Recent articles

What full-scale change looks like and how to get there
01/01/2017
It was a searing message from its own students that awakened a transformation using technology in one Alaskan school district.
“A few years ago,” says Superintendent Mary Wegner of the Sitka School District, “high school students approached the school board and said they…

8 new apps to test drive in your classroom
08/17/2015
Topics: 1:1, BYOD, Mobile learning, Tools
Kids tend to embrace apps, and thanks to initiatives and grants that bring mobile devices into the classroom, there are plenty of opportunities to use these mini-programs to amplify learning.
For educators, however, the challenge is finding apps that go beyond the cool factor to…

Should we limit kids' screen time? No
07/21/2015
Topics: 1:1, BYOD, Digital Citizenship, Mobile learning, Online learning, Parent engagement
I'm a mom of two and an educator. And I have to admit something right here, right now: I get bored easily when playing with my kids.
I try to engage with the little ponies, the fairies and the Tonka trucks, and for a while, it all works out. Give me 20 minutes and I am super…

Support your 1:1 program with a student tech team
04/21/2015
Topics: 1:1, BYOD, Education leadership, Mobile learning
Leaders who understand the landscape of our digital world know that they must involve a school’s most important stakeholders in their 1:1 planning and decision-making process. That stakeholder group is students. From determining the right device to recommending applications, leaders must listen…

Should schools monitor students' social media posts? Yes
06/09/2014
Topics: 1:1, Advocacy, BYOD, Digital Citizenship, Education leadership, Learning spaces, Mobile learning, Parent engagement
To allow students to set their own norms in a social world without modeling or guidance is to condemn them to a virtual Lord of the Flies situation, then cry out in frustration when they end up making bad choices. The adult members of the school community have a responsibility to…