In light of the seemingly endless discussions around innovation and change, it can be difficult for leaders who are looking to invest in a transformation agenda in their schools to find a clear path forward. What is realistic and where should be their focus? How do they align what they know about good learning and
The Eight Principles of Modern School Transformation Read More »
North America is in the middle of a particularly rough winter. February was Toronto’s coldest month on record, with temperatures never getting above freezing. Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton, and Ithaca, New York also had record-setting cold weather in February. Providence, Rhode Island had 31.8 inches of snow, breaking the old record for the month. Boston had
Schooling and Snow Days Read More »
Digital versus Print. Each week, Educating Modern Learners picks one interesting current event – whether it’s news about education, technology, politics, business, science, or culture – and helps put it in context for school leaders, explaining why the news matters and how it might affect teaching and learning (in the short or in the long
What You Should Know This Week Read More »
Ben Grey is the Assistant Superintendent for Innovative Learning and Communications for Community Consolidated School District 59 in Arlington Heights, IL, and he’s making change happen in some compelling ways at his school. Over the past year-and-a-half, Ben has led a conversation around change that started with a most interesting question: “How can technology be used
The EML Podcast with Ben Grey: Courage and Commitment Read More »
This week I bring you news from “My Best Teachers Who I’ve Never Met Department,” one that’s filled with dozens if not hundreds of faculty members who I’ve connected with over the past 15 years online. One from fairly early on in my learning about social media and learning, Mark Pesce, popped back up on my
“The Classroom is Not a Place…” Read More »
(The following is a draft excerpt from my new book From Master Teacher to Master Learner, which will be published by Solution Tree Press in June, 2015. Feedback welcomed!) When we talk about transformation in schools, we too often forget what we know about good learning. Transformation is not about more technology, personalized learning, or flipped
From Master Teacher to Master Learner Book Excerpt Read More »
Guest post by Harold Jarche We are in the midst of a ‘nano-bio-info-techno-cogno’ revolution. We are entering the network era, and change is coming fast. That may sound like a cliché, but not when you consider the last major shifts we went through and the time our institutions had to adapt. When markets came about,
How Can Educators Prepare for the Networked Era? Read More »
More AP History Controversy. Each week, Educating Modern Learners picks one interesting current event – whether it’s news about education, technology, politics, business, science, or culture – and helps put it in context for school leaders, explaining why the news matters and how it might affect teaching and learning (in the short or in the
What You Should Know This Week Read More »
“The interest roused by historical simulation games is readily explained,” writes Jeremiah McCall in a 2012 article in The History Teacher. “These games offer immersive, interactive, multimedia representations of the past that are radically different from other forms of media. They engage players through multiple modes of communication: visual, textual, aural, and tactile. Through these
What Are Games and Simulations Good For? Read More »
The anniversary of the first one-to-one laptop program. Each week, Educating Modern Learners picks one interesting current event – whether it’s news about education, technology, politics, business, science, or culture – and helps put it in context for school leaders, explaining why the news matters and how it might affect teaching and learning (in the
What You Should Know This Week Read More »
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” ~Ambrose Redmoon The other day, a school leader I was talking to said that she “encourages” her teachers to use technology in the classroom. Now while I’ve heard that word tens of thousands of times in
When a teacher assigns homework, she makes some big assumptions about students’ home lives. Do they have the requisite supplies? A quiet place to study? Supportive parents or guardians who will motivate them to work? Knowledgable guardians who can assist with challenging problems? But even these questions have significant assumptions underlying them. Do students have
Homework is a Social Justice Issue Read More »
Net Neutrality (Again). Each week, Educating Modern Learners picks one interesting current event – whether it’s news about education, technology, politics, business, science, or culture – and helps put it in context for school leaders, explaining why the news matters and how it might affect teaching and learning (in the short or in the long
What You Should Know This Week: Net Neutrality Read More »
As a school leader and classroom teacher at Sandvika School outside of Oslo, I am writing this from a Norwegian perspective. Norway has the resources to do well in the field of technology. Many school districts have invested heavily in hardware and software, and for some years now all high school students have had computers,
Moving Schools Forward: A European Perspective Read More »
Once again, students’ technology usage is prompting panic. This time, the scare involves anonymous messaging apps. This past week alone, the following headlines crossed my desk: “Do your kids Yik Yak? Time for a chat.” “The Folly of Banning Yik Yak on School Campuses.” “A New Faculty Challenge: Fending Off Abuse on Yik Yak.” “Investigating
Anonymous Messaging Apps on Campus Read More »
