Disruption in ISTEP testing in Indiana due to glitches in Technology !

This is what happens when school districts / systems are held "hostage" to multi-year contracts with limited accountability -- whether it is Technology, or Text Books or e-Books or Book Rentals...

We not only have a fundamental problem in education curriculum (lack thereof) and needs reform, we also need to un-shackle the hands of school districts or hold all technology/content vendors to much higher standards.

--email I got from my district-- {fortunately, my kids' didn't have any 'disruption'

Today during ISTEP testing, many students experienced disruptions during the testing session. These disruptions were observed statewide. The vendor, CTB, and the IDOE are working to resolve these issues. Because of the disruption to testing, not all students had the opportunity to test today. We are hopeful that CTB will be able to resolve the issues so that testing may continue tomorrow. Please be assured that the disruption to testing will be taken into consideration when analyzing your child’s test performance. As such, please reassure your child so that he or she can complete testing with confidence. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more from CTB and IDOE.

Sincerely,

Amy Dudley, Ed. D.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment

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Fighting gun violence in schools with more guns ?

Since the horrific shooting in the elementary school in CT, every major news outlet has carried a headline almost daily -- and a common thread / theme seem to be -- let us fight gun violence by arming more reasonable people with guns.

I have made this observation before -- there are countries around the world, where gun violence in schools are non-existent or very minimal. Could the U.S learn from those nations ?

This story about a rural school district in Missouri makes me nervous. If the community has already embraced gun-culture, could continued gun violence be prevented by continued better education ? I think so...

Click here for the NY Times article ...

From Mashable -- EBooks popularity growing real fast ! What next -- K-12 Text Books !!!

Big, bigger, but not yet biggest: According to the Association of American Publishers's StatShot study released Thursday, ebooks made up nearly a quarter (22.55%, to be precise) of U.S. trade publishers' book sales last year. That's up from 17% in 2011 and just 3% in 2009.

Read the full story here...

Education week report -- Qualified math teachers hard to find for struggling students !

Surprised anyone, from the headline ?

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Click here to read the full article...

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Implementation of Common Core in Indiana

It looks like the newly elected Sec. of Education is in support of legislation that would "pause" the implementation of Common Core Standards in Indiana schools and open the topic up for "comprehensive and full" public feedback.

This could potentially mean, nearly 2 1/2 years of implementation momentum would be abruptly halted. 

Someone, please tell me, there is NO Politics involved (current Sec is Democrat; the defeated one is Republican). 

Can India become a super-power ?

This article published in 'The Economist' is a must read, if you are from India or generally interested in 'geo-politics'.

The author makes such a clear and concise case as to how India could become a "Strategic Power".

I read many writings about India and its dormant potential....this article is perhaps THE one that makes a clear case for how India can evolve.

To any college graduate in India asking "What should I pursue?" -- take a leaf out of this article and consider 'foreign service', or getting involved in 'Navy' or other forms of "global strategic positions". There are enough Programmers and Doctors in India !

Can India become a great power?

www.economist.com

NOBODY doubts that China has joined the ranks of the great powers: the idea of a G2 with 

Heard it on NPR

Heard this on NPR this morning --- So very true !

Our ability to distribute interesting content on Twitter has FAR EXCEEDED our ability to create it !

Why use academic qualifications next to your name ?

Here is a topic worth 'debating' --

I have been active in developing my networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+) for several months now. 

I have friended many from my past -- school, colleges, previous employers, and a sizable number of interesting people.

In the course of this experience, I have been somewhat puzzled (a little bit annoyed too !) by those who list their "academic degrees/diplomas" next to their names, while sending out friendship/networking invites.

I am not IVY league educated nor have fancy academic degrees (earned or honorary). Even if I had, I would feel so awkward listing it next to my name in a public communication with someone that I do not yet know.

It is somewhat similar to -- "Hi, my name is Suresh, MBA"...how would a "live" person feel, if I introduced myself as such ?

Does anyone have a logical OR rational explanation as to why individuals tag their degree/diplomas ? {It is ok to have it in resume, profile etc -- my quarrel is during introduction...}

I will let this debate incubate now !

Tom Friedman :: Need a Job ? Invent it ! ---- How true in this globalized economy ?

This op-ed caught my attention for several reasons. For starters, I am fan of Friedman and his thinking across many topics. He has been quite compelling, presenting actionable ideas for Education reform in the U.S.

In this op-ed he quotes Dr. Wagner extensively. I read his last books and they are on the mark as to what is happening across the globe. My good friend/mentor Bob Compton and Dr. Tony Wagner collaborated on their trip to Finland and really examined their education system. Bob turned his trip into a documentary film called "The Finland Phenomenon" -- which is part of the 'Two Million Minutes" documentary series. [Disclaimer: I was an Associate Producer on the first 3 films. Have no $$ obligations in any of the films]. Here is the link www.2Mminutes.com

I would recommend both the documentary film and Dr. Wagner's book -- the book is unique in the sense, there are nearly 60 short-video-interviews embedded in the digital version of the book. You get to hear first hand from many including Friedman.

As father of two girls in the K-12 education system, my eyes were wide-opened by what I saw in the documentary film and Dr. Wagner's book.

Need a Job? Invent It

www.nytimes.com

Finding a job is so 20th century. That is why young people today need to be more “innovation ready” than “college ready.”

Ever wonder how your child compares in proficiency to a child in China or India or other PISA countries ?

Good morning friends -- more worries (at least I do !) about our school standards...I am not sure if I feel thankful to Tom Friedman or otherwise....nevertheless, this column of his (from today) is eye-opening !

My Little (Global) School

www.nytimes.com

Ever wonder how your kid’s school compares with one in China? Now you can find out.

Outsourcing OR Global Workforce ?

I had an early morning test today...and while driving up to the clinic, I had my radio tuned to NPR. There was a story on hiring/outsourcing. Don't remember the full context.

But it got me thinking -- knowing all that we know from the past decade regarding globalization, "world becoming flat, virtually" thanks to the Internet, -- Isn't it time to "retire" the word/term "outsourcing / offshoring", and adopt a more appropriate term as in "Global Workforce" ?

If you are a "products" company, you don't begin by saying "I will sell only in the U.S"; you, most likely, begin with a "global view/demand" of/for your product and execute in steps to get to be a "global products" company.

Accepting and talking freely, that you have a Global Workforce should no longer be a 'taboo' subject -- those opposed to it has to come to terms with reality, including Unions and Politicians.