What if kids co-created customized learning pathways?

NOVEMBER 5, 2013
Tom Vander Ark, CEO, Getting Smart, Treasurer for the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL)

Tom Vander Ark shared his model of how to move forward to a system where students drove their own learning using new digital tools and attending new models of schools.

“It’s where we’re headed nationally,” he said. “We’ll get there, the question is how?”

Vander Ark shared his model of what schools need to transition to:

Textbooks — Digital content
Passive — Active
Age cohorts — Individual progress
Annual tests — Instant feedback
Teachers — Teams
Sequential — Adaptive

He told attendees it’s not that hard to transform a school or district, and he’s excited to see Idaho take the plunge into customized learning for every kid.

“Put me in the enthusiastic column,” he said. “I’m excited about the potential impact here.”

He said the first step is to join the conversation and plug into next generation learning: blended digital and classroom instruction.

The second step is to make the teaching profession more collaborate and customized.

The third step, he said, is to study in person what others are doing and what can be modeled.

PHOTO GALLERY:

“What if kids co-created customized learning pathways?”