10-6-13 Wait What?

Wait What?:

Will Bridgeport’s teacher negotiations be another chapter in Malloy’s Waterloo?

Many school teachers have already decided that they won’t be voting for Malloy if he runs again… And those who have yet to make up their minds may join their colleagues as the watch Malloy’s allies work to scapegoat teachers in the upcoming Bridgeport teacher contract negotiations. As the Connecticut Post recently explained, “Talks to […]The post Will Bridgeport’s teacher negotiations be another c

5 by jonpelto / 1h 

Hartford Courant editorial highlights ongoing efforts to make government more secret…

Americans should be increasingly concerned about the efforts to increase government secrecy and reduce transparency. Whether it is President Barak Obama in Washington or Governor Dannel Malloy in Hartford, it seems like a day doesn’t go by that we don’t hear about more efforts to reduce the right of citizens to know what their government […]The post Hartford Courant editorial highlights ongoing ef

4 by jonpelto / 33min 

A case study of how sound bites don’t always reflect reality…

Governor Malloy calls on Federal Government to pay unemployment benefits for Sikorsky shutdown adding its “unacceptable that Connecticut taxpayers be made to pay for the failures of Republicans in Washington.” It is unacceptable for Connecticut taxpayers to be paying for the failure of Republicans in Washington, but the Sikorsky situation isn’t the right example.  And […]The post A case study of h

2 by jonpelto / 1min

10-5-13 Wait What?

Wait What?:A retired Bridgeport principal speaks: Leaving the “Education Reform” movement in tattersAnn Evans de Bernard, Ph.D recently retired as principal of Waltersville School in Bridgeport.  In a two part commentary piece, she asks When is school reform not reform? And then, with the power and authority that only comes from having served on the front lines of the effort to provide Bridgeport’

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

Wireless EdTech Conference 2013 Overview -- Wireless Ed Tech

2013 Conference Overview -- Wireless Ed Tech:

Leveraging Mobile and Wireless to Transform Teaching and Learning

Wireless EdTech Conference 2013
Date: October 7- 9, 2013
Location: Fairmont Hotel, Chicago

Wireless EdTech is the premier conference to focus on major issues in research, practice and policy that must be resolved to realize the full potential of mobile broadband for learning.

Participation in this conference will provide attendees with the opportunity to discuss and debate the wireless challenges they face with device management, hardware, curriculum resources, assessment techniques, policy issues and Internet capabilities. Explore the impact and lessons learned from using wireless and mobile technologies in the classroom to enhance education, and discover the hardware behind this new mobile learning revolution. Learn how to implement the right wireless technologies at scale, create a deployment strategy, forecast the return on investment and strategically redirect resources into student equity.

Now is the time to transform education in a way that will truly prepare our students to compete in the global economy.

Mobile connectivity provides an opportunity to offer new ways of teaching and learning that ultimately improve academic performance and produce results—this opens up new markets for mobile operators across the world. The potential of wireless and mobile technology to enhance teaching and learning is at the forefront of technological advancements in education.

Mobile learning has many different definitions and is known by many different names, like mLearning, uLearning, personalized learning, learning while mobile, ubiquitous learning, anytime/anywhere learning, BYOT, 1:1, and handheld learning. No matter what you call it, mobile tools are here to stay. Equipping students and educators with 24/7 access to learning communities, curriculum materials and information is allowing them to be more productive and have resources for learning when and where they are needed. By fostering informal learning, engaging students, and enabling collaboration, the education environment can harness the power of these wireless tools to positively impact learning in the digital age.

Join an elite lineup of speakers from across the nation representing districts, campuses, industry and policy that will be sharing their expertise on wireless learning in a mobile society. As an attendee, you will have the opportunity to learn from presentations, engage in discussions, and add your own voice to the collective education experience of everyone involved. Collaborate across a diverse group of stakeholders, including leaders in business, nonprofits, startups, K-12, higher education, mobile developers and government agencies. Those interested in having an active role in the conversation can do so by contributing insights during the breakout sessions, participating in our polls and taking advantage of the networking times to meet new colleagues and share ideas – because learning from colleagues offers the best chance of success. Instructional technology topics at the Wireless EdTech Conference include presentations on how states, colleges and universities, and districts leverage mobile and wireless to transform teaching and learning.

We hope you can join us for a stimulating two days with leaders and distinguished guests who are on the forefront of technology and education at Wireless EdTech 2013!

House Of Cards - Corporate Deform in America - Trailer by BATA

House of Cards is a series of short videos created to bring to the forefront the key players in the corporate reform movement. Each week a new player will be featured along with information concerning their words and actions that have been aimed at the destruction of our public schools. Video created by Terri Michal. No copyright infringement intended. For informational purposes only.

