Data privacy: What school leaders should know
2013 will be known as the year the American public began to focus on privacy. National security breaches pushed the issue to the front pages of papers nationwide,…
‘Iron Chef’ parodies: A perfect use of ed tech?
A few years ago, my high-school-age stepdaughter arrived home from school one afternoon and started watching a video. Nothing too unusual. But Olivia was walking around the kitchen…
Creating systemic change? There is no app for that
The rise of educational apps has impacted classrooms across the nation, but there’s one major change that apps can’t implement ... Read more
Are these 8 trends the future of K-12?
In a recent blog I wrote for Wired, I discussed Jack Uldrich’s book, Jumping the Curve. Essentially, it suggests that the best entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries are those…
Four must-have tools for improving children’s learning
Having worked with teachers across the country to implement programs, served on literacy committees, and seen first hand how technology has allowed students to become more creative and…
Overcoming ‘print disabled’ curriculum
One of the signature findings of the cognitive revolution of mind, brain and education research over the last few decades has been the overwhelming recognition of the tremendous…
Trends towards scalable personalized learning with technology
For the past few years, the innovation was around school models, with ideas ranging from classroom rotation to flex, with schools experimenting with different configurations around time, place…
How to prepare for eRate funding year 2014
Here are several strategies to help you get the most out of the new eRate funding year.
Walk on the Light Side
Sometimes a sense of humor is the best I.T. defense. Some days (and weeks) it seems like school IT is all project management and troubleshooting. But there are…
How technology is transforming student counseling
Almost a year has passed since the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., where 20 school children and six school staff members were killed.…
How an iPad can overcome ‘print disabled’ curriculum
One of the signature findings of the cognitive revolution of mind, brain and education research over the last few decades has been the overwhelming recognition of the tremendous…
Smart education networks: An action plan for leaders
In my September column, “Time to ask for more eRate funding,” I discussed how this is a historic moment. The eRate program is the largest and most important…
Online & Blended Learning Resources
Our friends at iNACOL have been busy lately. In addition to bringing together more than 2,500 believers in personalized learning at the International Blended and Online Learning Symposium,…
The Affordable Care Act: Making Sense of District Dollars
Meeting Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requirements is challenging for most school districts because managing and monitoring eligibility requires ready access to date-driven information. It also must…
We have to do what? The new face of teacher evaluations
As someone you’d politely call a “veteran educator,” I’ve been fortunate to work in schools for more than a quarter century, and in that time, like all of…
Can you be for-profit and for K-12 students?
Across industries such as health care, clean energy and even space exploration, private enterprise plays an accepted and critical role. Yet when it comes to education, many view…
Crafting a successful BYOD policy
With each new school year, districts across the country prepare to provide meaningful educational opportunities for all students. The Rocky River City School District in Ohio is no…
Six ways to engage in Connected Educator Month
During Connected Educator Month, it's important to realize that the skills, information, and resources shared among school leaders and teachers should be used and applied all year long…
Tips for launching a one-to-one initiative
The Clear Creek Independent School District in Texas truly puts the public in public education. I cannot think of a more profound example of this statement than what…
How ed tech can help with Student Learning Objectives
Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) have gained tremendous momentum in K-12 education over the last 15 years and hold great promise for improving student learning. An SLO is an…
Seven great ed-tech tools for music instruction
As we reported recently, new research confirms that music education can help close student achievement gaps and enhance learning in other subjects. Here are seven music apps and…
Helping teachers grasp mobile learning’s possibilities
In constructing ed-tech professional development, the focus should not be on teaching apps, but on helping educators grasp the instructional capabilities that exist in mobile, personalized, and differentiated…
Connecting vulnerable students to services
The small, tight-knit community of Eudora, Kan., is nestled between two college towns to the west of Kansas City. With just 1,600 students, our district is committed to…
Time to ask for more eRate funding
If educators contact the FCC in large numbers, we might be able to more than double the annual funding available for the eRate.
‘Technology-enabled active learning’ spurs achievement
Using a technology-rich environment to promote collaboration and independent learning, we’ve seen student engagement—and achievement—rise.
How software streamlined our community service program
Giving back to the community through volunteer service is a value we want to instill in our students at Morton Ranch High School in Texas. In the 2012-13…
How we’ve raised more than $25,000 by recycling eWaste
The Waugh Elementary School District has raised more than $25,000 for its ed-tech needs over the last decade—simply by recycling electronic waste through FundingFactory.
Engaging, educating students with chemistry app
This summer’s chemistry section at University of Illinois-Springfield began with the same challenge that I always face with my students: how to get them to engage with the…
Reducing school emergency response times with X-ray vision
Emerging radio frequency identification (RFID) technology can improve school communications and emergency response times by increasing teacher and student visibility during emergencies.
13 inexpensive ed-tech tools for writing
Being able to write clearly is an essential skill for all students. With these simple online writing tools and apps, students get to practice writing informally in settings…
How to have more meaningful iPad professional development
Often, the substantial investments schools make in purchasing iPads are woefully out of balance with the minimal investments they make in preparing teachers to use these new tools…
Viewpoint: Moving beyond technology initiatives
Walking the show floor in San Antonio at the recent International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) conference, it was hard not to be impressed by the broad…
Lowering education’s cost through free or open source tech
A few years back, one of my classmates from a graduate course had a complaint. She told me that her school bought an expensive technology system, which included…
Social media is a must for America’s STEM future
Over the last several decades, the United States has declined as an economic and educational global leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). To regain economic success…
Eight ways kindergarten holds the key to 21st-century instruction
Several of the "revolutionary" changes we've been calling for in our schools have actually been around for quite a while—just talk a stroll down to any kindergarten class.
How to improve the eRate
As the FCC mulls changes to the nation’s school wiring program, here’s a common-sense vision for what we’d like to see.
Desktop virtualization leads to higher-quality education for one district
By the time students wake up for the school day, teachers and faculty have already had their first cup of coffee for the morning and are reviewing a…
New yearbook model is a win for students—and schools
TreeRing’s on-demand digital printing eliminates minimum yearbook orders, saving money for schools—while also allowing customization for each student.
How we created an app for our district—and why you should, too
When we discovered that more than 10 percent of our website traffic came directly from mobile devices, we decided it was time to go mobile.