Better Together: How to Leverage School Networks for Smarter Personalized and Project Based Learning

ISBN-13: 9781119439103 / Angielski / Twarda / 2018 / 256 str.

Lydia Dobyns; Tom Vander Ark

Opis

This book takes readers on a tour through one of the modern era's most important educational innovations and provides smart strategy for working optimally within the school network sphere.

Spis treści

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Part One: Platform Revolution

1. Platforms: A Place You Call Home

2. Network Effect: When Bigger Is Better

3. Learning Platforms: When Will They Transform Education?

Part Two: Transforming Schools

4. Powerful Learning: Personalized and Project–based

5. Design Thinking: The New Frame for School

6. Connected Teaching: Technology Enables Co–creation

7. Learning Organizations: Building Collective Capacity

8. Dynamic Networks: Picking the Right Structure for Scaled Impact

Part Three: Navigating the Future . . . Starting Now

9. Leadership: From Compliance to Agreement Crafting

10. Impact Engines: Picking the Right Business Model

11. Governance: Use Networks to Boost Quality Options

12. Powerful Learning at Scale: Inspiration and Intermediation

13. Advocacy: A Nation Proud of Its Public Schools

Appendix: Networks, Schools, and Tools Mentioned

Index

O autorze

TOM VANDER ARK is an advocate for innovations in learning. As CEO of Getting Smart, he advises schools and impact organizations on the path forward. He previously served as the first Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and as a public school superintendent in Washington State. Tom is the author of the Jossey–Bass book Getting Smart.

LYDIA DOBYNS is an advocate for transforming public education. She is President and CEO of New Tech Network (NTN), a leading design partner for comprehensive school change. NTN supports a nationwide K–12 school network comprised of 200 schools in 28 states. She has combined careers as a technology entrepreneur and executive, with elected public service and non–profit organization leadership roles.

Blurb

TRANSFORM LEARNING BY BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO SHARE POWERFUL TOOLS AND SUPPORT ECOSYSTEMS

"Why are we seeing a steady increase in schools working in networks? Why are they likely to become more important in the future? The primary reason, as cited, is that they work pretty well especially in difficult circumstances. Better than average performance is likely a function of a coherent design where everything works together for students and teachers. In many cases, commitment to common practices, tools, and training also produces more consistently good teaching."
From the Introduction

Working together on platforms in networks has changed the world of commerce, and it′s beginning to transform teaching and learning. Better Together explores two powerful ideas that can catalyze innovation in public education: powerful project–based and personalized learning and taking it to scale by joining school networks. Filled with illustrative examples drawn from the New Tech Network schools and other effective school networks, this important book clearly offers evidence that school networks can transform education and address education inequity.

Tom Vander Ark and Lydia Dobyns provide a guide to the school network revolution. They describe a vision of powerful learning for all students and show why design thinking is emerging as a powerful new framework for innovating education. The text clearly illustrates the empowered environment of co–creation that teachers should expect from being part of a network.

Better Together is both an inspirational and practical resource that contains specific strategies that can be implemented to build an effective school network. The book includes information on leadership, business models, governance, school supports, and advocacy that will go a long way for creating an environment where a school network can thrive.