Expert Perspectives


Using GIS and Smart Maps to Streamline School Communication

A school transportation director shares his experience in using GIS technology to enhance school-parent communication and plan for the future.

Mobile Learning: 1998, 2008, 2018

In its first decade, 1998-2008, "mobile learning" was all about getting devices into the hands of K-12 students and teachers. Palms initially proliferated; then Pocket PCs. In those early days, there was plenty of excitement and energy — for good reason — amongst the early adopters. Why didn’t mobile learning catch on, then?

TV Is (Finally) an App: The Goods, The Bads and the Uglies for Learning

TV – live shows (news, documentaries, etc.), not just YouTubes – is now available on all devices as an app. And, TV as an app makes absolutely unique resources readily available in the palm of a learner’s hand. However, as we discuss in this week’s blog post: if only it were that simple!

Use Computers in the Classroom for Personalized Learning and Social Learning

Personal computing devices are entering the K-12 classroom at a dramatically increased rate. Using those computers to support personalized learning is definitely in the cards. However, we urge those in charge: remember your Dewey — "education is a social process" — and use those computers for social learning as well!

Students Write More, Write Better on the Computer: Rigorously Supported!

Singer and Ivory, in their Nov. 4 New York Times article, made a major mis-speak: "... there is little rigorous evidence so far to indicate that using computers in class improves educational results." In this week’s blog post we identify research that addresses Singer and Ivory’s concern, as well as documenting the fact that K-12 students write more and write better when using a computer.

Digital Citizenship: From Compliance to Culture

Building a community's culture takes more than providing instruction; it takes a systematic intentional approach that engages the entire community of students, educators and parents.

IT Staff Support is Critical for Success in 1-to-1 Classrooms

Educators typically have mixed views on their school’s IT staff — to put it mildly. In order to better understand IT staff’s priorities, responsibilities and resources, we lunched with them recently. Our eyes were opened by those conversations!

Nevada is Leading the Way: Nevada’s Going 1-to-1

1-to-1 is no longer a tired notion. 1-to-1 is changing. 1-to-1 is about to ... take off! Nevada has just announced its renewed commitment to 1-to-1. Let’s use what we have learned since Maine when 1-to-1 in 2002 to ensure a success in Nevada — and in all the states that will be going 1-to-1 in the near future!

1-to-1 Computers Demand 1-to-1 Curriculum: Good Luck Finding Any

Where is the curriculum — the daily lessons — that specifically exploit 1-to-1? K-12 simply must move beyond using computing devices as nice-to-have, supplements to paper-and-pencil curriculum. In this week’s blog post we explore the fundamental challenge of making 1-to-1 an effective resource.

AI is On Fire! Why Now?

One can’t pick up a newspaper or a magazine these days without reading about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to change the world — dramatically and fast. Maybe yes; maybe no. But in either case: Why now? Why is there this sudden shift from mobile-first to AI-first? See our blog for the two word answer!

Whitepapers