Tom Vander Ark: Changing the Learning Curve

Dwight Jones has a dilemma but he sees it as an opportunity. Facing drastic budget cuts in Clark County, the fifth largest district in the country, superintendent Jones invited the board of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) to visit with him management team to discuss strategies for boosting learning and operating productivity. Jones has a great background for facing this new challenge. He previously served as the Commissioner of Education for Colorado. He helped introduce new learning models in Colorado and has brought his optimistic perspective to his new role in Las Vegas. I share superintendent Jones’ optimism. While the immediate challenges are grim, the future is bright. Personal digital learning is changing the way the world learns. Informal learning—Wikipedia, search, peer-to-peer sites, and tutorials—is making it easier for anyone to learn anything. In schools, learning is getting more personalized, more engaging, and more online. These three benefits—customization, motivation, and equalization—are changing the learning curve by helping students learn more faster. Click here to read more of my post on the challenges Clark County schools chief Jones faces and the role digital learning plays in solving them.