Open educational resources (OER) is growing in use worldwide. In the U.S., the #GoOpen initiative started by the Education Dept. led to 19 states and 40 school districts making the transition – and now more than 35 states have created grants and policies to support OER adoption in the coming years. A 2016 survey revealed the vast majority of teachers are choosing OER over textbooks in their classrooms. What caused this phenomenon? Let’s take a look at four of the biggest challenges in K-12 education that has led to more schools and states making OER a priority. In Some Places,…
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K-12’s 4 Biggest Challenges That Are Driving OER Adoption
Open Education Week: 5 Successful Projects That Are Expanding Student Access
This week, educators, learners, and advocates are gathering to celebrate National Open Education Week (March 27-31). The OER (open educational resources) movement has been expanding over the past decade, driven by the critical goal of increasing equity and access to learning. And the data continues to show that OER is gaining real traction, empowering teachers and schools to improve educational access in more than 50 different countries. In today’s post, we’ve highlighted a few examples of OER projects in the U.S. that are making a big impact. If you’re looking for ways to participate online in Open Education Week, we’ve…
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This Week: Top Headlines in Education
Happy National Open Education Week! All week long, hundreds of contributors and participants from at least 50 different countries are hosting events and sharing ways to embrace open educational resources (OER) – a movement that has been enriching teaching and learning on a global scale. This annual awareness campaign first began in 2012 and has gained the attention of K-12 and postsecondary educators, students and lifelong learners, advocacy and nonprofit groups, and education service providers. To celebrate Open Education Week, we’ll be dedicating the next two posts to OER, including examples of how it’s adding value to schools and the…
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SXSWedu Conference Highlights: Virtual Reality, Equity, and Next-Gen Educators
Today, we continue ahead on the theme of innovation in K-12 education. Earlier this month, the 2017 SXSWedu Conference and Festival in Austin brought about a number of discussions on how to foster innovation in learning, bringing together experts from both K-12 and higher ed communities on pertinent topics: expanding leadership in public schools, improving equity and access to education, innovating learning spaces, and supporting a new generation of teachers. Check out some of the highlights from the SXSWedu conference below. The Next Phase of Virtual Reality Technology The big question remains: Will students always end up being the consumers,…
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Lessons on Innovation from the 2017 Leaders to Learn From
Creating change is not an easy thing for educators – particularly the kind that can last (and not just another trend that leaves as quickly as it came in). What does successful change look like? Each year, Education Week profiles the most innovative district leaders in the country, who are moving schools forward. Many are inspirational trailblazers able to find new ideas to tackle the oldest problems in the education system today – navigating rigid regulations, leveraging technology to enrich (and not disrupt) learning, and overcoming racial achievement gaps in the classroom. In today’s post, take a look at a…
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This Week: Top Headlines in Education
Earlier this month, the SXSWedu Conference in Austin brought together experts from K-12 and higher education on a number of topics, including how a district can transform when teachers are given more input and agency (we’ll be covering more highlights from SXSWedu later this week). Also, read about this week’s top stories on the decline of Apple devices in the classroom, what policymakers ignore about achievement gaps, the fastest growing segments in ed tech, and more below. Are Teachers K-12’s Greatest Untapped Innovation Engines? At SXSWedu, two K-12 administrators and a district leader from Texas shared their insights on how…
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College Readiness: What’s Missing from Exams, the Common Core, and Other Teaching Practices
Are public school seniors ready for college? According to the past decade of research, most of them aren’t there yet. In 2014, the college admissions test was overhauled by the College Board, in an effort to respond to the harsh criticisms of the SAT. Only, the average scores of the Class of 2015 showed a massive decline, marking the lowest composite score in 10 years of SAT testing. And last spring, the most alarming data came to light from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, and holds up as one…
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March ESSA Update: Rule Changes and Challenges for States
The month of March has brought around some major news for education. While state leaders have been waiting to hear about the new direction of the Education Department, the changes in Washington have created a shift that will impact how the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) will be applied over the next year. In today’s post, we’ve highlighted some of the big changes made since the start of the year, including potential budget challenges that the experts anticipate states and their schools may soon face, as they move forward with implementing ESSA. Congress Overturned Accountability Rules In May 2016, the…
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This Week: Top Headlines in Education
This week, the attention on education has been on the House and Senate, which have been making sweeping changes to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives overturned multiple ESSA rules under the Congressional Review Act, allowing lawmakers to spike federal regulations. The Senate passed a similar resolution this past Thursday, which President Trump has indicated he will sign. While this still keeps ESSA in place, the changes would grant more power to Betsy DeVos in how it will be applied. Read the New York Times feature about the latest updates on ESSA and…
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7 Common Barriers That Obstruct Tech Adoption in Education
It’s hard to imagine human existence without technology. From smartphones to VR headsets to virtual tutoring, there’s so many ways that technology has revolutionized the way we communicate, learn, and do our jobs. How is it that technology has moved so quickly in healthcare, finance, and other big industries, but has taken longer to take shape in the education world? At a fundamental level, the American education system is built according to a model that’s hundreds of years old. There’s a dire need for education to change, and for pioneering innovations to break ground. However, trying to integrate new technology…
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