SchoolSmarts LLC is very pleased to announce that it has formed a strategic partnership with A3Logics India, Ltd for the continued development and promotion of OpenSchool ePortfolio. The two companies have been working together since September, 2011 to produce a web and iPad app for authentic assessment. The beta version of OpenSchool ePortfolio was launched in March, 2013 and is being tested by over 400 teachers in over 15 different countries. The enterprise version of the software, which will service entire schools and school districts (and...
I remember the meeting well. It was at the NYC Charter School Center, one of my favorite places for straight and intelligent talk and a stew of good ideas. It was about eight years ago, and I was still new to the world of charters, though an act of fate had made me the board chair of a fairly large one in Queens.
I don’t remember the guy’s name, but he came to give a talk about “private good vs. public good”. So far, so good. I’ll call him Joe.
The state did not give you a charter to build the school of your dreams, Joe...
There is a public education crisis, but it’s not the one that we usually hear about and it’s not the one that so much hot air has been wasted upon. The crisis is one of relevance. We’re well into the second decade of the new millennium and our schools are still operating under a 19th century philosophy and leadership style. We talk about innovation ad nauseam, but we are still propping up lifeless and loveless institutions that stifle creativity through their avoidance of democratic ideals and management practices and through their...
We try hard to keep assessments low key in primary school. The children really like the chance to spend time with their teachers one-to-one, it’s a rare opportunity for both adult and child. There’s no hint of a grade or a score, no pass or fail. We explain that the more we know about how they learn and what they know the better job we can do teaching them. It’s all very positive in intent. We aren’t fooling the kids of course. They know in a vague sort of way all about tests and grades and passing and failing by the time they get to...
In their book, A guide to authentic instruction and assessment, the authors Fred Newmann, Walter Secada, and Gary Wehlage define authentic assessment as “the measurement of intellectual accomplishments that are worthwhile, significant, and meaningful”.
It sort of begs the question: Why would anyone measure intellectual accomplishments that are worthless, insignificant and meaningless? Why, to drive the point further, give standardized tests?
Well, one answer is because we have to – that’s the shape of the world we live...
1. Do you enjoy taking standardized tests?
a) Yes, it’s my therapy
b) No, I’d rather watch live tweets from @paintdrying
c) If Saturn isn’t in retrograde
d) None of the aboveCould a single multiple-choice selection really encapsulate the thought process and effort given into choosing that answer? Many teachers think not and are taking a step away from standardized assessments and moving toward alternate forms of assessment. This is why we developed OpenSchool ePortfolio.
To learn more about what OpenSchool ePortfolio can do for you and...
Most of the time spent in school by young children in my area is focused on reading and writing with a smaller chunk of time devoted to math. The mechanics of complex cognitive skill sets have been admirably atomized. People spent a lot of time and energy and passion breaking down the cognitive processes that allow you to read this and me to write it.
I worry that there is a tendency to take that clear articulation of processes, valuable as it is, and flip it around to use as a teacher’s guide. An organizing structure has been built to...
A few days ago, Zeke and I returned from the Texas Computer Education Association conference in Austin, Texas where we officially launched the “public beta” phase of OpenSchool ePortfolio. I’ve been mulling a number of things since getting back. Here are some:
The tacos in Austin were fabulous, as was the music. I’d go back in a flash just for that.
The idea of eportfolios as a better way to look at student growth and achievement over time is gaining a lot of traction.
The majority of teachers that we spoke with, the vast majority,...
Today is Valentine’s Day and, in thousands of schools around the world, little gifts are brought to show gratitude and appreciation to those who assume the incredible task of assisting the intellectual and personal growth of the generations that someday will shape the world.
The OpenSchool ePortfolio team is happy to take this occasion to announce the beta release of OpenSchool ePortfolio Web and iPad applications; a simple way to assess student growth over time through an elegant interface that allows classrooms to create projects,...
I just watched over their shoulders as some of my 7 and 8 year old second graders took their first standardized tests. These had the advantage of being on the computer, with headphones so that they could hear the questions and options read aloud. Many of the children consider computer time a treat, although they would have been happier with the freedom to shift to a different game. And a game is basically the way they viewed the test, though not a particularly interesting one. Watching them choose one of four possible answers made me think...
