Standardized tests for everyone? In the Internet age, that’s the wrong answer. — from The Washington Post by Cathy Davidson
On 09/27/2011,
in 21st century, assessment, change, education reform, innovation, instructional design, internet, strategy,
by Daniel Christian
On 09/26/2011,
in strategy,
by Daniel Christian
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” – Peter Drucker
From DSC:
What a great quote — how true.
I used to discount the importance of culture — not anymore.
I originally saw this quote at brightspotstrategy.com.
On 09/23/2011,
in 21st century, curriculum, education, education reform, expectations, K-12 related, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, policy, strategy, teachers, teaching & learning,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
I haven’t had the chance to research this much, but I wanted to post several items re: the Common Core Standards. The jury is still out with me as to what I think about them. My initial concerns center around the ideas/curriculums and course offerings/assessment tools involved with the word “standards” — with implementing things that result in clear, consistent expectations.
I have become increasingly hesitant towards words like “standards” and “expectations” — at least as these words are currently being used in this context. I’m not saying that the Common Core Standards will try to further pound round pegs into square holes — though that type of thing captures my hesitation here — as not everyone has the same gifts, abilities, and passions. Much of the current K-12 systems focus so much on STEM-related items — at the expense of so much more that’s out there in the world today.
With that said, I like the idea of getting students prepared — as much as possible — for helping them hit the ground running later on in life when they will need to either go to college and/or get a job. I can see where if a student moves from one district/state to another, how it can be very helpful to have a shared foundation from which to develop the student’s current educational needs and plans.
Some items on this:
- Common Core State Standards: A note to parents — from Core 4 All by Alan Matan
By the way, I appreciate Alan’s statement in his posting that asserts:
“The 21st century skills embedded in the Common Core will pave the way for students to think, reflect, analyze, influence, evaluate, and communicate.” - Implementing Common Core Standards — from Advancing the Teaching Profession by Susan Graham
- CEP reports on progress of Common Core — from Educational Publishing
Implementation of the Common Core Standards is proceeding with little resistance, but challenges remain in funding and guidance, according to a new study from the Center on Education Policy (CEP). CEP undertook the study to determine how far along each of the adopting states was in implementing the Common Core Standards and what their perceptions are of the standards. - CoreStandards.org
From DSC:
What do you think? What are the pros and cons of implementing the Common Core Standards? From the teacher’s viewpoint? From the student’s viewpoint? From the administrator’s viewpoint? From the parent’s viewpoint?
I look forward to learning more about them and to hearing others’ perspectives on them.
On 09/20/2011,
in digital learning, digital textbooks, K-12 related, mobile learning, professional development, strategy, tablets,
by Daniel Christian
iPad deployment and teacher PD –– from Langwitches.org by Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano
Excerpt:
I have been reading my fair share of blogs, wikis and other documentation as schools around the world are deploying iPads in their classroom. It is finally our turn at the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School to welcome 20 brand new shiny iPad2s (no cart, just individual iPads).
In the spirit of passing on the trials and errors, as we get the devices ready to be used in the classroom by teachers and students, I am documenting our process.
