Tom Vander Ark

An inspirational and practical guide helps educators, civic leaders and parents build on students’ talents and interests to develop their desire for a better world, entrepreneurial mindset and personal leadership skills―so they can make a difference to their families, their communities, and society.

The Power of Place offers a comprehensive and compelling case for making communities the locus of learning for students of all ages and backgrounds.

This rich resource features an overview of the current status of competency-based education in the U.S. that we developed for XQ, and reflections from XQ on some of the more complex transition issues. Our analysis is based on interviews with more than 50 experts and educators in K-12 schools, higher education, technology, and philanthropy; analyses of more than 40 publications and other source materials; site visits to dozens of schools; and input from numerous education research organizations.

Networks are proving to be an engine for innovation as well as a powerful scaling strategy that, for the kids that need it most, can boost access to quality. The core premise of Better Together is that creating powerful learning is hard work and there’s no reason for teacher teams to work alone.

The #RemakeLearning initiative sponsored by the Grabel Foundation and others is energizing K-12 learning in metro Pittsburgh

Code that learns may prove to be the most important invention in human history. We spent two years studying the implications of AI and concluded that machine intelligence turbocharged by big data and enabling technologies like robotics is the most significant change force facing humanity. We outlined the benefits and challenges for schools and communities of the new automation economy.

A Getting Smart bundle, published in partnership with Microsoft, on the importance of coding in a 21st century education.

World language educators uniquely poised to act as leaders in system-wide shifts to new models of personalized learning. This paper describes how world language educators have transformed their classrooms and communities.

As the majority of the world’s population becomes urban, cities must become centers of learning for young and old. Every person, organization and region needs to get smart – to skill up, learn more and build new capacities faster and cheaper than ever. In the long run, education is the economic development agenda. Smart Cities outlines the 7 keys to education and employment: Innovation Mindset, Sustained Leadership, Talent Development, Collective Impact, Aligned Investment, Incubating New Tools… Show more

As the majority of the world’s population becomes urban, cities must become centers of learning for young and old. Every person, organization and region needs to get smart – to skill up, learn more and build new capacities faster and cheaper than ever. In the long run, education is the economic development agenda. Smart Cities outlines the 7 keys to education and employment: Innovation Mindset, Sustained Leadership, Talent Development, Collective Impact, Aligned Investment, Incubating New Tools & Schools, and Policy & Advocacy. Show less

This paper outlines processes, tools and current examples of best practices for creating a next-gen system of student guidance and support. The authors describe the opportunities and challenges, and explain how more robust guidance systems can play a critical role in tracking progress, boosting college and career readiness, and empowering better choices.

This paper describes promising approaches to improve teacher preparation and development including competency-based progressions and micro-credentialing.

Review of K-12 tools supporting performance assessment and mastery tracking

Every student should leave high school globally competent including fluent in several world languages. This paper lays out 7 design principles, highlights school success stories, and makes policy recommendations for states and school districts.

Compilation of the 8 DLN SmartSeries papers that provide advice to school, district and state leaders on issues at the intersection of digital learning and Common Core implementation.

School finance recommendations for state and policy makers

Case study of two Hewlett Foundation funded prizes to advance the field of automated scoring of constructed response items in support of the state testing consortia, PARCC and Smarter Balanced.

How to guide for creating student centered competency-based learning environments

See 15 tech-powered student roles for deeper learning

A Student Backpack is an electronic record of each student’s academic history that includes official transcript data, comments from previous teachers and additional information, and follows the student from course to course, classroom to classroom, grade to grade and school to school. An enhanced Learner Profile goes beyond official transcript data to provide teachers with information about each student’s learning preferences and potential, and offers teachers the ability to track ongoing… Show more

A Student Backpack is an electronic record of each student’s academic history that includes official transcript data, comments from previous teachers and additional information, and follows the student from course to course, classroom to classroom, grade to grade and school to school. An enhanced Learner Profile goes beyond official transcript data to provide teachers with information about each student’s learning preferences and potential, and offers teachers the ability to track ongoing student progress. The Learning Profile might include, for example, an online portfolio of “personal best” samples of work. Each component would incorporate enhanced privacy controls to protect sensitive information while allowing for easier sharing with parents and teachers.
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"Funding the Shift to Digital Learning" is the first in a series of DLN Smart Series papers to be released in 2012 & 2013. Each will focus on a different implementation challenge at the intersection of the Common Core and shift to personal digital learning. "Funding the Shift to Digital Learning" provides three strategies states and districts can use to create and sustain learning environments with equitable access to technology and technology-rich learning experiences.