WeLearnedIt

What’s It Like? 

With this social-learning platform created by the makers of eduClipper [Adam Bellow], teachers can create project-based assignments complete with rubrics and attachments that can be pulled from DropBox, Google Drive, the device’s camera or camera roll, or the Internet. Content saved on teachers’ eduClipper accounts is automatically accessible in the library, as are resources other teachers have publicly shared. Students can submit projects dynamically through the app — attaching images, videos, documents, and more — and get feedback from peers and teachers delivered by video, audio, or text. Teachers can create unlimited classes, attaching different assignments and students to each. Students join a class with a teacher-generated code, and their work is saved in digital portfolios. With paid versions, parents also get a portal to view student assignments.

Price: Free/paid

Grades: K-12

Pros: Teacher and peer feedback plus portfolios embody valuing process over product learning.

Cons: Teachers can’t edit assignments once created.

Bottom line: Impressive tool for individualized learning and managing projects is best for one-to-

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD), the third largest school district in Texas, is deploying a private optical network leveraging high-capacity networking solutions fromPhonoscope LIGHTWAVE, a private fiber optic network service provider, and Ciena.

CFISD is building a 100G network with the vision of providing students and staff ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ broadband access so they can easily interact and collaborate with peers and engage in distance learning initiatives.

With approximately 114,000 students and 14,000 staff across more than 100 campuses and service centers, CFISD plans to utilize this robust fiber optic network to improve access to web-based educational resources while enhancing learning and collaboration.

The network is funded in part by the E-Rate program and is designed in accordance with the Smart Education Networks by Design (SEND) Initiative through the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN).

The Ciena-powered 100G network will enable CFISD to support the growing adoption of mobile devices among students – according to a Pew Research Center study 73 percent of teenagers have smartphones – and connect to the latest educational applications and tools. CFISD’s ownVision 2020 program includes a Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) policy, which the school district expects will result in the need to support up to three devices for each student (depending on the grade level of the student), teacher and staff member.

Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform and 5160 Service Aggregation Switch offers reliable high-capacity connectivity between CFISD’s six main hubs and three data centers through Phonoscope LIGHTWAVE’s extensive dark fiber network footprint. The network will also provide reliable connections between CFISD’s educational campuses and its three data centers, one of which is a collocation facility located outside of the district and used to back up all mission-critical information.

Phonoscope LIGHTWAVE, a CFISD strategic partner of many years, will provide managed services to CFISD over the new network. This deployment builds on Ciena and Phonoscope LIGHTWAVE’s long-standing work together as well.

“Our mission is to maximize every student’s potential through rigorous and relevant learning experiences by preparing students to be 21st century global learners,” said Frankie Jackson, Chief Technology Officer, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. “To achieve it, we are proactively building a high-capacity network that will support the increased demands of wireless technologies, mobile devices, and high-speed connectivity. The Phonoscope LIGHTWAVE and Ciena solution provides the scalability and security we need to support these innovative programs that facilitate new types of classroom instruction, while also managing our mission-critical data and enabling future growth.”

To the casual observer, the SAT looks the same — questions on math and English, an essay, a set amount of time to finish each question.

But the college entrance exam has gotten a makeover. High school students are taking a new version of the SAT, which incorporates the first changes to the test since 2005. March 5 marked the first national testing date when students could take the new SAT.

The nearly four-hour exam drops to three hours if students decline the now-optional writing portion. Critical reading and writing have now been combined into a single evidence-based writing and reading portion. The range of possible scores changed, as well.

Students, meanwhile, no longer get penalized for guessing.

While the SAT did not change because of Common Core state standards and other recent state standards adoptions, designers researched just what was changing in the classrooms to better align the test with what students know and needed to know.

“We know many students went through similar exercises,” said Scott Hill, vice president of the College Board’s western regional office. The College Board organization runs the SAT. “It’s not surprising them what they experience in the classroom is what they experience in the SAT.”