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SchoolSmarts and A3Logics Form Strategic Partership
Posted by Steve Zimmerman on Apr 30, 2013 in News | 0 comments
SchoolSmarts LLC is very pleased to announce that it has formed a strategic partnership with A3Logics India, Ltd for the continued development and promotion of OpenSchool ePortfolio. The two companies have been working together since September, 2011 to produce a web and iPad app for authentic assessment. The beta version of OpenSchool ePortfolio was launched in March, 2013 and is being tested by over 400 teachers in over 15 different countries. The enterprise version of the software, which will service entire schools and school districts (and...
read morePublic Good vs. Private Good in Charter Schools
Posted by Steve Zimmerman on Mar 25, 2013 in Education, Educational Technology | 1 comment
I remember the meeting well. It was at the NYC Charter School Center, one of my favorite places for straight and intelligent talk and a stew of good ideas. It was about eight years ago, and I was still new to the world of charters, though an act of fate had made me the board chair of a fairly large one in Queens. I don’t remember the guy’s name, but he came to give a talk about “private good vs. public good”. So far, so good. I’ll call him Joe. The state did not give you a charter to build the school of your dreams, Joe...
read moreWhy Charter Schools are Necessary, and Why They Are NOT the Answer
Posted by Steve Zimmerman on Mar 1, 2013 in Education, Educational Technology | 3 comments
There is a public education crisis, but it’s not the one that we usually hear about and it’s not the one that so much hot air has been wasted upon. The crisis is one of relevance. We’re well into the second decade of the new millennium and our schools are still operating under a 19th century philosophy and leadership style. We talk about innovation ad nauseam, but we are still propping up lifeless and loveless institutions that stifle creativity through their avoidance of democratic ideals and management practices and through their...
read moreFeedback Makes the Difference
Posted by Dorothy Bukantz on Feb 28, 2013 in Education | 0 comments
We try hard to keep assessments low key in primary school. The children really like the chance to spend time with their teachers one-to-one, it’s a rare opportunity for both adult and child. There’s no hint of a grade or a score, no pass or fail. We explain that the more we know about how they learn and what they know the better job we can do teaching them. It’s all very positive in intent. We aren’t fooling the kids of course. They know in a vague sort of way all about tests and grades and passing and failing by the time they get to...
read moreAuthentic Assessment and ePortfolios
Posted by Steve Zimmerman on Feb 25, 2013 in Education, Educational Technology | 0 comments
In their book, A guide to authentic instruction and assessment, the authors Fred Newmann, Walter Secada, and Gary Wehlage define authentic assessment as “the measurement of intellectual accomplishments that are worthwhile, significant, and meaningful”. It sort of begs the question: Why would anyone measure intellectual accomplishments that are worthless, insignificant and meaningless? Why, to drive the point further, give standardized tests? Well, one answer is because we have to – that’s the shape of the world we live...
read moreHow Do You Use OpenSchool ePortfolio?
Posted by Santi Khairassame on Feb 21, 2013 in Education, Educational Technology | 0 comments
1. Do you enjoy taking standardized tests? a) Yes, it’s my therapy b) No, I’d rather watch live tweets from @paintdrying c) If Saturn isn’t in retrograde d) None of the aboveCould a single multiple-choice selection really encapsulate the thought process and effort given into choosing that answer? Many teachers think not and are taking a step away from standardized assessments and moving toward alternate forms of assessment. This is why we developed OpenSchool ePortfolio. To learn more about what OpenSchool ePortfolio can do for you and...
read moreLiteracy Training or Learning to Read?
Posted by Dorothy Bukantz on Feb 20, 2013 in Education | 0 comments
Most of the time spent in school by young children in my area is focused on reading and writing with a smaller chunk of time devoted to math. The mechanics of complex cognitive skill sets have been admirably atomized. People spent a lot of time and energy and passion breaking down the cognitive processes that allow you to read this and me to write it. I worry that there is a tendency to take that clear articulation of processes, valuable as it is, and flip it around to use as a teacher’s guide. An organizing structure has been built to...
read moreReflections on TCEA
Posted by Steve Zimmerman on Feb 18, 2013 in News | 0 comments
A few days ago, Zeke and I returned from the Texas Computer Education Association conference in Austin, Texas where we officially launched the “public beta” phase of OpenSchool ePortfolio. I’ve been mulling a number of things since getting back. Here are some: The tacos in Austin were fabulous, as was the music. I’d go back in a flash just for that. The idea of eportfolios as a better way to look at student growth and achievement over time is gaining a lot of traction. The majority of teachers that we spoke with, the vast majority,...
read moreA Valentine’s Day Gift to Teachers
Posted by Roy Rodenhäuser on Feb 14, 2013 in News | 0 comments
Today is Valentine’s Day and, in thousands of schools around the world, little gifts are brought to show gratitude and appreciation to those who assume the incredible task of assisting the intellectual and personal growth of the generations that someday will shape the world. The OpenSchool ePortfolio team is happy to take this occasion to announce the beta release of OpenSchool ePortfolio Web and iPad applications; a simple way to assess student growth over time through an elegant interface that allows classrooms to create projects,...
read moreOur First Standardized Tests
Posted by Dorothy Bukantz on Feb 12, 2013 in Education | 0 comments
I just watched over their shoulders as some of my 7 and 8 year old second graders took their first standardized tests. These had the advantage of being on the computer, with headphones so that they could hear the questions and options read aloud. Many of the children consider computer time a treat, although they would have been happier with the freedom to shift to a different game. And a game is basically the way they viewed the test, though not a particularly interesting one. Watching them choose one of four possible answers made me think...
read more