qualified teachers in difficult-to-staff schools.
On June 12, 2007, Mayor Adrian Fenty appointed Chancellor Rhee to lead the District of Columbia Public Schools. Under her leadership, the worst performing school district in the country became the only major city system to see double-digit growth in both their state reading and state math scores in seventh, eighth and tenth grades over three years. In 2010, she left DCPS to found her own organization - Students First - which she describes as a grassroots movement designed to mobilize parents, teachers, students, administrators, and citizens throughout country, and to channel their energy to produce meaningful results on both the local and national level.
Learn how to Rasterbate with Rasterbator
The Rasterbator creates huge, rasterized images from any picture. Upload an image, print the resulting multi-page pdf file and assemble the pages into extremely cool looking poster up to 20 meters in size.
Rasterbator Website
60 MIn on An educator focused on math and science Freeman Hrabowski's
Hrabowski: An educator focused on math and science
November 13, 2011 4:00 PM
Under Freeman Hrabowski's leadership, the University of Maryland Baltimore County has become a powerhouse in math, science, and engineering. Byron Pitts reports.
Read Story: Hrabowski: An educator focused on math and science
Friday, November 11, 2011
Two Minute Moodle Training!
http://vimeo.com/channels/44004
This is a collection of 2 Minute Moodles - an attempt to simplify and show how to use a range of Moodle features to a busy teacher. The tutorials try not to assume too much previous knowledge and are presented for the pragmatical and not necessarily tech-savy users (Moodle purists please excuse). They are a bit like that product I got the pun from - something quick and simple to get you going.
This is a collection of 2 Minute Moodles - an attempt to simplify and show how to use a range of Moodle features to a busy teacher. The tutorials try not to assume too much previous knowledge and are presented for the pragmatical and not necessarily tech-savy users (Moodle purists please excuse). They are a bit like that product I got the pun from - something quick and simple to get you going.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Google Vs. Wolfram Alpha - CNET
Find out which search/computational engine is the best, or if they even
Wolfram|Alpha in a Nutshell
Wolfram|Alpha is the world's first and only computational knowledge engine.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Site hits over 10,000 hits
This site has posted over 10,000 hits, thank you to everyone that has help to find and make this site what it is. that took over a year. We are now seeing 1,200 a month and it is growing rapidly. If you find any thing that you like on this site. Please send the link to someone else. Lets as a team enlighten the world to a new way of living. by Living Today NOW.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills: Kansas Technology Rich Classroom Pr...
How to help students learn outside the walls of the school using technology to motivate students.
What is Blended Learning
Blended Learning and some stats on why it is an effective method of instruction.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Quizlet.com Demo
Here is a tool to make learning fun for your students. Flash cards and collaboration with other students.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Heart of Teacher - inspirational video
This is an inspirational video on the book, “Heart of a Teacher” it is a short video with quotes out of the book.
Writing importable question into Examview or Moodle.
Have you ever want to bring in question into Examview or Moodle. Well here is a way to do that using a GIFT format.
Nearing 10,000 hits
We are getting near 10000 page hits from around the world. The chart above shows the monthly hits at this site. As you can see from the trend line we may see us hit the next 10,000 hits in half the time if this growth continues. I started this just to have a place for me to easily get back to cool things that I found interesting in technology education on the web and YouTube. It was started as a required page for my master degree program at Central Michigan University. I found that I enjoyed finding and sharing these micro videos on educational technology and issues in education. Well I am glade that I can help share this with all of the people in the world. Please feel free to drop me a note at sharpstf@gmail.com to let me know how you have found this useful in you life in education.
Please take a moment and send the link to someone that you know if you have found this site of any use to you.
Take care and enjoy!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Future of learning
Here are some extraordinary moments of clarity - and often Eileen Devonshire was at the heart of this work to open the key debates needed if government policy was to keep up with the pace of innovation in schools and industry.
One such contribution was to commission (from the talented folk at Magic Lantern) this short video about the future of learning: students, NQTs, wise old owls, Anthony Minghella (sadly missed), Prof Sir Magdi Yacoub, Sir Paul Smith, Sir Trevor McDonald, old archive footage, and all sorts. I got to narrate it - fab little buzz of video for professional development etc.
