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Another perspective (Stephen Smith) of online learning and what technology now makes possible

I know our research wasn't focused specifically on textbooks but I am interested to see what their program has found.

KIPP Empower embraces blended learning to pursue its mission in tough budget times The original blueprint for the KIPP Empower Academy read something like this: five teachers per grade; 100 students per grade; very few classroom computers.

A variety of models for mixing face-to-face education and online instruction are generating lessons learned Since blended learning exploded onto the K-12 scene with promises of personalized and student-centered learning, it has proliferated into dozens of different models, with educators continually tweaking and changing those methods to find the perfect balance of face-to-face and online instruction to meet the needs of their students.

There is increasing evidence that games provide good learning environments, particularly in their ability to drive tenacity and intrinsic motivation, two key characteristics needed for student success. Advancing technology now enables games to also serve as assessments with real-time data that gives teachers the ability to have immediate information about students' knowledge so they can provide differentiated instruction.

A study in Education Next tackles the question of how principals affect student achievement.

As we discuss research and technology I found this quote staggering: "According to IBM, 90 percent of the data in the world was created within the last two years," Silver tells Fresh Air's Dave Davies.

This article looks at how far we have come and how far we have to go and makes some suggestions for getting there. Just thought it might provide some background as we choose our projects.

KATHLEEN P. FULTON (kathleenpfulton{at}gmail.com ) is an independent consultant in Tacoma Park, Md., and is recently retired as director of Reinventing Schools for the 21st Century for the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. Abstract A small school in southern Minnesota, strapped for funds and needing new math books and a fresh curriculum, flipped its classrooms and raised achievement and student engagement.

Debra,

It is great that you have jumped on this first week's assignments so quickly. Make sure you check out the Google Group too (https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/edus660) because the face-to-face meeting reflection discussion was started there but we should all be using our tool belt to explore and will come across your reflective post here as I have.

Quincy