Going deeper or going further: Where students advance in competency-based models Julia Freeland Fisher Going deeper or going further: Where students advance in competency-based models The crux of competency-based education is that students advance only upon mastery. This is a deeply logical approach to unlock each individual student’s ability to […] Jan 29, 2014 Julia Freeland Fisher
“Pulling” in new edtech solutions? The Federal agenda to bolster learning technology Julia Freeland Fisher “Pulling” in new edtech solutions? The Federal agenda to bolster learning technology Last week, the Federal Government’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a Request for Information (RFI) on how the government can best incentivize […] Jan 22, 2014 Julia Freeland Fisher
Libraries and diplomas—and the players in between Julia Freeland Fisher Libraries and diplomas—and the players in between Last week, the Associated Press reported that the Los Angeles Public Library would be offering an online-learning program for high school dropouts to earn high […] Jan 15, 2014 Julia Freeland Fisher
Nostalgia and networks: What to make of University of Phoenix’s ‘Hall of Success’ campaign Julia Freeland Fisher Nostalgia and networks: What to make of University of Phoenix’s ‘Hall of Success’ campaign Those of you who took time out to channel surf over the holidays may have come across University of Phoenix’s Hall of Success ad campaign. […] Jan 8, 2014 Julia Freeland Fisher
Are our edtech categories obsolete? Julia Freeland Fisher Are our edtech categories obsolete? As I noted a few weeks ago, education technology seems to be lagging our vision of building systems in which students advance upon mastery. In […] Dec 18, 2013 Julia Freeland Fisher
A chance for federal investment in competency-based education: Youth CareerConnect Julia Freeland Fisher A chance for federal investment in competency-based education: Youth CareerConnect Last month, the Department of Labor announced a new grant opportunity, Youth CareerConnect, for career and technical education programs. The Department will use up to […] Dec 11, 2013 Julia Freeland Fisher
Can technology cultivate social capital? Julia Freeland Fisher Can technology cultivate social capital? When we talk about the disruptive potential of online learning, we usually describe new approaches to delivering academic content tailored to students’ individual interests and […] Dec 4, 2013 Julia Freeland Fisher
What counts as “traditional” when traditions are changing? Julia Freeland Fisher What counts as “traditional” when traditions are changing? Every once in a while you come across a bold policy with a research base that is vague, problematic, or even obsolete. Here’s a prime […] Nov 21, 2013 Julia Freeland Fisher
Technology tools lag our competency-based aspirations Julia Freeland Fisher Technology tools lag our competency-based aspirations Last week I wrote about structural barriers inhibiting competency-based education from taking off, even when policy shifts away from seat-time requirements to welcome innovation. In […] Nov 13, 2013 Julia Freeland Fisher
Barriers to competency-based innovation aren’t just coming from above Julia Freeland Fisher Barriers to competency-based innovation aren’t just coming from above There is a clarion call from online-learning proponents to free up student time—literally. As Susan Patrick explained in her opening speech at the annual iNACOL […] Nov 6, 2013 Julia Freeland Fisher
Is guidance counseling being disrupted? Julia Freeland Fisher Is guidance counseling being disrupted? At this year’s iNACOL Symposium, most of the sessions I’ve attended so far have addressed two distinct sides of the student experience: social-emotional development and […] Oct 30, 2013 Julia Freeland Fisher
How apps are (re)shaping our lives Julia Freeland Fisher How apps are (re)shaping our lives Howard Gardner and Katie Davis’ new book, The App Generation: How Today’s Youth Navigate Identity, Intimacy, and Imagination in a Digital World (Yale University Press), […] Oct 23, 2013 Julia Freeland Fisher