Report questions efficacy of personalized learning
There is little evidence to support the effectiveness of technology-driven personalized instruction, according to a report from Noel Enyedy, an associate professor at the University of California at Los Angeles Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. His report offers seven recommendations, including a call for more study of personalized learning, specifically in K-12 schools.
Full Story: T.H.E. Journal
Principal: What success looks like
School leaders should avoid focusing on test scores and instead concentrate on helping students and teachers succeed, asserts Matthew Howell, a middle-school principal. In this blog post, he shares why it’s important to “let go of outcomes.”
Full Story: Edutopia online
How to better manage time at school
School leaders can access free resources through The Unlocking Time Project aimed at helping them rethink how they are using time. Jason Medlin, a high-school principal who adopted master scheduling software, says if “you can build the right schedule, have the kids in the right classes with the right teachers, your school is going to improve the first year.”
Full Story: KQED-TV/FM (San Francisco)
How does executive function affect achievement?
Students with working memory deficits are more likely to have difficulty in math, according to a report by Penn State researchers. The analysis of 11,010 students who participated in a US Education Department study also found a connection between executive-function deficits among kindergartners and difficulties with science coursework.
Full Story: T.H.E. Journal
Are advanced courses beneficial for all?
Students who take challenging classes — including Advanced Placement courses — for the first time perform well if they have proper support, said Derek Turner, a spokesman for a Maryland school district. However, several parents told columnist Jay Mathews that they felt their children’s progress was harmed by taking such courses before they were ready.
Full Story: The Washington Post (tiered subscription model)
Audrey Altmann is an editorial assistant at SmartBrief.
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