Using politics to teach critical thinking
As high school social studies teachers in a swing state, election season is some of the most fertile ground for learning, and this past cycle—with all its splashy…
Year: 2016
Report: States not making the grade on report cards
States are failing to effectively communicate essential information to families, educators, and communities about how their schools are doing, a ... Read more
The 4 most common mistakes districts make in professional development
Across the globe, teachers are continually asked to integrate technology into their curriculums to keep up with future-ready skills and in turn they complain that they need more…
Going digital? 5 tips for a smooth start
As schools look to modernize teaching and personalize learning, technology is becoming an indispensable tool in the classroom. Though technology ... Read more
12 districts honored for their innovative digital curriculum transition strategies
At the Learning Counsel’s Annual Gathering and National Awards event, twelve leading districts were recognized for their vision and innovation in integrating digital curriculum and technology into their…
Digital e-Learning program allows innovative district to open the world to students
Boone County School District is offering digital world language learning to 10,500 students—half of its student population. With help from Rosetta Stone’s language learning solutions, Boone County Schools…
Here’s what you need to know about Betsy DeVos, likely Education Secretary
With his nomination of billionaire Betsy DeVos for U.S. Secretary of Education, President-elect Donald Trump seems to be making good on his campaign promise to promote school choice.…
K-12 data is failing students-here’s what education could look like
U.S. education is not effectively leveraging data to increase student performance and close achievement gaps in the same way other ... Read more
App of the Week: Inspire a love of music and creation
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps ... Read more
Stop! Why the mis-definition of student equity needs to end
"Equity doesn't mean the same for everyone; it means that everyone gets what they need." These wise words, from a Florida elementary school principal, get to the core…
In the marketplace: An NBA math program, coding tools, and a new literacy initiative
Tech-savvy educators know they must stay on top of the myriad changes and trends in education to learn how teaching and learning can best benefit from technology's near-constant…
Innovative district expands access like never before using E-rate
Thanks to a major funding refresh, one district found that it's now possible to support its one-to-one initiative without scaling back access for other services or devices. Could…
7 elements of successful special education programs
Focusing on inclusion, using data, and forming partnerships are among the practices that can help make special education programs successful in schools, according to a new report. “Meeting…
What is Obama’s K-12 education legacy?
Common Core, Race to the Top, and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)—just a few top-down, often-controversial, metrics-heavy K-12 reform initiatives favored by the Obama Administration that seemed…
App of the Week: Explore space with stunning visual stories
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps ... Read more
World’s largest K-12 reading survey identifies trends, highlights best practices
Tapping into data collected from nearly 10 million K-12 students who read 346 million books and nonfiction articles last school ... Read more
3 tips for teachers addressing the election
By now we’ve all been inundated with pre- and post-election coverage and analysis on numerous media platforms. It seems as if we might never escape the constant barrage…
College- and career-ready expectations for students with disabilities
Achieve and the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) released "Diplomas that Matter: Ensuring Equity of Opportunity for Students with Disabilities," a new report analyzing the diplomas available…
Are outdated computers reverting students to a prehistoric era?
If today’s educators continue to encourage the use of keyboards instead of digital ink and paper, they run the risk of being a ‘pager’ teacher in a smart…
School system makes world languages available to military and ELL families through digital access program
Tennessee’s Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) is on a mission to bring language learning resources to its diverse community and student body of more than 33,500. As CMCSS…
In the marketplace: A cross-curricular contest, free coding access, and more
Tech-savvy educators know they must stay on top of the myriad changes and trends in education to learn how teaching and learning can best benefit from technology's near-constant…
Down with OTT? 3 ways this technology is a new must for education
There’s a new catch phrase in town, and it has massive implications for blended and online learning, especially as OER use begins to ramp up in schools and…
TC- What student choice and agency actually looks like
Student agency, which we might loosely define as students’ ability to influence their own learning, undoubtedly plays a critical role ... Read more
Toolkit outlines steps for ensuring accessibility
Accessibility is a "critical key" when it comes to leveraging technology for all students--including those with disabilities, according to a new toolkit offering accessibility resources and tips for…
What student choice and agency actually looks like
Student agency, which we might loosely define as students’ ability to influence their own learning, undoubtedly plays a critical role ... Read more
App of the Week: Science sensor meets your smartphone
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps ... Read more
These Google Forms turn video from passive to active learning
For as long as I have been a teacher, I have been showing videos in class. While not a revolutionary ... Read more
How 3 schools are reimagining learning spaces
As schools depart from traditional instructional methods and environments, some education leaders are discovering how a combination of blended learning and reimagined physical learning spaces can lead to…
In the marketplace: Science achievement skyrockets, makerspaces expand, and more
Tech-savvy educators know they must stay on top of the myriad changes and trends in education to learn how teaching and learning can best benefit from technology's near-constant…
5 infrastructure concerns for district technology leaders
The growing need for more internet bandwidth is being pushed by an increase in the number of students with devices, according to CoSN's Annual Infrastructure Survey. Increases in…
Finding the right parent-teacher communication app for your class
With a smartphone glued to 90 percent of the parent population’s hands, how is it that schools still depend on ... Read more
5 ways connected school buses are on the rise
As internet connectivity becomes a necessity for schools and students, there is a new call for the government to make school bus wi-fi eligible for federal E-rate funding.…
App of the Week: Easy game creation, from start to finish
Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education, which helps ... Read more
What should we teach students about the future of technology?
As we prepare students for their digital futures, educators must train students to think critically about the technology they will one day help create.
$680K challenge targets virtual, augmented reality
A new $680,000 competition calls for designs of next-generation of educational virtual and augmented reality simulations that strengthen career and technical skills. The U.S. Department of Education's EdSim…
Middle School students use green screens, technology to connect to learning
Longfellow Middle School students are using green screen technology to transport themselves and their classmates to new worlds of learning. ... Read more
ISTE working group to refresh teacher standards
In an effort to refresh its standards for teachers, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has convened a ... Read more
The 10-day summer STEM program improving science instruction
Tesha Frederick sees the endless possibilities of teaching science, thanks to a University of Wyoming (UW) program that promotes STEM careers. Frederick, a kindergarten-first-grade teacher, was among 30…