Examview - and how to use it
Examview
This is a great tool for creating and sharing test question with a group of teachers. It is easy after creating a bank of question and using them as you need for formative testing of students.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Bill Gates Talks About the Future
With the convergence of major advances in computing hardware and software, technology is playing an increasingly important role in many aspects of society. In his speech at the University of Washington, Bill discussed important breakthroughs in computer science and engineering that have implications in education, health, and improving the lives of the world’s poorest 2 billion people.
Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Here is an interesting trend that is happening with technology in education.
Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
These trends are being seen nationally in technology surveys.
The average age of a smartphone is 18 months…home computer/laptop is 48 months…the typical home computer is newer and faster than the typical school computer and that trend will not reverse. Students and teachers own better learning technology than what we can make available to them in school. With these personalized learning tools, students and teachers can be more effective learners and instructors.
Concerns that it can create:
· Equity (kids without computers) - the have vs. the have not
· Pedagogy (instruction strategy)
· Policy (AUP) language and Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
· Technical (no wireless access) - Adding Wifi or allowing Cell 3G or4G service
· Device options (which devices to allow) - Smart Phones, Pads, Tablets, Laptops, or Nintendo DS.
Schools have already have begun to allow students and teachers to bring their own technology to school. This movement presents both challenges and opportunities for the classroom. This is a trend that we will need to think about as we move forward in education. How will it change your rooms? I just want to put this out for thought and discussion. This way we can start to think about how you see it changing student learning and fitting into our systems. Over the next 12 months we will be working on updating our district technology plan. While we do that, we will want to address how this will fit into the technology plan that takes us into the future.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Grant Wiggins on Learning from Feedback
ASCD author and Annual Conference presenter Grant Wiggins describes how encouraging feedback from his students helped him to become a better teacher. Learn more about the 2011 ASCD Annual Conference & Exhibit Show at http://www.ascd.org/annualconference.
Jay McTighe on the Challenge of Learning Something New
Jay McTighe on the Challenge of Learning Something New - ASCD author and Annual Conference presenter Jay McTighe describes how learning to surf helped him to gain greater empathy for students who may be facing difficulties with learning new things. Learn more about the 2011 ASCD Annual Conference & Exhibit Show at http://www.ascd.org/annualconference.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Merlot Website
Free teacher resources
http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm
This is how they describe them self.
Putting Educational Innovations Into Practice
Find peer reviewed online teaching and learning materials. Share advice and expertise about education with expert colleagues. Be recognized for your contributions to quality education.
Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005
Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005
Here we see Steve Jobs delivering his commencement speech to the graduates of Stanford University in 2005. In it he talks about getting fired from Apple in 1985, life & death
Monday, October 17, 2011
A reading interventions that works where other fail!
Founder - Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI)
50 In 52 Journey interview of Donna York, Nora Chahbazi, and Kathy Kujat. As a follow up to the Nora Chahbazi interview watch this video to hear how one mother used Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI) to help her nine year old son learn to read after two years of failure to produce results by the school system, and listen to what a teacher says after a lifetime of teaching when she found EBLI and realized she never learned how to really teach reading. Real stories from real people benefiting from a new way to approach reading for children and adults who don't know how to read. Be inspired by what these people are doing in Michigan, and what you can do in your own state, your own community, your own family.
Here is a sample of what EBLI looks like.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Chromebooks
Chromebooks are built and optimized for the web, so you get a faster, simpler and more secure experience without all the headaches of ordinary computers. Take a look: http://www.google.com/chromebook
Friday, October 14, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
The Innovative Educator blog
Lisa Nielsen, best known as creator of The Innovative Educator blog, is an outspoken and passionate advocate of learning innovatively. She is frequently covered by local and national media for her views on "Thinking Outside the Ban" to harness the power of technology for learning. Ms. Nielsen speaks with audiences around the world sharing real-life anecdotes about the risk-taking actions she feels are necessary to do what is in the best interest of 21st century students despite the protests of educational administrators and policy makers stuck in the past. Passionate about educator voice and thinking outside the ban Ms. Nielsen blogs, promotes cell phone use for educators and students, and friends students on Facebook even though an outdated educational system tried to stop her from moving ahead. She has already seen her efforts begin to pay off as her district has taken baby steps in breaking free from the old way of doing things and is moving toward embracing innovation and recognizing that some of these ideas are not so bad after all.