Also see:
- Many U.S. schools adding iPads, trimming textbooks — from eschoolnews.com
Apple says more than 600 K-12 school districts have launched iPad programs—with two-thirds of them beginning since July
Addendum on 9-22-11:
- Lessons from an iPad Rollout — from The Journal.com by Bridget McCrea
Florida’s “first iPad high school” has deployed 1,000 iPads to its high school teachers and students. Thanks to preparations on the infrastructure, training, and security fronts, the fall rollout has proved relatively snag-free. In March and June, THE Journal reported on The Master’s Academy and the challenges it was tackling on the way to becoming Florida’s first iPad school. The private, interdenominational Christian institution in Oviedo has since handed out nearly 1,000 of the devices to students in ninth through 12th grade. According to Mitchell Salerno, principal, the transition to a more digital educational environment has gone surprisingly well so far. - 10 Ways to Quickly use the iPad in your Classroom — from Electric Educator
On 08/29/2011,
in 24x7x365 access, Australia, computer science, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, engineering, higher education, innovation, internet, machine-to-machine communications, MOOCs -- Massive Open Online Courses, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, online learning, open courseware and systems, robotics, strategy, trends, United States, vision/possibilities,
by Daniel Christian
Stanford University is offering Computer Science courses online, free to anyone — from geekosystem.com by Max Eddy
A bold experiment in distributed education, “Introduction to Databases” will be offered free and online to students worldwide during the fall of 2011. Students will have access to lecture videos, receive regular feedback on progress, and receive answers to questions. When you successfully complete this class, you will also receive a statement of accomplishment. Taught by Professor Jennifer Widom, the curriculum draws from Stanford’s popular Introduction to Databases course. A topics list and many of the materials are available here. More information about the Stanford course can be perused here. Details on the public offering will be available by late September. Sign up below to receive additional information about participating in the online version when it becomes available.
Also see the video at:
Introduction to Databases class by Stanford University
A bold experiment in distributed education, “Machine Learning” will be offered free and online to students worldwide during the fall of 2011. Students will have access to lecture videos, lecture notes, receive regular feedback on progress, and receive answers to questions. When you successfully complete the class, you will also receive a statement of accomplishment. Taught by Professor Andrew Ng, the curriculum draws from Stanford’s popular Machine Learning course. A syllabus and more information is available here. Sign up below to receive additional information about participating in the online version when it becomes available.
Also see the video at:
Machine Learning: About the class
From DSC:
Again, my question is…if these trends continue, what opportunities are presenting themselves? What threats are presenting themselves? What is our response? How will colleges/universities differentiate themselves in this developing landscape? If items like the below continue to grow…how do we respond?
Addendum later on 8/29/11:
- Also see iversity raises $1.6 million – Wants to bring Campus Experience Online — from edukwest.com by Kirsten Winkler
On 08/25/2011,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, A/V -- audio/visual, adjunct faculty, analytics, art, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning / Deep Learning / Algorithms, attention, Augmented Reality (AR), blogs / blogging / vlogging, change, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, colleges, communities of practice, community colleges, computer science, convergence, creativity, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, drama/theater, e-books, e-publishing related items (EPUB and more), economics, education, education reform, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, engineering, expectations, faculty, game-changing environment, generational differences, global / globalization, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), ideas, innovation, intelligent tutoring, internet, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, learning theories, liberal arts, lifelong learning, machine-to-machine communications, memory, mirroring and/or multiple devices, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multi-touch, multimedia, music, Near Field Communication (NFC), New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new media literacies, online learning, online media, pace of change, passions, pedagogy, Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), presentations, productivity / tips and tricks, publishing, reading, reinvent, robotics, RSS, social learning / networks, social media, society, staying relevant, storytelling, strategy, streams of content, student teaching/teacher education, student-related, surviving, tablets, teachers, teaching & learning, teaching online, technologies for your home, technology (general), telepresence, television, textbooks, tools, transmedia, trends, ubiquitous learning, United States, universities, videoconferencing, virtual K-12 schools, virtual tutoring, vision/possibilities, visualizing information, web-based collaboration, writing,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
Immediately below is a presentation that I did for the Title II Conference at Calvin College back on August 11, 2011
It is aimed at K-12 audiences.
From DSC:
Immediately below is a presentation that I did today for the Calvin College Fall 2011 Conference.
It is aimed at higher education audiences.
Note from DSC:
There is a great deal of overlap here, as many of the same technologies are (or will be) hitting the K-12 and higher ed spaces at the same time. However, there are some differences in the two presentations and what I stressed depended upon my audience.
Pending time, I may put some audio to accompany these presentations so that folks can hear a bit more about what I was trying to relay within these two presentations.
