EdTech 10: Disrupt, Incubate, Re-engineer

There were big verbs in the news this week, with lots of activity across the K-12 and Higher Ed space. This week’s EdTech 10 is all about disrupting, incubating, persevering, re-engineering, and shifting. Now, get to reading…

Blended Schools & Tools

1. Blended learning advocate Heather Staker asked who will disrupt the classroom this week on Innosight’s blog. Speaking of innovation, Tom shared his thoughts on making room for innovation on EdWeek.

Digital Developments

2. There was lots of good news this week for startups seeking support. Pearson introduced Pearson Catalyst – its new startup incubator program. LearnLaunchX opened applications to its first ed tech accelerator cohort. Kaplan launched EdTech Accelerator in collaboration with TechStars. FurtherEd launched The Education Technology Incubator for NYC ed startups.

For the Reading List

3. ED released two reports worth reviewing – the Office of EdTech’s Promoting Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance: Critical Factors for Success in the 21st Century draft and the Equity and Excellence Commission’s For Each and Every Child report.

Getting to the Core

4. The Common Core splash is rippling across the system with news this week that the GED will release a new version in January of 2014 that will be better aligned to the CCSS and shift from paper and pencil to an online format.
5. Competency Education got some well-deserved attention this week with the Asia Society’s Why We Need Competency-Based Education and  Re-Engineering Information Technology: Design Considerations for Competency Education from CompetencyWorks and iNACOL.
6. SmarterBalanced announced the beginning of pilot testing in more than 6000 schools. For more information on the Countdown to Online Assessments, check out this infographic and paper from DLN.

Higher, Deeper, Further, Faster Learning

7. Some big names in MOOCs went global this week.  Coursera announced 29 new university partners this week spanning 13 countries. EdX added 5 new overseas institutions and another on American soil. We think MOOCs are one of 12 Trends Transforming the Post-Sec Landscape.

The Big “D”

8. BrightBytes secured financing in a $750K seed round led by Learn Capital, NewSchools Venture Fund to measure the impact of edtech on learning.

Movers, Shakers & Ground-breakers

9. Congratulations to Mooresville Graded School District’s Dr. Mark Edwards for being named the AASA 2013 National Superintendent of the Year!  Dr. Edwards is a leader in the shift to digital learning, as featured in the DLN Smart Series paper “Funding the Shift.
10. We announced three opportunities to Join the Getting Smart team.  Are you our next editor, project manager, or research assistant? Apply now.
Disclosures: Digital Learning Now is a Getting Smart Advocacy Partner. Tom is a Director at iNACOL and a partner at Learn Capital.

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