Based in New York City, Lisa Nielsen has worked for more than a decade in various capacities helping schools and districts to educate in innovative ways that will prepare students for their future. In addition to her blog, Ms. Nielsen writes for Huffington Post, EdReformer, Tech & Learning, ISTE Connects, Leading & Learning, ASCD Edge and is the author of the soon- to-be-released book, “Teaching Generation Text.”
Disclaimer: The information shared does not reflect the opinions or endorsement of her employer.
Based in New York City, Lisa Nielsen has worked for more than a decade in various capacities helping schools and districts to educate in innovative ways that will prepare students for their future. In addition to her blog, Ms. Nielsen writes for Huffington Post, EdReformer, Tech & Learning, ISTE Connects, Leading & Learning, ASCD Edge and is the author of the soon- to-be-released book, “Teaching Generation Text.”
Disclaimer: The information shared does not reflect the opinions or endorsement of her employer.
20 Things Students Want the Nation to Know About Education
It's rare for education reformers, policymakers, and funders to listen to those at the heart of education reform work: The students. In fact Ann Curry who hosted Education Nation's first *student panel admitted folks at NBC were a little nervous about putting kids on stage. In their "Voices of a Nation" discussion, young people provided insight into their own experiences with education and what they think needs to be done to ensure that every student receives a world-class education. After the discussion Curry knew these students didn't disappoint. She told viewers, "Students wanted to say something that made a difference to you (adults) and they did. Now adults need to listen."
Below are the sentiments shared by these current and former students during the segment.
Below are the sentiments shared by these current and former students during the segment.
- I have to critically think in college, but your tests don't teach me that.
- We learn in different ways at different rates.
- I can't learn from you if you are not willing to connect with me.
- Teaching by the book is not teaching. It's just talking.
- Caring about each student is more important than teaching the class.
- Every young person has a dream. Your job is to help bring us closer to our dreams.
- We need more than teachers. We need life coaches.
- The community should become more involved in schools.
- Even if you don't want to be a teacher, you can offer a student an apprenticeship.
- Us youth love all the new technologies that come out. When you acknowledge this and use technology in your teaching it makes learning much more interesting.
- You should be trained not just in teaching but also in counseling.
- Tell me something good that I'm doing so that I can keep growing in that.
- When you can feel like a family member it helps so much.
- We appreciate when you connect with us in our worlds such as the teacher who provided us with extra help using Xbox and Skype
- Our teachers have too many students to enable them to connect with us in they way we need them to.
- Bring the electives that we are actually interested in back to school. Things like drama, art, cooking, music.
- Education leaders, teachers, funders, and policy makers need to start listening to student voice in all areas including teacher evaluations.
- You need to use tools in the classroom that we use in the real world like Facebook, email, and other tools we use to connect and communicate.
- You need to love a student before you can teach a student.
- We do tests to make teachers look good and the school look good, but we know they don't help us to learn what's important to us.
The students are ready to talk to us. How are we going to make time to listen and incorporate their voices into the policies and decisions that affect them?
*Panelists:
Nnamdi Asomugha, Cornerback - Philadelphia Eagles
Shadrack Boayke - Brentwook, NY
Colton Bradford - Mobile, AL
Ron Daldine - Auburn Hills, MI
Rayla Gaddy - Detroit, MI
Katie Oliveria - Las Vegas, NV
Stephanie Torres - New York, NY
*Panelists:
Nnamdi Asomugha, Cornerback - Philadelphia Eagles
Shadrack Boayke - Brentwook, NY
Colton Bradford - Mobile, AL
Ron Daldine - Auburn Hills, MI
Rayla Gaddy - Detroit, MI
Katie Oliveria - Las Vegas, NV
Stephanie Torres - New York, NY
How to Create an Empowering Classroom Atmosphere
A crucial element of a successful school year is to provide students with an empowering Atmosphere for learning. Watch this brief video from Quantum Learning Education showcasing tips on what you can say and do to create a climate in your classroom that promotes a sense of joy, safety, and support.
