Discovery Education – Problems worth solving

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DiscoveryInfoGraphic200x300Did you know that 74% of high school seniors score below grade level in math achievement? Or that the U.S. ranks 25th internationally for mathematics education? This exclusive infographic from Discovery Education presents the latest data about where we are and an honest assessment of where we can go from here.

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Obama seeks laws on student privacy, data hacking

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Proposed law would prevent companies from selling student data to third parties

student-dataA White House official said President Obama on Jan. 12 will announce a measure aimed at preventing companies from selling student data to third parties and from using information collected in school to engage in targeted advertising.

Obama also wants Congress to pass legislation requiring companies to inform customers within 30 days if their data has been hacked, a move that follows high-profile breaches at retailers including Target, Home Depot, and Neiman Marcus.

Obama’s proposals are part of a White House effort to preview components of the president’s State of the Union address in the lead-up to the Jan. 20 speech. The official, who insisted on anonymity, was not authorized to discuss the proposed legislation by name ahead of Obama’s speech at the Federal Trade Commission.

The Student Digital Privacy Act would prohibit companies from selling student data to third parties, a move spurred by the increased use of technology in schools that can scoop up personal information.

(Next page: Reaction to the proposed data protection law)

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5 ed tech predictions for 2015

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Ed tech policymakers and experts weigh in on the year ahead

predictions-techLast year, in addition to the tremendous attention on Common Core’s ups and downs, educators also found time to weigh the merits of greater access to broadband in (and out of) the classroom, as well as gaming and learning, the use of Google tools, and the power of data to make decisions. The changes—both political and technological—had a great impact on educators everywhere.

Likewise, this year, with the recent expansion of the federal E-rate program and impending switch to online testing, we can certainly expect more of the same. But where else will educators turn their gaze in the coming months?

To get a pulse on the current—and future—state of affairs, eSchool News recently asked five education technology influencers about their thoughts and predictions for the year ahead, from digital learning broadband and mobile to innovating in every classroom. Here’s what they had to say.

(Next page: smarter data, more funding, and other predictions for 2015)

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App of the Week: Twelve a Dozen

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Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated with help from Graphite by Common Sense Media. Click here to read the full app review.
What it’s like: A platform-style puzzle game, which guides students through 30 different levels that increase in difficulty, designed to help students improve math skills. As kids complete each level, they unlock the next in this engaging narrative adventure.
Price: $4.99
Grades: 4-8
Pros: Learning is seamlessly integrated with a whimsical story line and highly engaging gameplay.
Cons: Targeting specific skills isn’t an option.
Bottom line: This absorbing game challenges kids’ math and thinking skills as much as it entertains.
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Discovery Ed launches Math Techbook

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Emphasizing real-world connections and encouraging inquiry-based learning, Math Techbook promotes lasting student proficiency

math-techbookDigital content and PD provider Discovery Education officially unveiled its Math Techbook, a digital textbook designed to promote student proficiency.

Math Techbook is the latest addition to the company’s line of digital textbooks, and features engaging instructional strategies and real-world problems for students with diverse learning styles.

Math Techbook is designed to encourage inquiry-based learning. Through its Discover, Practice, Apply instructional approach, Math Techbook moves conceptual learning, procedural fluency and real-world problem application through a cycle that promotes greater student knowledge retention. Math Techbook supports middle school math (sixth, seventh and eighth grade), high school math (Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry), and Integrated Math (Math I, II and III) instruction.

Developed by Discovery Education’s team of expert math educators, with the input of teachers and administrators from across the country, the digital text features dynamic, Common Core and state standards-aligned content, interactives, videos, digital tools, and game-like activities that increase students’ motivation to learn math. Useful student tools including a graphing calculator, geometry tool, whiteboard tool and matrix solver are also embedded into each Techbook. In addition, students interact with content in a manner familiar and exciting to them, and can monitor their own progress in real-time with the Student Dashboard.

(Next page: More details on the Math Techbook)

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4 grants for innovation, libraries, and active learning

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School grants offer much-needed financial help for schools

january-grantSchool funding is a challenge even in the post prosperous of times, especially when it comes to ed tech–technology is always changing, and maintaining or upgrading initiatives, tools, or resources is not always free. Many educators and administrators rely on school grants to fund important projects and opportunities for students.

Each month, eSchool News compiles a list of new education grant opportunities. This month’s grants address learning environments, innovation, and more.

Check out these funding opportunities for teachers, students, parents, and administrators–there’s likely to be a grant that’s relevant to your needs.

(Next page: January’s funding opportunities)

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Digital learning in Singapore: CoSN leads K-12 delegation

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Visit builds on organization’s global dialogue, digital learning efforts

cosn-digitalThe Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is leading a senior-level delegation to Singapore from January 9-17 for a strategic discussion on technology in schools.

Educators will meet with Singaporean dignitaries and educators to discover up-close the innovative educational uses and impact of information and communications technology (ICT) in the Southeast Asian country.

“Our exploration of Singapore’s pioneering education system will strengthen CoSN’s longstanding commitment to build bridges from successful endeavors across the globe back to America. There isn’t a better system from which we can learn,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “Over nine days, Singapore will share with us the practices, programs and policies that have transformed their learning models. We look forward to bringing our observations and lessons learned back to U.S. schools.”

(Next page: The delegation’s three main focus areas)

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Henry Ford Foundation Teacher Innovator Awards

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Do you know a teacher who has inspired others to challenge the limits of what’s possible? Who encourages others to create bold solutions? The Henry Ford Foundation is looking for teachers who demonstrate ingenuity and resourcefulness, who approach teaching and learning creatively, and who are using the classroom to inspire innovation, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. The Teacher Innovator Awards recognize the nation’s most innovative educators.

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