Repackaged conversations I thoroughly enjoyed Rob Jenkins article, Retention in the Trenches (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 18, 2015) where he reminds us that the current focus on college completion is really just a repackaging of an age old concern: retention. Recently states have begun to factor retention (completion rates) into funding formulas for community…
Andrew Miller of Edutopia writes about the importance of engagement on student leaning and “moving past ‘course-based’ PBL”: “Due to the antiquated restraints of the education system, most educators are forced to implement PBL in a “course-based” manner. This means that the project occurs within the traditional discipline structures, where there may be integration, but learning is framed within grades and competencies”.
Bridging the Gap is a companion document to a series of three regional workshops, hosted by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and facilitated by the Educational Policy Improvement Center (EPIC).
Written by EPIC Founder Dr. David Conley for the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in June 2014.
This white paper considers course-taking behavior—specifically the a–g subject requirements for the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) systems, career technical education (CTE) course pathways, and an integrated course pathway—as potential measures to be included in California’s college and career indicator.
Edutopia blogger and teacher Rebecca Alber outlines strategies for teachers to have more productive discussions with their students by asking simple questions and giving students the time to think about the question before they attempt to answer it.
Teacher Mark Jacobson discusses how fixed-mindsets can limit the performance of students. He argues that teachers must actively work to combat fixed-mindset assumptions and support the development of growth mindsets.
This March 2013 primer from the American Institutes for Research (AIR) covers the transition from vocational education to career and technical education, “an educational strategy for providing young people with the academic, technical, and employability skills and knowledge to pursue postsecondary training or higher education and enter a career field prepared for ongoing learning.”
This report describes the Job Training Programs Curriculum Study (JTPCS), which was commissioned by the National Assessment Governing Board (Governing Board) to analyze the content of course materials from five job-training occupational areas and is part of a larger program of preparedness research projects that are being conducted for the Governing Board.
Roland S. Barth argues that educators need to develop and understand their visions for schools as a step toward improvement. He shares his own visions for the future of education.