Innov8: National School Choice Week

It’s National School Choice Week—the world’s largest annual celebration of opportunity in education. Events are planned across all 50 states to raise awareness of all types of education options for students, including public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online and blended schools, private schools, homeschools and even a student-led school .

So today’s stories share eight choices anyone involved in education can make—from competing in contests to taking a virtual field trip, here are the latest stories on innovations in education.

Programs to Apply For

1. AT&T Inventor Contest

Register now for the 2017 Inventor’s Challenge in collab with @ATT Aspire! Join us to inspire creativity! https://t.co/BhzcZZibbK pic.twitter.com/uYR2GuUle2

— Imagination Fdn (@imagination) January 21, 2017

This contest is a great way to encourage students to develop and share a project that solves an issue they care about. Project-based learning is a key feature of 21st-century learning.

2. PBS Learning Media Digital Innovator Program:

Passionate about improving student learning with #edtech + digital media? Apply to become a #PBSDigitalInnovator! https://t.co/D4zNJyMH3S

— PBS LearningMedia (@PBSLrnMedia) January 21, 2017

This program gives educators a chance to highlight their own techniques and learn from others in a great Collaborative Professional Development community.

#NewSchools & #EdTech Tools

3. New Assessment Tool for Teachers

Listenwise Launches Listening Comprehension Assessment. Teachers Monitor Eight Different Elements. @listenwiselearn https://t.co/1K5gQZnpCD

— MDR (@MDRBiz) January 24, 2017

Listening is important not just for ELLs, but for all students.

4. Microsoft EdTech Four Free

Microsoft announced School Data Sync, Microsoft Forms, OneNote ink and Learning Tools (all free) https://t.co/57BSH4Col5 #EdTech pic.twitter.com/jmgq8geeke

— Tom Vander Ark (@tvanderark) January 24, 2017

Check out these 10 EdTech Resource Lists for Teachers we recently posted from a teacher blogger.

Dollars & Deals

5. CZI Buys Meta

Mark Zuckerberg’s CZI Acquires AI Startup Meta with aim to eliminate illness’ across the globe https://t.co/j3cJKQ6g1a

— Chuck Price (@ChuckPrice518) January 25, 2017

We’ve discussed how AI is Improving Healthcare…But Will Benefits Be Widely Shared?

#SmartCities

6. State Specific #EdData

Which states attract the most #educated Americans? Find out: https://t.co/lDqgpNgfWZ pic.twitter.com/OTSKiEDEtF

— WalletHub (@wallethub) January 24, 2017

Rather than discouraging lower ranking states from trying to improve or encouraging higher-ranking states to rest on their laurels, we love data like this because it can help us know what needs to happen for all children to succeed.

#Teachers & #EdLeaders

7. NEA Foundation Global PD Fellowship

Now accepting apps: #NEAFGlobal Learning Fellowship! One year of teacher #PD and 9-day field study abroad https://t.co/zKrftPBlIL pic.twitter.com/Dz6xhxlYLf

— The NEA Foundation (@NEAFoundation) January 18, 2017

Professional Development helps teachers stay engaged, which in turn helps students stay engaged.

Movers, Shakers & Groundbreakers

8. Virtual Field Trip

Want 2 be part of NFL Play 60 Challenge Virtual Field Trip? Sign up here! #give10 https://t.co/kMwratuMjo @AHACleveland @Browns @nflplay60 pic.twitter.com/qL6VSdxaRr

— BrownsGiveBack (@BrownsGiveBack) January 22, 2017

Virtual field trips can be an excellent, inexpensive way to experience Place-Based Ed and get out of the classroom.

Have a news item you’d like us to consider for next Wednesday’s edition? Tweet us @Getting_Smart using #innov8 or to email [email protected] with “Innov8” in the subject line. For more ideas on what type of stories we run, check out the full Innov8 series on our blog.

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