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LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-6-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

A New Perspective in Los Angeles

Up until now, Eli Broad and his minions have dominated education discussion in Los Angeles. But something pretty terrific happened over the last few days. New voices are being heard. The public is getting the word that “corporate reform” is not working and will not improve their children’s education. As educators, our job is to educate the public. We don’t have access to the mainstream media, but

6 by dianerav / 37min 

Students Are Amazing at “Education Nation”

Even though the main events of Education Nation over the next two days will be packed with CEOs and anti-public education governors, I give NBC credit for an outstanding student town hall today. Melissa Harris-Perry interviewed four students who were selected for their activism: one from Philadelphia, who spoke out against Governor Corbett’s $1 billion budget cuts and explained how it stripped the

8 by dianerav / 26min 

Are Teachers Superheroes?

I received this beautiful statement to honor teachers on World Teachers Day. That was October 5. Funny, the day passed unnoticed in the U.S. It was sent to me on Twitter by Pedro De Bruyckere. Read this, stand tall, and understand how lucky you are to be a teacher. It starts like this: “Teachers are no superheroes They won’t save the world. But they will save their children in case of emergency.

1 by dianerav / 8min 

Peter Goodman Reviews “Reign of Error”

Peter Goodman is a former New York City high school teacher who blogs insightfully about state and local politics and education. In this post, he analyzes “Reign of Error,” noting that I am neither left or right, as those words are ordinarily used. He concludes: “I finished the book on an intellectual high – how could anyone not read the “Reign of Error” and be convinced of the idiocy of the cu

2 by dianerav / 12min 

Crazy Crawfish on Arne Duncan

Crazy Crawfish blogs from Louisiana. His friends know him as Jason France. He worked in the assessment division of the Louisiana Department of Education until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He wrote a comment for this blog in which he critiques Arne Duncan’s critique of critics who live in “an alternate universe.” Crazy Crawfish writes: I may not know the secret to fixing every school, but I kno

by dianerav / 1min 

My Trip to the West Coast…and Back

I have just returned from a multi-city trip to talk about my book and had a wonderful (though exhausting) time. On the flight from New York City to Denver, I wrote an opinion piece that appeared in the Los Angeles Times on October 2, the date of my first lecture there. I started in Denver, where I spoke at North High School to about 600 people, mostly teachers. I also met the brave insurgent candi

3 by dianerav / 7min 

Your Gift for Today: Time to Laugh

This is one you should not miss: http://stockholdersfirst.org/ Very funny, with a catchy song too.

4 by dianerav / 13min 

High-Performing District in Louisiana Votes to Abandon Common Core

The board of St. Tammany Parish, one of the high-performing districts in Louisiana, voted overwhelmingly to abandon both the Common Core standards and the tests. The board was responding to comments by educators and parents: “The committee’s adoption of the resolution – 13 of the board’s 15 members attended the meeting — comes after a series of public meetings during which board members got an ear

7 by dianerav / 13min 

Make Them Stop, Make Them Go Away, Leave the Children Alone!

A teacher-blogger in New York City sent me this post. I have a grandson who just started second grade. I look at this techno-trash and pray that his teachers are not required to pay attention to it. If this is the kind of “work” that comes out of Tweed (the headquarters of New York City’s “Department of Education”), I have advice for the next Mayor: Clean out the whole bunch of people who make up

1 by dianerav / 11min 

And Now, About My Critics

I have been more than thrilled by the response to my new book. Today it is #10 on the New York Times best seller list, next week it will be #15. My guess is that as more educators and parents read it, they will recommend it to others. I hope they will form study groups to discuss the issues it raises. My hope was to provide indisputable facts about where we are, and research-based evidence about w

10 by dianerav / 53min 

What Happens When “Disruption” Fails?

It seems like only yesterday the New York Times magazine published a lengthy article about the powerful and transformative tablets that Joel Klein’s company Amplify had sold to the Guilford County, North Carolina, schools. The writer, Carlos Rotella, was appropriately cautious in assessing what it meant when students had most of their lessons on a tablet, but nonetheless there was a tone of “this

15 by dianerav / 1h mark as read  //  save

Meridian, Mississippi: Yes, The Tide Is Turning

No wonder the corporate reformers are nervous. The American people are wising up. The slanders against our public schools are being exposed. One by one, the Reformy House of Cards is coming down. Imagine this scenario: the editorial board of the Meridian Star toured Meridian High School. The students are 89% African American, and 80% free/reduced price lunch (the federal measure of poverty). Wh

17 by dianerav / 1h 

My Conversation with Valerie Strauss

Valerie Strauss has been a beacon of light and hope for the nation’s educators during these years in which teachers and principals have been blamed for the social ills of the nation and treated with disrespect. That never happens on Valerie’s blog “The Answer Sheet” at the Washington Post. Not only has she been a trenchant critic of high-stakes testing and other misguided policies, but she has ope

