Top 4 must-haves for online, blended learning

Many educators turn to online and blended learning solutions to offer alternative solutions for at-risk students

The most important attribute of a successful online or blended learning program is a “rigorous and engaging curriculum,” according to participants in a recent study.

The fourth annual Fuel Education (FuelEd) Benchmark Study, conducted by MDR’s EdNET Insight, also sheds light on why districts are turning to online and blended learning programs, their implementation best practices, and how they measure quality of an online program.

Those surveyed also said successful online and blended programs need the following:…Read More

8 technology tips from top district leaders

Winners of eSN’s annual superintendent program share their technology advice

superintendent-technologyWhen it comes to school technology, having a plan, and having strong leaders to guide that plan, are two of the most important steps to success, according to the 2014 winners of eSchool News’ Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards.

The eight winners of the eSchool News Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards program, chosen for their commitment to educational technology and teaching and learning, shared their best practices for creating schools that boost student engagement and achievement by leveraging technology tools during a series of webinars sponsored by Lenovo.

From focusing on learning objectives first and devices last, to ensuring access to high-speed wireless internet and digital content, these eight superintendents have valuable advice and tips on what it means to be a tech-savvy superintendent.…Read More

11 things I think I know ed-tech folks really want to promote

I had an important conversation with my wife (a classroom teacher) the other day that reminded me (an educational technology coach) how easy it is to be misunderstood, says Tim Wilhelmus for The Playground Advocate. I was trying to understand how I could more effectively reach teachers with the resources and messages that I am trying to promote. In my mind, it was a question of efficiency and communication. How do I best reach my audience, and under what circumstances are they most likely to be open to working with me…

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If we were really serious about educational technology

If we were really serious about educational technology, we would… [here are 10 to get you started]: Show students how to edit their privacy settings and use groups in Facebook instead of banning online social networks because they’re ‘dangerous’ and/or ‘frivolous’; teach students to understand and contribute to the online information commons rather than ‘just saying no’ to Wikipedia…

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We need more ed-tech, but less technology in the classroom

Technology plays a primary role in my teaching, but I rarely turn on the computer that makes the classroom “smart,” Forbes reports. Occasionally, I project the class tweet stream. I am an advocate of Twitter for higher ed. But generally, during class time, I try to avoid mediating my connection with students through technology. Face-to-face time is reserved for facilitating old fashioned conversation and discussion. Outside of class, however, my students are bombarded with digital learning resources…

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Infographic: Teachers and administrators want more classroom technology

According to a new national online survey, 92 percent of teachers polled said they would like to use more educational technology in the classroom, highlighting the growing national understanding that educational technology isn’t optional, it’s essential.

The survey, conducted for Common Sense Media’s Graphite by Harris Interactive in May 2013, asked teachers from around the U.S. “How important do you think it is for teachers to use educational technologies in the classroom?” “During the school year, how often do you or your students use [insert type of educational technology] in your classroom?” and “What are the biggest challenges to integrating educational technologies in schools?”

(Next page: What administrators and teachers are saying)…Read More

ED’s former ed-tech chief discusses new role

Karen Cator (Digital Promise)

To say the political climate in Washington, D.C., isn’t conducive to getting things done these days would be an understatement.

That’s what makes Karen Cator’s accomplishments in her nearly four years as director of educational technology for the U.S. Department of Education (ED) all the more impressive.

A new national ed-tech plan. Coordination with the FCC on a national broadband plan. The development of an online Learning Registry with open digital content that teachers can use in their classrooms. The Connected Educator project, which explores how educators can learn from each other through online communities of practice—resulting in the first annual “Connected Educator Month” last August.…Read More

CoSN conference explores what it means to be an ‘audacious leader’

Finding the right balance between what we hold dear and what we must change “is the essence of audacious leadership,” said Michigan State professor Punya Mishra.

Transforming schools from places that deliver traditional, factory-era models of instruction to institutions that support engaging, personalized, and student-centered learning requires bold, audacious leadership—and that was the theme of the Consortium for School Networking’s 2013 annual conference in San Diego last week.

CoSN is a professional association for school district chief technology officers (CTOs), and its 2013 conference explored what it means for educational technology administrators to be “audacious leaders.”

“We need disruptive, innovative leaders to move 21st-century education forward,” said Jean Tower, CoSN board chair, in kicking off the conference March 12. Tower is also director of technology for the Northborough and Southborough Public Schools in Massachusetts.…Read More

New ed-tech products abound at TCEA 2013

More than 450 companies showcased their ed-tech products at TCEA 2103.

During the 2013 Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) conference in Austin earlier this month, we met with dozens of educational technology companies to learn what they’re up to.

Recognizing major trends such as mobile learning, flipped learning, and “bring your own device” initiatives, many ed-tech companies showcased new products that address these growing phenomena in schools—such as mobile apps, a mobile charging cart that can recognize different devices and charge each one appropriately, and a lesson capture system that’s extremely easy to use.

Here are some of the key announcements made at the show, one of the nation’s largest ed-tech events.…Read More

14 recommendations for taming the ‘wild, wild West’ of ed tech

State boards should ensure that teacher candidates have robust clinical experiences where technology and online learning are incorporated into the program, the report says.

A disruptive factor exists today in educational technology, according to a new report, because while virtual schools, personal digital devices, and open-source materials are transforming education, these forces are still fragmented and rapidly changing, creating a “wild, wild West” landscape for schools and districts.

State boards of education can play a key role in helping to tame this environment, note the authors of the report, “Born in Another Time: Ensuring educational technology meets the needs of students today and tomorrow.”

“State boards of education, along with their state education agencies, are key to providing the leadership on educational technology issues our school systems need to ensure students are ready for life and work in the digital era,” says the report.…Read More

New ed-tech bill supports digital learning, Common Core

Despite enthusiasm among education groups, the bill likely is a tough sell in a highly partisan Congress locked in a dispute over federal spending.

A new bill calls on Congress to fund $500 million in grants to states and districts for educational technology, and supporters say it could replace the old Enhancing Education Through Technology (E2T2) program, which died in 2011.

The Transforming Education Through Technology Act was introduced by U.S. Rep. George Miller of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

The ed-tech bill is backed by a coalition of national education organizations representing K-12 schools across the United States, including the Alliance for Excellent Education (AEE), American Association of School Administrators, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Consortium for School Networking, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), National Rural Education Association, Software and Information Industry Association, and State Educational Technology Directors Association.…Read More