Blended Learning information
http://www.designshare.com/index.php/articles/transforming-schools-for-the-21st-century/
A Blended Option: Integrating Bricks and Mortar with Online
In their book, Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, Christensen, Horn, and Johnson (2008) assert that online and blended learning are creating disruptive innovation that will impact Michigan and the nation. Stacker chronicles 40 schools that have successfully blended bricks and mortar with online learning in The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning: Profiles of Emerging Models (2011). Beyond reform, “Online learning has the potential to be a disruptive force that will transform the factory-like, monolithic structure that has dominated America’s schools into a new model that is student-centric, highly personalized for each learner, and more productive” (Stacker, 2011, p. 3).
At St. Clair County RESA, a multi-disciplinary team created a blended learning continuum depicting the instructional transformation that occurs when schools move from traditional, face-to-face classroom instruction in a bricks-and-mortar environment to a blended learning classroom that is accessible 24/7/365. [See Insert] In Stage 1 of the continuum, a teacher serves the main dispenser of knowledge. Students primarily sit in straight rows, often passively absorbing the information conveyed. Three stages from this is the blended learning environment wherein the teacher serves as lead learner and mentor for students who are actively engaged in learning, both face-to-face and online. Students use Web 2.0 tools and technology to research, design, create and demonstrate their understanding.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Cell Phones in the Classroom : Learning Tools for the 21st Century
Cell phones in schools... pretty hot topic these days. Many schools are banning cell phones at school... but is this realistic? And are schools over looking the importance of this 21st Century learning tool? Many schools, teachers, and researchers are working to develop the use of cell phones as engaging and sustainable learning tools. It is estimated that by 2020, cell phones will replace personal computers. So, why shouldn't schools be using cell phones as learning tools? The future is NOW! Media Presentation for EMDT Full Sail University, Winter Park FL Dec. 12, 2009.
Common Core State Standards: A New Foundation for Student Success - Common Core State Standards
• Animated introductory segment that tees up vignette series • History of Standards, development • Promise of college-and-career ready students Common Core State Standards: A New Foundation for Student Success
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Steve Jobs 1995-2011
This is truly a lose for education and the world. Steve Jobs has help to make the world a better place for all of us to live in.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Educators Screener
The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Educators Screener
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Bill Gates: "How Do You Make a Teacher Great?" Part 1
Bill Gates: "How Do You Make a Teacher Great?" Part 1
WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM by Steven Johnson
One of our most innovative, popular thinkers takes on-in exhilarating style-one of our key questions: Where do good ideas come from?
Disruptive Innovation and how it works
For the last few years I have been fascinated with Clayton Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation and its application to business, politics, education, and insurgency models. What I find most interesting is that his theory, featured in both "The Innovators Dilemma" and "The Innovators Solution" provides a prescription for a small entrant with less resources to compete with and beat a large incumbent.
To understand his theory we begin by looking at a set of customers for a good or service. A simplified segmentation of the market is defined as non consumers, mainstream customers, and higher end customers. The incumbent starts by creating a good or service that appeals to the mainstream consumer. Upon reaching market segment saturation, the company looks up market and innovates on the product to capture the higher end more margin rich segment. Often tech companies competing in the same market play this leap frog game of matching innovation to control more of the commodity market. Clayton defines these as sustaining innovations.
In business the process is called profit maximizing resource allocation and the right competitor can use it to force an incumbent out the top end of the market. By continuing to innovate, the incumbent creates bloated products or services that have more value or performance than the consumer can utilize. The logic is that if I can please my most demanding customers then my main stream customers will be also be satisfied, but in reality it exposes the lower end of the market to the disruptive entrant who can enter in two ways:
- By targeting non-consumers with a simple, less expensive and more convenient product - this is referred to as a new market disruption
- By innovating on the business or manufacturing process so as to reduce costs and provide a product that over served consumers can get at a lower price.
With both the entrant and incumbent competing in the same segment, the entrant has the margin advantage as the price equilibrium is set at the marginal cost of the incumbent. The incumbent is unable to compete, and the strategy becomes to abandon the low end of the market which contains their least profitable, least loyal customer base and refocus the business in the higher margin tiers with more loyal customers. With the incumbent effectively pushed out of the segment, prices fall to the marginal cost of the entrant.
