If one thing has become clear in the 21st century, it’s that technology and engineering can no longer be ignored in the K-12 sphere.  The best way to equip students for future technological challenges is still being hotly debated, but some schools think that they’ve found the answer in the creation of “makerspaces.”

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Blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path or pace.   Continue Reading...

Welcome to the Association of American Educators' online publication, Reform Matters! This education reform-focused publication features both original AAE content and a compilation of the latest news from the growing education reform community.   Continue Reading...

Cyberbaiting is on the rise in classrooms across the country. A version of cyber bullying, cyberbaiting occurs when a student irritates or baits a teacher until the teacher gets so frustrated they either yell or have a breakdown. Students awaiting this breakdown are at the ready with cameras and cell phones to record the crack, and often proceed to post the footage on various online platforms. A simple YouTube search finds dozens of videos of teachers "flipping out" to the mocking laughter of students.

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Google announced their newest product on Teacher Appreciation Day.  It’s not a fancy new piece of wearable tech or an update to their uber-popular Android operating system like one might suspect.  Instead, it’s a piece of software that is aimed to appeal to teachers, students, and schools called Google Classroom.

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The question about the future of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and other online classes is one that concerns many educators.  No matter your feeling about the role of MOOCs in post-secondary education, the fact is that we’re in the middle of a period where education is undergoing a dramatic change.

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In today's technological society, a growing number of children engage in daily use of smartphones and other handheld devices, providing a unique opportunity for teachers to integrate learning and technology. Below is a list of five, free educational apps, which can be easily integrated into lesson plans and used to cultivate interest in educational subjects.

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By this point, anyone paying attention to trends in education is familiar with the concept of a flipped classroom.  In this model, the teacher assigns the lectures as "homework” in video form and then works with the students by going through what usually would have been assigned for homework in class.  The model has a lot of advantages.  It allows students to work at their own pace, and for the teacher to give extra help where it’s needed.

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The Teaching Channel is one of those resources that has sprung up over the past few years and has really begun to shine.  It’s a unique case where teachers can find practical lesson plans, classroom management tools, and pedagogical tips from other teachers in a professional and easy to navigate way.  I’ve yet to be disappointed in anything that Teaching Channel puts out, but with so many high quality videos a teacher with limited time may not know where to start.  Here’s a few of my suggestions:

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Extreme weather has kept many students out of school this winter. However, Dan Walker, assistant superintendent of the 4,000-student Lower Kuskokwim School District, in rural Oscarville, Alaska, has found ways for continuing learning, even when children cannot make it to school.

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AAE Executive Director Gary Beckner's op-ed in the Washington Times:

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According to a recent survey by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, 42% of jobs in manufacturing will soon require some post secondary training or degree.  Despite this new reality, national data from 1990 to 2009 reveals a consistent decline in the average number of career and technical education (CTE) credits earned.

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Recently, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and over 600 stakeholders attended Education Datapalooza, a celebration of innovative products, apps, websites, and other tools designed to increase college and career readiness.

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I have to admit, I’m a spoken-word type of person. I like attending lectures and prefer an audio book to music. In fact, I haven’t bought any new music for my iPod for years, even though I’m constantly trolling for something new and interesting to listen to. This is why podcasts quickly took over my listening.

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Virtual schools are not only bringing a whole new element to education, but also to school counseling. Approximately 310,000 students in 30 states now attend “multi-district, fully online” schools, according to one report.  As the field grows, schools are continuing to develop best practices to meet students' academic and socials needs.   Continue Reading...

Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Vine, Instragram, SnapChat, or one of the many other apps or social networks, students across the country are engaging in social media activity daily. While these mediums constantly evolve and allow students plenty of learning opportunities, teachers should also recognize potential challenges.

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As October and Connected Educator Month draw to a close, it’s never too late to get connected! Here are ten simple tips for "connecting,” derived from an Edutopia blog by Elana Leoni.

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The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is hosting their annual Virtual Symposium this week  in Orlando, Florida. A widely attended event with online educators and AAE members, the conference kicked off this morning with an introductory address by INACOL President and CEO Susan Patrick and a panel, Driving an Innovative Policy Roadmap Towards the Transformation of Student Learning, with speakers from across the country.

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Connected Educator Month is almost over.  Hopefully, you’ve spent the month learning about different techniques and places you can use online to connect with other educators.  As we come to a close, I’d like to highlight one more option that often gets overlooked: YouTube.

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As noted earlier, October is Connected Educator Month – a month focusing on helping educators connect and form PLNs (personal learning networks) through the internet.  Much has been written about using popular sites like Twitter and Pinterest as ways for teachers to connect, but often lost in the mix has been Google+.  I find this a tragedy, because Google+ is quickly becoming my favorite way to connect with other educators from across the country.

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