SETDA's "Bloggers Thinking Bold Challenge"

Welcome to SETDA's "Bloggers Thinking Bold Challenge"

At our annual Emerging Technologies Forum just prior to NECC, SETDA participants were treated to the "Ed-Tech Gladiator Challenge" featuring David Warlick and David Thornburg. 

Each gave a short presentation on the future of tech in schools and then challenged the participants to:

To come up with one action step per topic that crystallizes a solid, bold, action step that will help policy makers create district, state and national legislation.

SETDA wants your help -- help us identify some bold action steps!

Go to the "Bloggers Thinking Bold Challenge" -- BE BOLD!

Here are a couple of examples from or original SETDA Session -- 

STEM Education: Achievement and Innovation :  What is America’s next Moon shot? This group will develop a strategy to ignite the innovation in America’s students and identify effective approaches and tools to support an expanded Math & Science curriculum that is rich with technology integration to ensure America’s continued strength in the global marketplace.

RESPONSE: The Moon shot is sustaining/dealing energy, food and water shortages/issues.

• Require each state to develop a strategy (local, regional or state) to implement multiple STEM academies (ie. similar to Illinois Math and Science Academy) to support a minimum 5% of total state student population.
  

• Establish a real-world problems registry at regional, state or national level that describe current problems and solicit classes and educators to come in and collaborate with industry to develop solutions.

Technology Based Assessment Trends:  Assessment doesn’t always have to include a number 2 pencil and bubble sheets. Although there is a place for this approach, there are new assessment tools that can be alternatives to help teachers analyze “the whole student’s” progress in a timely and efficient manner in an effort to respond with appropriate interventions and/or enrichment activities tailored to each learner. Help SETDA identify some approaches that are working to increase student achievement through alternative assessments.

RESPONSE:

• Require each student to maintain a K-12 e-portfolio of their learning that MUST show evidence of accomplishing 21st century skills. ePortfolios will be scored using rubrics based on state standards that have been aligned to state or national content standards and are tied to ISTE NETS-S.