Now competing in a commodity market and faced with the same growth imperative as the incumbent, necessity begets innovation: The entrant must figure out how to apply the new innovation in the business, manufacturing, or product to move up market. Once this happens the incumbent abandonment, segment commoditization, and then entrant up market movement repeats itself through until the incumbent is forced out of the market.
Here is where it gets interesting: by pushing the incumbent out of the market, the entrant becomes the incumbent and is now exposed to the disruptive entrant. So how does the incumbent compete? Clayton makes the case that the company should develop an autonomous business unit to compete at the lower end of the market. He makes a great argument that the cost structure of an organization drives its values and these cost structure based values limit an incumbent from competing directly with an entrant.
While I think this is good solution, I see it as highly reactive. I think an organization should do as Toyota did and implement a clear and hold strategy similar to what the Marines do in their counterinsurgency operations. When competition, demanding customers, and profit mazimazation drive a company to innovate up market, a company should establish an autonomous business unit to move up market much like Toyota did with the creation of Lexus. And even though they were proactive in creating Lexus, sometimes a disruption redefines the market by turning non consumers into customers, forcing an incumbent to be reactive. Ultimately Toyota had to establish Scion to compete with disruptors like Hyundai and Kia. That's a quick look at the Disruptive Innovation model, Thanks for watching and I look forward to your feedback. for more, Check out Clayton's books "The Innovators Dilemma and The Innovators Solution."
To understand his theory we begin by looking at a set of customers for a good or service. A simplified segmentation of the market is defined as non consumers, mainstream customers, and higher end customers. The incumbent starts by creating a good or service that appeals to the mainstream consumer. Upon reaching market segment saturation, the company looks up market and innovates on the product to capture the higher end more margin rich segment. Often tech companies competing in the same market play this leap frog game of matching innovation to control more of the commodity market. Clayton defines these as sustaining innovations.
In business the process is called profit maximizing resource allocation and the right competitor can use it to force an incumbent out the top end of the market. By continuing to innovate, the incumbent creates bloated products or services that have more value or performance than the consumer can utilize. The logic is that if I can please my most demanding customers then my main stream customers will be also be satisfied, but in reality it exposes the lower end of the market to the disruptive entrant who can enter in two ways:
- By targeting non-consumers with a simple, less expensive and more convenient product - this is referred to as a new market disruption
- By innovating on the business or manufacturing process so as to reduce costs and provide a product that over served consumers can get at a lower price.
With both the entrant and incumbent competing in the same segment, the entrant has the margin advantage as the price equilibrium is set at the marginal cost of the incumbent. The incumbent is unable to compete, and the strategy becomes to abandon the low end of the market which contains their least profitable, least loyal customer base and refocus the business in the higher margin tiers with more loyal customers. With the incumbent effectively pushed out of the segment, prices fall to the marginal cost of the entrant.
Now competing in a commodity market and faced with the same growth imperative as the incumbent, necessity begets innovation: The entrant must figure out how to apply the new innovation in the business, manufacturing, or product to move up market. Once this happens the incumbent abandonment, segment commoditization, and then entrant up market movement repeats itself through until the incumbent is forced out of the market.
Here is where it gets interesting: by pushing the incumbent out of the market, the entrant becomes the incumbent and is now exposed to the disruptive entrant. So how does the incumbent compete? Clayton makes the case that the company should develop an autonomous business unit to compete at the lower end of the market. He makes a great argument that the cost structure of an organization drives its values and these cost structure based values limit an incumbent from competing directly with an entrant.
While I think this is good solution, I see it as highly reactive. I think an organization should do as Toyota did and implement a clear and hold strategy similar to what the Marines do in their counterinsurgency operations. When competition, demanding customers, and profit mazimazation drive a company to innovate up market, a company should establish an autonomous business unit to move up market much like Toyota did with the creation of Lexus. And even though they were proactive in creating Lexus, sometimes a disruption redefines the market by turning non consumers into customers, forcing an incumbent to be reactive. Ultimately Toyota had to establish Scion to compete with disruptors like Hyundai and Kia. That's a quick look at the Disruptive Innovation model, Thanks for watching and I look forward to your feedback. for more, Check out Clayton's books "The Innovators Dilemma and The Innovators Solution."
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