On 08/25/2011,
in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, Apple, business, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, communities of practice, computer science, creativity, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, education technology, emerging technologies, engineering, global / globalization, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, internet, liberal arts, lifelong learning, media/film, mirroring and/or multiple devices, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multi-touch, multimedia, music, new business models, new media literacies, online media, pace of change, presentations, programming, quality, research, science, society, staying relevant, storytelling, strategy, student-related, technologies for your home, technology (general), television, tools, transmedia, United States, usability, user experience (UX), user interface design, videoconferencing, vision/possibilities, visualizing information, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
I want to post a thank you note to Mr. Steven P. Jobs, whom you most likely have heard has resigned as Apple’s CEO. Some articles are listed below, but I want to say thank you to Steve and to the employees of Apple who worked at Apple while he was CEO:
- Thank you for working hard to enhance the world and to make positive impacts to our world!
- Thank you for painstakingly pursuing perfection, usability, and excellence!
- Thank you for getting back up on the horse again when you came out of a meeting with Steve, Tim and others and you just got reamed for an idea or implementation that wasn’t quite there yet.
- Thanks go out to all of the families who were missing a dad or mom for long periods of time as they were still at work cranking out the next version of ____ or ____.
- Thanks for modeling what a vocation looks like — i.e. pursuing your God-given gifts/calling/passions; and from my economics training for modeling that everyone wins when you do what you do best!
Thanks again all!
- Steve Jobs’s Best Quotes — WSJ
- Steve Jobs: The End Of An Era — Techcrunch
- Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO –– wired.co.uk
- Steve Jobs has resigned as Apple CEO “effective immediately” — arstechnica.com
- Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple — engadget.com
- 10 iconic Steve Jobs moments [videos] — from mashable.com
On 08/18/2011,
in digital learning, leadership, mobile learning, mobile technologies, new media literacies, strategy, student teaching/teacher education,
by Daniel Christian
Abilene Christian U supports teachers through Digital Learning Institute — from convergemag.com by Tanya Roscorla
Excerpt:
This summer, Abilene Christian University in Texas hosted its first K-12 Digital Learning Institute for teachers. And this school year, the university will observe teachers’ lessons as they apply what they learned about mobile technology to their classes.
On 08/06/2011,
in 21st century, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, internet, IT in HE, leadership, strategy,
by Daniel Christian
Reengineering IT in higher education — from campustechnology.com by John Waters
Excerpt:
Higher ed IT is going the way of the TV repairman, eventually becoming anachronistic maintainers of commodity systems–if university and college technology managers and chief information officers don’t reclaim their rightful place as innovators. So proclaimed William G. “Gerry” McCartney, CIO at Purdue University, who spoke to attendees at the annual Campus Technology 2011 conference last week in Boston. McCarthy said he wants to see nothing less than a new kind of higher ed hybrid, one that transforms colleges and universities into “producers as well as consumers.”
From DSC:
I have had the perspective for decades now that those organizations who utilize technologies the best will be the winners (sorry for the competitive way of framing this topic, but it’s true).
“Keeping the systems running” in the world of IT is important — but the strategic use of IT has arguably become more important as the Internet, changing landscapes, and budgetary pressures continue to disrupt higher education.
In the 21st century, if you want a successful organization, you must have at least one visionary technologist — who understands your business — on your organization’s decision-making board; if not, good luck to such an organization in the future. If your organization minimizes and underestimates the power of technology to disrupt your business, things may not turn out too good for your organization in the future.
