This blog first appeared on EdWeek’s Next Gen Learning in Action column. At Silicon Schools Fund we invest in schools that take new approaches to education. We recently wrote that many schools are starting to create flex time periods during the day, where students work independently, often online, while teachers perform high-leverage activities such as […]
At a recent conference session on student-centered learning, the facilitator asked participants to wrestle with the question, “When did you become an independent learner?” My discussion partner Charli — a high school student who wouldn’t describe herself as an ‘independent learner’ — wanted to know when I became one. Her question struck a chord because […]
Looking for ways to assess your students equitably despite their physical locations? With more districts moving to some variation of in-person and remote learning (e.g., hybrid, simultaneous learning, concurrent learning, Zoom-and-Room, and Click-and-Brick), the challenges of supporting students in multiple contexts continue to face educators. Educators not only need to teach students across the virtual […]
“What if you could eradicate the fear of public speaking? We’re working to design a virtual reality program to help people get over that fear.” The high school students making this pitch seem to have benefited from their own innovation. They are poised and clear-spoken, standing on the stage speaking into a microphone to a […]
One of the values of blended learning is ensuring that every child has an engaging and effective education that is just right for them. An engaging education not only meets students where they are, but also connects learning to the world around them. Making the learning personalized is not just about the learning approach, but […]
In January, the Office of Educational Technology released the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP). This latest iteration of the flagship federal edtech policy gave sweeping recommendations to do what we’ve always known is best for kids. In a moment when states, systems, and schools continue to grapple with the lingering effects of the pandemic, […]
For students with disabilities, accessibility is a critical issue, but technology has played a significant role in improving access and working to ensure all students get what they need. Given assistive technology’s effect on improving accessibility, virtual learning is assumed to be even more accessible than in-person learning. But in The Learning Accelerator’s (TLA) work […]
This blog was originally published on Next Generation Learning Challenges. A recent ASCD article confronted an uncomfortable reality: the COVID-19 pandemic is likely not the only major interruption to K–12 schooling in our lifetimes. Contemplating an uncertain future, the article explores several key shifts—from investment in universal broadband to the adoption of competency-based pedagogy—that if […]
Schools across the country (and around the world) are in the throes of responding to the challenges of remote learning as a result of the novel coronavirus crisis. For the moment, many schools might feel as though they are in survival mode, but perhaps we can draw actionable lessons from systems uniquely poised to not […]
TLA periodically shares perspectives from educators and other voices from the field. The views and opinions expressed in these guest posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of TLA. If you are interested in writing a guest blog, please contact us! The future of blended learning is promising! […]