Leadership Blog

Vander Ark on Innovation

This blog was written by Tom Vander Ark (@tvanderark), an education advocate, adviser, and author of Getting Smart: How Personal Digital Learning is Changing the World. Tom is Founder and Executive Editor of Getting Smart and a partner in Learn Capital. This blog is no longer being updated.

School & District Management Opinion Back to School in El Paso: District and New Tech Expand Partnership
On the first day of school, we joined El Paso ISD Superintendent Juan Cabrera on a tour of school visits including several of the nine schools in the district that belong to the New Tech Network. Here's our recap.
Tom Vander Ark, August 27, 2018
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4 min read
Personalized Learning Opinion Personalize Learning and Build Agency By Using the 4 PLC Questions
In this episode of the podcast, Tom chats with Tim Stuart about his new book, Personalized Learning in a PLC at Work: Student Agency Through the Four Critical Questions.
Tom Vander Ark, August 22, 2018
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2 min read
Education Opinion How School Districts, Cities, and CBOs Use Microschools to Innovate
Tom Vander Ark & Hassan Hassan share a guide to microschools as a source of innovation for school districts, community-based organizations, companies, and civic organization.
Tom Vander Ark, August 19, 2018
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6 min read
School & District Management Opinion We're Doing It Wrong: A Teacher's View on How to Fix It
An inside look (and listen) at a recent conversation Tom had with David Michael Slater about his new book, We're Doing It Wrong: 25 Ideas in Education That Just Don't Work--And How to Fix Them. In the book, Slater exposes some bad assumptions and makes the case for how good ideas have gone bad. Listen in to learn more
Tom Vander Ark, August 15, 2018
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3 min read
Education Opinion 32 Ways AI is Improving Education
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been quietly infiltrating society in every way. Tom shares how AI is being used to improve education.
Tom Vander Ark, August 9, 2018
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8 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion Last-Mile Training as an Alternative to Higher Ed with Ryan Craig
In this episode of the podcast, Tom chats with Ryan Craig about his new book, A New U: Faster + Cheaper Alternatives To College, and Craig's predictions about the future of learning.
Tom Vander Ark, August 8, 2018
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3 min read
Science Opinion Bringing Dreams to Life: Maker Movement Goes Global
What if we asked every child what their dream was--and then helped them bring it to life? In this episode, Tom talks with the MyMachine founders about their vision and the future of work.
Tom Vander Ark, August 1, 2018
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2 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion Career Ready High Schools
After reviewing Ryan Craig's book we searched for examples of high school programs that put young people on the first rung of an attractive economic ladder.
Tom Vander Ark, July 30, 2018
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4 min read
School & District Management Opinion Better Together: Why Schools Should Work in Networks
A look at the power of school networks and Tom's new book, co-authored by Lydia Dobyns, Better Together: How to Leverage School Networks for Smarter Personalized and Project Based Learning.
Tom Vander Ark, July 25, 2018
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5 min read
Classroom Technology Opinion Coming This Fall to Montour School District: America's First Public School AI Program
Beginning in the fall of 2018, Montour School District will offer a new program in AI, providing students with a myriad of opportunities to explore and experience AI, using it to cultivate, nurture, and enhance initiatives aimed at increasing the public good. Learn more here.
Tom Vander Ark, July 18, 2018
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4 min read
School & District Management Opinion The Power of Us: A Network Powering Projects, Changing Lives
More than 1,400 educators from more than 150 schools across the U.S. and from Australia braved July humidity in St. Louis to further activate their network's commitment to powerful learning and the "power of us". Here's a look at network effect in action.
Tom Vander Ark, July 17, 2018
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4 min read
Teaching Opinion Talking Learner Experience at the Zoo
In this episode of the podcast, Tom Vander Ark talks learner experience with leaders from Washington state. He focuses on three small community connected, experiential schools in Tacoma, WA. One of which can be found in a zoo.
Tom Vander Ark, June 26, 2018
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3 min read
Science Opinion What's Up With All the Design-Focused Schools?
Is the focus on design in schools a fad, a trend or something else? In this episode of the podcast, Tom and Emily explore the rise in popularity of design-focused schools.
Tom Vander Ark, June 19, 2018
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5 min read
Teaching Opinion ACT, Leader in Measurement, Shifts to Focus to Student Success
The nonprofit developer of the ACT test has been expanding beyond traditional measurement to new and broader ways to promote education and workplace success.
Tom Vander Ark, June 18, 2018
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6 min read
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