Behind the Headline: Stop Burning NY’s Special Ed Dollars
On Top of the News Stop Burning NY’s Special Ed Dollars New York Post | 2/1/12 Behind the Headline The Case for Special EducationVouchers Education Next | Winter 2010 Former State Assemblyman Michael Benjamin makes the case for special ed vouchers in New York City in an op-ed appearing in today’s Post. Jay Greene and [...]
The Country’s Most Ambitious Digital Learning Project
While it’s easy to think of the consortia as “building tests,” the more apt description is that they are attempting to re-invent, with heavy use of technology, the entire process of assessment.
Did the Chetty Teacher Effectiveness Study Use Data that are No Longer Relevant?
In a two steps forward, one step back dance worthy of Vladimir Lenin himself, the New York Times properly gave front-page coverage to the breathtaking new teacher effectiveness study by Raj Chetty and his colleagues, but then allowed Michael Winerip space to give teacher unions a denial opportunity.
For Digital Learning, the Devil’s in the Details
State planning is key to progress
State planning is key to progress
Hewlett Assessment Competition Comes at Critical Time
The political incentives to create high-quality assessments aren’t particularly strong, so having philanthropists invest dollars to create these assessments and continue to push innovation is critical.
Understanding the Economics of Online Learning
The Costs of Online Learning, the latest in Fordham’s digital learning policy series, tackles the tricky question of per-pupil spending. And while the paper cannot offer definitive answers for policymakers and school leaders, it does provide a helpful primer on the overall economics of online and blended learning.
California Initiative Brings Breath of Fresh Air
It’s an embarrassment that California, the state that led the technology revolution in America, is, according to Digital Learning Now, last in the nation in using technology to transform its education system from its current factory-model roots into a student-centric one.
In Praise of Performance Pay—for Online Learning Companies
Whether you consider yeserday’s New York Times article on K12.com a “hit piece” (Tom Vander Ark) or a “blockbuster” (Dana Goldstein), there’s little doubt that it will have a long-term impact on the debate around digital learning. So how can we go about drafting policies that will push digital learning in the direction of quality?
What We’re Watching: A Day in the Life of the National Online Teacher of the Year
Kristin Kipp teaches 11th and 12th grade English virtually from her home in Colorado.
Making Sense of the Whole “Are Teachers Overpaid?” Thing
I’m much more interested in the broader issue of how we can rethink the profession, make fuller use of talented teachers, and wisely spend the dollars we do have than in debating what the “right” wage level should be.
Why Stanford Online High School Matters (and two ways it could matter more)
Sunday’s New York Times story broke the news that Stanford University, one of the world’s most prestigious research institutions, is putting its brand squarely behind a full-time, degree-granting online high school program. It’s just one more reason to set aside the silly debate about whether online education can possibly be effective for high school students.
The Nation’s Online Learning Omission
The Nation’s recent online learning expose, How Online Learning Companies Bought America’s Schools, in its zeal to connect various dots into a narrative of a corporate public education takeover, makes critical errors. It falsely equates K-12 online learning with privatization, leading to an incomplete and flawed political analysis. More importantly though, the article makes a credibility-killing factual omission.
Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate, Digital Learning and Excellent Teachers Go Well Together
Rather than seeing a painful (and politically volatile) trade-off between technology and teachers, we propose that digital education needs excellent teachers and that a first-rate teaching profession needs digital education.
Review of New Fordham Digital Learning Papers
Teachers in the Age of Digital Instruction and School Finance in the Digital-Learning Era, two new working papers in the Fordham Institute’s series on digital learning, are welcome additions to the often narrow debates around online learning.
Academic Value of Non-Academics
The case for keeping extracurriculars
The case for keeping extracurriculars
Giving Every Student a Digital Learning Experience
By requiring students to take at least two credits online to graduate, Idaho is arming its kids with the knowledge and skills they will need to thrive in our increasingly digital world.
Studying Teacher Moves
A practitioner’s take on what is blocking the research teachers need
A practitioner’s take on what is blocking the research teachers need
Colorado’s Crummy Policies Lead to Crummy Virtual Schools
An investigation of Colorado’s full-time virtual schools has revealed some dubious results and practices, which led the state’s Senate President to call for an emergency audit of all of Colorado’s virtual schools. But the state shouldn’t be shocked by the report. As the truism goes, you get what you pay for.
Educators Answer Questions About the Flipped Classroom
I’ve received a number of questions and comments on my recent article, The Flipped Classroom. Most gratifying have been the rich exchanges in comment threads and on twitter, primarily from educators explaining their experiences, challenges, and discoveries from “flipping” their classrooms.
Jeb Bush, Melinda Gates, Sal Khan and the Coming Digital Learning Battle
The debate between blended and online learning will continue. Too much politically is at stake for it to be otherwise.
Reformers: We Must Be Much Bolder to Reach Every Child with Excellent Teachers
Here’s the problem: even if our nation fully implemented most of the recommended legislation in the next decade, we still would be far behind other nations that made bolder changes years ago. In contrast, of course, many conservatives want to leave education up to state legislators, on whose watch K-12 education has plateaued and declined.
Laura Johnson’s Unhappy Online Learning Journey
If we are going to offer students new options — and we should — policymakers must first do whatever they can to mitigate the risks borne by students.
The Flipped Classroom
Online instruction at home frees class time for learning
Online instruction at home frees class time for learning
