Welcome to SETDA's "Bloggers Thinking Bold Challenge"

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 action steps for each topic that crystallizes a solid, bold, action

that will help policy makers create district, state and national legislation.

On the side-bar are links to the seven topics and secenarios.  After readng the scenario, Please think BOLD and develop a recommendation or modify an already posted recommendation.  I can't promise that they will be put into any policy or used - but I wil pass them on to our SETDA leadership for consideration.

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 dealing with current energy, food and water issues.

1> 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.    

2> 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:

1> 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.