30 by dianerav / 2h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 10-5-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Is Free Speech Dead in Oklahoma?I just learned that Rob Miller, principal of the Jenks Middle School in Oklahoma, is under investigation for possibly encouraging parents to opt out of a field test. According to the Tulsa World: Jenks Public Schools participated in and encouraged a movement to opt students out of field tests last Ap

by mike simpson / 7h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 10-5-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGTODAYIs Free Speech Dead in Oklahoma?I just learned that Rob Miller, principal of the Jenks Middle School in Oklahoma, is under investigation for possibly encouraging parents to opt out of a field test. According to the Tulsa World: Jenks Public Schools participated in and encouraged a movement to opt students out of fiel

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

10-6-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle Schools This Week

Monday, Oct. 7thCommunity Meeting with Director McLaren from 6-7:45 p.m. at the Delridge Library.Wednesday, Oct. 9thExecutive Committee Meeting from 8:30-10 am.  No agenda yet available.Work Session on Transportation Standards from 4-5 p.m.  Agenda.Work Session on Budget Guiding Principles from 5- 6:30 pm.  Agenda (not linking because there is zero information).Thursday, Oct. 10th Audit&Financ

by Melissa Westbrook / 1h 

Live Blogging From School Board Debate

A very sparse crowd for the first debate at the Rainier Chamber of Commerce debate event.    It does not appear that it will be starting on time (a real pet peeve of mine for these types of events). A few updated items on the race:- The Seattle Chamber of Commerce considers Blanford and Dale Estey as part of "their" slate.- Sue Peters won the endorsement of the SEA.- The Great Seattle Sc

by Melissa Westbrook / 22min 

Seattle School Board Candidate Debate at Lawton

From Lawton PTA:We want to invite you and your membership to attend a School Board candidate forum which will take place at Lawton Elementary on Thursday October 24 at 6:30pm. We invited both Suzanne Dale-Estey and Sue Peters to come and answer questions regarding their campaigns for school board in our region (District IV) and are happy to say both have accepted. I think this is great and applaud

by Melissa Westbrook / 6min 

Garfield Updates

The Garfield High School Associated Student Body does not condone harassment, abuse, intimidation, humiliation, violence, or bullying of any kind. We support and encourage inter-class unity by continuing to provide and promote safe and school-appropriate events. Any student who needs help or assistance should contact an ASB officer, counselor, teacher, or administrator. Garfield ASBFrom Principal

by Melissa Westbrook / 7h mark as read  //  save

Seattle Schools Announces a "Partnership" with Africatown Center for Education & Innovation

I am beyond baffled about what is going on with the district, the ACEI, Nova and the Mann Building. I am saying - upfront - that I believe there is much more to this story than we know (there's a backstory there somewhere).  I continue in my belief that it will not turn out well. I am also dismayed to see this all happening so fast as I wonder if African-American parents - throughout the entire di

by Melissa Westbrook / 7h 

10-5-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Community ForumSeattle Schools Family Symposium RescheduledFrom SPS:The fall Family Symposium originally scheduled for Oct. 12 has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 23 because of conflicts in scheduling and availability.Seattle Public Schools is committed to preparing all of our students to graduate ready for college, careers and life. The goal of

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

10-6-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Corporate Ed Reform Conference

Video: MORE Brunch, Please

MOREistas and supporters gather for a great day of brunching - great food ala chef/teacher Sean Ahern, great music from Patrick Walsh and Fred Arcoleo, great conversation with everyone, and inspiring words of wisdom from Julie Cavanagh, Jia Lee and Megan Moskop.https://vimeo.com/76258078Amongst many interesting conversations with people I had never met before was this one. I see a young lady sitti

1 by ed notes online / 24min 

Today at noon: Protest at NBC Ed Deform Education Nation at NYC Public Library

Many people have decided to just ignore this yearly bullshit coming from NBC but NYBATS are holding a protest. So if you can make it down there to swell the crowd come on down. We do know the E4Es are going be good boys and girls so they can get on TV and then write press releases about how they got on TV.After spending yesterday at the great MORE brunch (video coming soon) and being in the midst

7 by ed notes online / 5min 

Rockaway’s Tale of Two Cities Under Bloomberg: Health Care vs. Bike Lanes

Norm in The Wave - School Scope, published Oct. 4, 2013I wrote this Tuesday morning, Oct. 1 right before I went out to vote for Tish James. I had submitted the column to the writers group I belong to for comment later that evening and while they thought this was some of my better work, they made some suggestions, which I am incorporating for the Ed Notes version.Rockaway’s Tale of Two Cities Under

2 by ed notes online / 1h  

10-5-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:  Ed Notes Online10-4-13 Ed Notes OnlineEd Notes Online: Shael in the Eye of the Storm in Debate with Parents on TestingIn many ways this was the most remarkable part of Monday night's CEC 15 High Stakes Testing event -- a real debate between a chief Tweedie (Gotham lists him as one of 5 potential Chancellor candidates) and parents and teachers. (You can see MORE's Lisa North and M

1 by mike simpson / 9h