Trends & Analysis (22)
Research shows play-based outdoor learning improves 'school readiness'
By Economic and Social Research Council on 10 April 2013, 10:05am
Outdoor play and learning can make an important contribution to helping children make the transition from early years education into primary school, an innovative research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has concluded. According to the project's findings, pupils' opportunities to spend time outdoors decline sharply as they move from early years education into more formal schooling.
The study highlights the potential for some of the tensions created by formal classroom learning to be mitigated by the more independent, less supervised periods children spend playing together outdoors.
Top 10 most viewed careers by students in 2011-12
By CASCAiD on 20 March 2013, 11:25am
Every day young people have to make important decisions about their future career. Their desires and expectations change over time, with exposure to a variety of influencers such as media, new technology, family/peer group expectations and changes in social mobility. What is interesting to educators, employers and learners is to see how young people’s career interests have changed and which careers are increasing in popularity.
How do we find out about young people’s career interests? One of the ways we can do this is by looking at data that is captured from an interactive careers interest tool used in the majority of secondary schools and colleges across the UK. Every year as part of their careers exploration, hundreds of thousands of young people use an online program called Kudos to help them with their career choices. The data captured from users of Kudos provides an insight into young people’s career interests and can highlight significant changes.
Data from Kudos for the academic year 2011/12 for around 425,000 young people from August 2011-July 2012 reveals the most viewed careers during this period:
iTunes U content tops one billion downloads
By iTunes U on 28 February 2013, 15:40pm
Apple today announced that iTunes U content downloads have topped one billion. iTunes U features the world’s largest online catalogue of free educational content from top schools and prominent libraries, museums and organisations helping educators create courses including lectures, assignments, books, quizzes and more for iOS users around the world.
“It’s inspiring to see what educators and students of all types are doing with iTunes U,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “With the incredible content offered on iTunes U, students can learn like never before―there are now iTunes U courses with more than 250,000 students enrolled in them, which is a phenomenal shift in the way we teach and learn.”
ESF identifies steps to teach next generation of innovators
By European Science Foundation on 23 January 2013, 14:48pm
A new position paper, The Professionalisation of Academics as Teachers in Higher Education, has been published today by the European Science Foundation.
In Europe, where over 19 million students are in tertiary education, it is becoming crucial to look at, study and improve the teaching skills of scientists in order to teach more effectively the next generation of innovators. This is not only of interest to the Social Sciences but an issue of basic importance to all domains of science and to society as a whole.
The HyFlex learning model
By Innovate My School on 23 January 2013, 14:24pm
Most students and educators have heard of both online courses and hybrid courses, but may not yet have encountered a new trend in non-traditional education: HyFlex. HyFlex courses are growing in popularity, as they offer students the chance to customise their educational experience and tailor coursework to their individual needs and learning preferences.
Whether you’re interested in learning how you can take HyFlex courses yourself or just want to learn a bit more about what HyFlex is, read on as we explain the origins, meaning, and benefits of this innovative new learning model.
Digital reading rises among children
By Innovate My School on 16 January 2013, 17:22pm
Digital reading is rising fast among children ages 6 to 17, but this is not necessarily translating into a greater desire to read, according to a report released on Monday by Scholastic Inc.
Every other year since 2006, Scholastic, a publisher and distributor of children’s books, has surveyed American families about their attitudes toward reading and literacy.
The latest study, the Kids and Family Reading Report, conducted with Harrison Group, showed both the advantages and the drawbacks of the digital age when it comes to encouraging reading among young people.
Photo credit: flickingerbrad
OU drives revolution in mass open learning
By Innovate My School on 21 December 2012, 09:43am
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been much talked about recently, with some of the biggest universities in America making courses available on the internet. Here Kate Sweeney reports on the new Open University programme "Futurelearn" for making courses from British universities available online, free of charge. So far, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, King’s College London, Lancaster, Leeds, Southampton, St Andrews and Warwick have signed up to be part of the programme. The idea has the backing of David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, and, in a time of rising university fees, may well prove popular with prospective students.
The top education startups of 2012
By Innovate My School on 19 December 2012, 15:55pm
Textbooks are closing and school bells ringing as the last lessons of 2012 come to an end. As pupils emerge excitedly into the frosty winds of winter, this article looks back on a year of technological innovation in education, reviewing some of the most influential tech startups of this year - such as Coursera, CodeAcademy and Minerva - and suggesting which new players to watch out for in 2013.
Weekly web round-up
By Innovate My School on 12 December 2012, 16:51pm
Our seven favourite education innovation stories of the past seven days, from elsewhere on the web
5 ways technology will impact higher education in 2013
The president of eCornell - Cornell University's online learning company - shares his thoughts on the technologies and innovations that he thinks will have the biggest effects on education in 2013.
www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2012/12/11/5-ways-technology-will-impact-higher-ed-in-2013/
Bringing fossils to life
Not literally, but perhaps the next best thing. Using CT scanning and 3D printing, researchers at the University of Bristol have created a “virtual palaeontology” educational resource. Dr Rahman, of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, says that the interactive access to fossils provided by his system has proved particularly interesting to children.
Weekly web round-up
By Innovate My School on 05 December 2012, 13:39pm
Our seven favourite education innovation stories of the past seven days, from elsewhere on the web
Bash Street bytes: Do UK schools really need the Raspberry Pi?
With the Raspberry Pi approaching its first Christmas, Giles Hill, a teachers of ICT-based lessons in primary schools, considers the value and practicalities of using the credit-card-sized computer in lessons. His article includes an interesting analysis of the learning tool Scratch.
www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/27/feature_raspberry_pi_in_schools/
What if badges replaced grades?
Learning to the test – that is, working out what the bare minimum required to pass an exam is, and then learning that and nothing more – has long been a problem in all forms of education. Drawing on the success of reward systems in online games, this article proposes an interesting alternative to conventional grades as the solution.
www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2012/12/what-badges-replaced-grades/
Weekly web round-up
By Innovate My School on 28 November 2012, 14:36pm
Our seven favourite education innovation stories of the past seven days, from elsewhere on the web
Meet the “tutor kings and queens”
In Britain, a Lamborghini in the school car park would indicate the presence of a very wealthy pupil. In Hong Kong, the vehicle might well belong to a teacher! Many parents in this densely populated region - where competition for university places is fierce - are turning to highly paid "super tutors" to get their children into higher education.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20085558
Star Trek schools: education... but not as we know it
Star trek has always provided the perfect example of when it's acceptable to split the infinitive. Now its ability to inspire education may be increasing. This article refers to the comments of Girls' School Association President Louise Robinson, who cites access to education as the main benefit of online teaching, and predicts a sci-fi-like future for schools and universities.
www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/star-trek-schools-education-but-not-as-we-know-it-8335105.html
Weekly web round-up
By Innovate My School on 21 November 2012, 12:42pm
Our seven favourite education innovation stories of the past seven days, from elsewhere on the web.
The seven intelligences
Reiki master Elena Barbiero summarises seven different - though sometimes overlapping - types of intelligence and explains how they may help us understand the different ways in which people learn and retain information.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/elena-barbiero/the-seven-intelligences_b_2164890.html
Solar powered floating schools
Flooding in Bangaldesh – particularly during monsoon season – can make roads impassable, disrupting children's education. Now a non-profit organisation has developed a highly innovative solution: if pupils can't travel to school, then school will travel to them!
