Five Best Blogs: "Something Of A Bubble" Around Online Learning

School Turnarounds and Profiteers DFER:  You have numerous outside turnaround partners obtaining big money contracts, without having proven their ability to successfully turnaround a school.

I'm Skeptical But Intrigued By AFT Initiative, NEA Report Rick Hess: I'm skeptical when folks who've seemed to drag their heels offer up nifty new proposals and innovations. So, I don't want to sound all "gee, whiz" here. At the same time, it's important that skepticism not morph into reflexive dismissal. 

Online Yet? Andrew Rotherham:  This story takes  a pretty strong point of view (too strong in places in my view) that shouldn’t obscure that quality in the online space is quite mixed and there is something of a bubble around virtual and ed tech more generally. 

From Finland, an Intriguing School-Reform Model NYT:  Ever since Finland, a nation of about 5.5 million that does not start formal education until age 7 and scorns homework and testing until well into the teenage years, scored at the top of a well-respected international test in 2001 in math, science and reading, it has been an object of fascination among American educators and policy makers.

Teach for America ‘research’ questioned The Answer Sheet: We now live in a world where foundations and organizations have millions of dollars to spend lobbying and at the same time can bypass peer review in order to make a case for whatever they are selling. If you have enough money, science no longer matters. 

All the Cool Kids Are Quitting Facebook The Atlantic: Joining Facebook isn't cool. You know what's cool? Quitting Facebook.

A FEW MORE BLOG POSTS INSIDE

Reality Distortion Field Amanda Ripley: This is the story of how wishes come true in the strange, upside-down world of education. 

Spank No More Darshak Sanghavi: Almost every parent regularly tries to reason with a wayward child, and nearly three-quarters redirect misbehaving kids into another activity or use time-outs. 

Why the New York Times Failed Sara Mead: I know a D.C. where all families have access to high-quality schools is possible, I see we've made progress but it's not enough, and I know that the board's work authorizing quality schools and closing down low-performers is critical to getting us there.

 

Comments

[BullisCharterScam]

RE the Bullis Charter School subject of a few weeks ago, here is an update. Certain concerned parents now have a website for information:

http://bullischarterscam.org/

This is what we think of a Charter owned by billionaires bent on closing our local public schools...

[Hesham]

Vision and mission of the university

Vision

Vision aims to make Benha University as a leading example for the Egypt's universities in education, scientific research, social and university life, and reaching to international competition in some fields.

Mission

Benha University would have a role in developing the community by providing an stimulating environment for education and scientific research as well as providing distinguished educational service by equal opportunities for students and increasing the partnership with the local and regional community in a flexible framework allowing to continuous improvement and maintaining the values and ethics of community keeping up with the scientific and technology development

[Hesham]

Vision and mission of the university

Vision

Vision aims to make Benha University as a leading example for the Egypt's universities in education, scientific research, social and university life, and reaching to international competition in some fields.

Mission

Benha University would have a role in developing the community by providing an stimulating environment for education and scientific research as well as providing distinguished educational service by equal opportunities for students and increasing the partnership with the local and regional community in a flexible framework allowing to continuous improvement and maintaining the values and ethics of community keeping up with the scientific and technology development

[Hesham]

Vision and mission of the university

Vision

Vision aims to make Benha University as a leading example for the Egypt's universities in education, scientific research, social and university life, and reaching to international competition in some fields.

Mission

http://www.bu.edu.eg/en

Benha University would have a role in developing the community by providing an stimulating environment for education and scientific research as well as providing distinguished educational service by equal opportunities for students and increasing the partnership with the local and regional community in a flexible framework allowing to continuous improvement and maintaining the values and ethics of community keeping up with the scientific and technology development

[Mary]

Here's my favorite Reformageddon quote so far,
" If providers fight efforts to fix these issues hold them accountable for that, but don’t hold them accountable for the existence of policies they didn’t create."

Please identify an education policy their lobbyists and paid "opinion molders" don't have their filthy fingerprints all over, eduwonk. You're not an innocent bystander.

What we need to sort it out are forensic education reporters.

[Mary]

And DFER, too, suddenly has developed a sensitivity to turnaround fraud. The rats are deserting the sinking rats.

[TV shopping India]

I like this. Nice info. It is skeptical when folks who've seemed to drag their heels offer up nifty new proposals and innovations. So, I don't want to sound all "gee, whiz" here. At the same time, it's important that skepticism not morph into reflexive dismissal. Keep Up the good work.

[james]

as far now online learning touched some new heights but still it needs active best minds to contribute.. thanks alex!

[Digicam for sale]

..Hi,
..You blog is really great
..Keep posting!!!

*_* jampot *_*