◉ ◉ ◉ Ten posts we've been reading on blended learning Calling all public blenders: Share your story of what's working Evergreen Education Group and the Christensen Institute launched a project for blended learning teachers in public schools to share their story. Take the 10-minute survey by Oct. 19 (October 2014) October is "Connected Educator Month." 5 things to focus on Educators who have embraced social media can learn what comes next after mastering Twitter and Google+ as a way to share ideas. Here are five things to focus on once you've taken the plunge and decided to become a Connected Educator. (October 2014) Blended Learning Teacher Competency Framework released iNACOL and The Learning Accelerator release a new report that examines the characteristics of teachers in successful blended learning environments. The report is the culmination of a year-long exploration by experts across the country. (October 2014) Education Elements outlines supports for blended learning teachers Ed Elements releases white paper on what it has learned from working with over 2,000 teachers in blended learning. The paper shows pedagogical shifts and skills that blended learning requires, how leaders can support teachers in making these shifts, and how and why to align professional development. (October 2014) What to consider to make sure innovative school models succeed Anthony Kim reviews what his company, Education Elements, has learned about successful innovative models from working with over 100 schools on new approaches to integrating instruction and technology to achieve personalized learning. (June 2014) Amidst edtech horror stories, some blended-learning schools shine Author Michael Horn reviews good "edtech stories" and observes that they are getting it right by focusing on the problem they are trying to solve and designing an instructional model first. Then they add the technology to support that model. (October 2014) Formative assessments: Progress, Barriers and Opportunity Getting Smart blogger Tom Vander Ark makes the case for on-line and digital formative assessments, noting that they are often imbedded in learning experiences and provide continuous feedback. (October 2014) 11 online resources to improve teaching skills Author outlines 11 on-line courses and resources teachers can use to improve their teaching skills (offered to acknowledge Connected Educators month.) (October 2014) In Rhode Island, rethinking the education experience of future generations RI Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Deborah Gist and The Learning Accelerator Partner Lisa Duty share in a Getting Smart blog the steps the state is taking to become a "blended-learning state." (October 2014) Thoughts on a new accountability paradigm iNACOL's Susan Patrick muses about a new accountability system that is aligned to student-centered learning. (October 2014) ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Number: 154 Percent growth in reading scores of students in 2013-14 in the schools that worked with Education Elements to implement blended learning in their classrooms as compared to national norms on NWEA. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Last Word "Politicans and school boards should embrace the fact that the greatest longer term wins in student outcomes are unlikely to come from new devices alone" - Researcher Julia Freeland, in recent blogpost on Christensen Institute ◉ ◉ ◉
|