How teacher voice can improve professional development
Teachers didn't like our professional development so we changed it. How did we know? We asked them.
Stakeholder and Community Relations
5 ways to improve your school website design right now
First impressions are lasting. Here's how to make a good one with your school's website -- from navigation to multimedia elements.
Watch 4 ed-tech trailblazers discuss disruptive change for the future
Darryl Adams, DOE’s Ted Mitchell, and more share groundbreaking thoughts “These are not infomercials,” is perhaps the best way to ... Read more
5 ways to give teachers and principals more say in ed-tech buying
Teachers and principals should play a greater role in selecting tech for their schools
Should you treat your school like a business?
The idea of treating students, parents and the school community as customers isn't an entirely new one, but it's still one that makes some school leaders balk. After…
One state’s plan to bring better internet to schools and homes
Since 2003, OneCommunity of Cleveland has been connecting and enabling public benefit organizations across the state like schools, government agencies, healthcare, museums, and libraries with next-generation fiber optics.…
Students’ ed-tech opinions might surprise you
Students are more thoughtful about technology use than many adults give them credit for Students see equity of access as ... Read more
The 3 trust questions to ask every ed tech vendor
Vendors need to answer these questions when establishing trust with administrators The educational technology procurement market is enormous: $13 billion ... Read more
How to include the community when making key school decisions
Technology tools and services are helping school leaders engage key audiences in new and important ways, from starting conversations with constituents via social media to participatory budget processes…
Smart phones require smart communication strategies
With as many as 49 percent of all U.S. adults using smart phones, according to Nielsen reports, it’s time to get smart about school communications as well.
Social media trends should prompt a rethinking of school communications
Websites are slowly taking a backseat to text messaging and micro-blogging tools like Twitter for breaking news, emergency messaging, and sharing other urgent information, writes award-winning eSN columnist…
Virtual schooling’s popularity challenges policy makers
With student enrollment increasing rapidly, virtual schooling is experiencing some growing pains. From high dropout rates to concerns about academic rigor, virtual schooling is generating a litany of…
How to engage parents online more effectively
Parenting is the toughest and most important role most adults will ever have. Yet, far too many feel ill equipped to handle the job. Others are simply too…
Using QR codes for school communications
Quick Response (QR) codes—those black-and-white squares that look like a cross between supermarket bar codes and postage stamps—have real potential for school communications.
Five tips for digital communication in the new year
With a new year approaching, it's a great opportunity to re-evaluate what’s working—and what’s not—in your classroom, school, or district communications program. Here are five tips to power…
FCC opens access to social media sites for e-Rate users
Now that even the staid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has loosened its tight rein on social media networks, it’s time for more educators to use these tools to…
Ten tips for using social media in school communications
With social media networks now ubiquitous, it’s time to shift the debate from whether it’s a good idea for educators to use this new medium to how to…
How schools can get better media coverage in the digital news ecosystem
According to a new study by the Brookings Institution, Americans want more news coverage of their public schools. But to improve the media’s coverage of public education, school…
How to fight back against devastating budget cuts
If educators are going to win back the hearts and minds of the public in support of public schools, they need to learn how to engage social media…
Recognizing the warning signs for teen bullying, suicide
Mainstream media outlets have coined a new term to describe the rash of student suicides committed in the wake of persistent school bullying and harassment: "bullycides."
Can eBooks help bridge achievement gaps?
As more traditional book content goes digital, educators are left wondering whether technology will make achievement gaps even wider—or whether electronic books might act as a bridge for…
Demographic shifts require changes in school communication
Unprecedented demographic shifts in the U.S. are creating a communications gap between teachers, principals, and the students and families they serve, forcing educators to rethink their school communication…
How to avoid committing social media gaffes
With social media use nearly universal, school districts need to develop guidelines to help employees navigate this new terrain successfully. Here are some tips to avoid committing major…
Inexperienced companies chase U.S. school funds
With the Obama administration pouring billions of dollars into its nationwide campaign to overhaul failing schools, dozens of companies with little or no experience are portraying themselves as…
Parent video protesting state budget cuts goes viral
A video produced by parents at a California elementary school to protest state budget cuts has become an online sensation, offering several lessons in internet advocacy for school…
Education groups rally support for EETT
Alarmed at what they see as a potential setback in federal support for education technology, several dozen state and national ... Read more
Teen’s suicide after repeated bullying sparks debate
A teen’s suicide in bucolic Western Massachusetts has resulted in several of her former classmates being charged with crimes ranging from disturbing a school assembly to civil-rights violations,…
Use multiple news channels to reach ‘on-the-go’ consumers
School officials need to share information via a variety of media platforms in order to reach today’s “on-the-go” news consumers, a new study suggests.
How school leaders can keep education in the news
A recent study from the Brookings Institution says education isn't getting its fair share of national news coverage--and isn't getting the right stories reported when it does.