Also see:
- Technology not a priority for most college administrators, report finds — from ConvergeMag.com by Tanya Roscorla
On 07/20/2011,
in digital textbooks, e-books, e-publishing related items (EPUB and more), e-readers, higher education, innovation, K-12 related, learning, learning theories, memory, metacognition / metacognitive skills, publishing, strategy, student teaching/teacher education, teachers, teaching & learning,
by Daniel Christian
Teaching secrets: Teaching students how to learn — from Edweek.org by Cossondra George
Excerpt:
Awareness of common pitfalls and effective strategies can support your efforts to help students “learn to learn” throughout the school year…
From DSC:
I sure wish instructional designers, subject matter experts, professors and teachers could annotate their “books” to give concrete, practical ideas and strategies that would help students to better study, understand, and remember the relevant materials. My early take on this might be achieved via a multi-layered, digital textbook approach that would hopefully address metacognition and help students learn how to learn:
On 07/07/2011,
in 21st century, assessment, change, digital learning, disruption, education technology, engagement / engaging students, innovation, IT in HE, leadership, pace of change, strategy, vision/possibilities,
by Daniel Christian
Schools struggle to balance digital innovation, academic accountability — from Education Week’s Digital Directions by Michelle Davis
Using educational technology in new and different ways to improve student learning is often at odds with standardized testing and other traditional measures of achievement.
Excerpt:
But how do you move forward with such an innovation, when there isn’t definitive proof that it will work? That is the key question educators and policymakers are grappling with.
Under the education priorities of President George W. Bush’s administration, the catchphrase “research base” was drilled into educators” heads when it came to new programs and initiatives. If it wasn’t research-based, it wasn’t worth adopting.
But technology innovations occur so rapidly that it’s often impossible to do scientifically based trials proving effectiveness before schools embrace new approaches. Think of social-networking tools, iPads, and e-readers. And what other new digital-learning tools might also emerge well before scientifically based research can justify their use in classrooms?
Also see:
- ‘Hybrid’ Charter Schools on the Rise — from Education Week’s Digital Directions by Michelle Davis
New charter school models are combining online-only learning and face-to-face instruction
From DSC:
From my 20+ years of experience with working with a variety of technologies, while there is an element of risk taking to implementing technologies, there are also enormous payoffs if organizations implement the appropriate technologies.
But how can we select and implement the most effective technologies? This is where we need to rely on our technologists out there and keep them growing in the knowledge of “the business”, not just the technologies. Tell them what you are trying to achieve, and they can greatly assist. No one can hit 100% — but good technologists can get you into the right game and into the right ballpark (if not exactly lining up the exact right players, which may change or take some tweaking).
NOTE:
Don’t rely on technologists who only see their jobs as keeping the systems running. Though we need technologists who keep the infrastructures up and running, at this juncture what organizations really need are visionaries who are knowledgeable about the needs of the business (as well as the technologies), and those who are willing to explore, experiment, and take some risks…i.e. to lead….to be instrumental in forming strategies and visions. The areas outside IT need to be aware of how critical technologies are becoming in their core strategies and plans. It’s not the same ball-game as it was. Those who use technologies strategically will survive and thrive.
It should be noted that there have been risks inherent in maintaining the status quo — a 20%-30% dropout rate (in K-12) across the United States is pretty risky too, at least in my mind.
On 07/01/2011,
in business, corporate / business world, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, expectations, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, innovation, leadership, reinvent, strategy, surviving, trends, vision/possibilities,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
A reflection on:
- “Why did Myspace fail?… Are you listening Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL, and Cisco? — from FastCompany.com by Mark Goulston
Don’t confuse a one-trick pony, first-mover niche player with a visionary company.
Excerpt (with emphasis from DSC):
The secret to visionary companies’ continued success was explained best what NHL great Wayne Gretzky stated: “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” What Apple and Facebook know and more specifically their founders/CEOs’ Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg have in common is aspirational clarity. They appear to be able to see where the puck will be and into the future of what their market will not just want, but go ga-ga over and then they deliver it. Some may refer to that as their being market makers, but what enables them to make their market is that they can anticipate what will delight their customers and members that those people don’t even know will delight them.
From DSC:
This is why futuring, taking pulse checks on current trends, being in touch with your customers’ expectations (and future customers in the case of students), and scenario building are so important these days.
With the pace of technological change continuing to pick up, a healthy organization will constantly be looking to maintain its relevancy — to innnovate, to reinvent itself.
If you are not constantly reinventing yourself — as an individual or more collectively as an organization — your chances of staying relevant and marketable will likely decrease in the future.
Image by Daniel Christian