Pearson launches DRA2+ app for iPad
Pearson has launched the Developmental Reading Assessment, Second Edition PLUS (DRA2+) iPad App for literacy assessment. Now available on the App Store, the new app guides teachers through…
Assessments
Opt-out movement accelerates amid Common Core testing
Thousands of students are opting out of new standardized tests aligned to the Common Core standards, defying the latest attempt by states to improve academic performance. This "opt-out"…
Why you should stop testing and start assessing
The thought of asking students to take tests to show their knowledge had never crossed my mind. My goal has always been to design courses that capture the…
6 reasons it’s important to create your own online assessments
At one district, homegrown online assessments prove valuable for teachers, students, and parents alike.
School enables high-speed testing for 2,350 students
Watchung Hills Regional High School has implemented VMware Horizon with Atlantis USX™ VDI storage solution to enable computer-based testing and deliver high-speed desktops to any device. Watchung Hills…
Skyward introduces new test bank management solution
As school districts prepare students for assessments, administrators are looking for tools that ease teacher prep time, address established curriculum, and encourage schools and districts to share assessment…
Tough slog ahead in Congress for NCLB rewrite
U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Lamar Alexander earlier this month announced a symbolic breakthrough in the decadelong ideological wrangling over how to rewrite the nation's chief education law.…
Don’t forget AV needs for Common Core assessments
School leaders are aware that Common Core assessments will come with some new requirements, and AV equipment needs should not be overlooked. Califone International LLC, a manufacturer of…
Where is our obsession with testing leading us?
A look at global STEM powerhouses, particularly those in Asia, show that high-stakes testing doesn’t always mean successful students, and it certainly doesn't mean these models are repeatable…
Austin ISD offers free test prep to high school students
Austin ISD (AISD) is partnering with Edgenuity, an online education provider, to expand support for all high school students by offering free test preparation services for college entrance…
HP technology solutions aim to boost outcomes
As part of an effort to produce meaningful outcomes for students, teachers, and communities through the use of technology, HP has introduced assessment technology, hardware products, software bundles,…
Common Core, BYOD, assessments among districts’ budget priorities
An annual report based on two large-scale surveys of education decision-makers reveals that school technology budgets are growing stronger, school leaders are seeking Common Core-aligned instructional materials, and…
Top 10 of 2014, No. 5: Common Core and online assessments
Each year, the eSchool News editors compile 10 of the most influential ed-tech developments and examine how those topics dominated K-12 ed-tech conversations. No. 5 on our list…
When letter grades won’t work, there’s an app for that
In my eighth grade physical computing class, I have a grade problem. The things that are most important to me--things like creativity, curiosity, persistence, critical thinking--are nearly impossible…
4 ways to create a successful hybrid school
Several of our high schools in Poudre School District (PSD), Fort Collins, Colorado, serve more than 2,000 students each, and for the vast majority, these are positive places…
Online assessments a challenge for states rethinking Common Core
Receiving a mandate to support Common Core assessments can be challenging enough for a district IT team, but what happens when your state is yo-yo’ing on Common Core…
App of the Week: Build strong test-taking skills
App name: Test Precision What is it? Test Precision is an eLearning platform for college admission test (SAT & ACT) ... Read more
Cognitive assessment leaps into the digital age
Digitized cognitive assessments can enhance diagnostic accuracy, while enabling the integration of new knowledge of cognitive processes into assessments Cognitive ... Read more
What you need to know about Kaplan’s new SAT survey
Kaplan Test Prep, one of the leading SAT tutoring and college prep companies, believes that the SAT is still relevant in the CCSS era.
Blended learning and the paradox of the experienced teacher
Assuming a good teacher in the traditional classroom will be a good teacher in a blended learning environment is wrong. The terminology alone provides a clue; after all,…
5 things you can do right now to prepare for Common Core assessments
Helping your students become ready for deeper skills assessment isn't as hard as you think; here are five places to start.
Using your LMS to provide powerful support for teacher intuition
A well-designed blended learning course can provide a teacher with greater insights to support his or her intuition. Here's how.
Top ed-tech stories to watch: Online testing looms
Next spring, new state exams tied to the Common Core standards in reading and math will be given for the first time in more than 40 states—and there…
New app makes reading fun, prevents ‘summer brain drain’
Encouraging children to read at a young age and to continue reading throughout life is a huge challenge for educators and parents. The real trick is to encourage…
Can young students master digital writing assessments?
A new pilot study reveals that fourth grade students are well-equipped to successfully take computer-based writing assessments. The National Center for Education Statistics conducted the National Assessment of…
Classroom audio system makes personalized learning ‘magic’
When my school unveiled our new 1,600-square-foot STEM lab in October, I was very excited—and just a little overwhelmed. After all, we combined two existing classrooms to create…
Two benefits of eBooks for early readers
The future of eBooks opens up opportunities for teachers and students alike. eBooks provide fluent readings and other engaging tools that help early readers achieve academic success. And,…
Little-known ways to find every student’s hidden potential
I was walking down the halls of our school recently when a little girl approached me. “Mrs. Rogers, what do I have to do to get into your…
How to create scalable solutions to address the STEM crisis
Transforming STEM education and, as a result, the U.S. workforce, will require more than homegrown or one-off localized programs. This is a national challenge that requires scalable and…
Using eLearning tools to maximize summer PD
School’s out for summer, and what better time for teachers to continue their education through professional development programs?
Where have all the summer reading assignments gone?
Summer: a time in a child’s life where they are no longer bound by societal rules to attend school nor do anything school related. To do so would…
It’s not accelerated learning; we just stopped decelerated teaching
Self-paced Blended Learning continues to produce amazing results. As self-paced courses "mature," they continue to improve; resources get fine-tuned and teachers become comfortable and confident with the new…