September e-ClassNotes

After the Storm: Day One: Live on BrainPOP!

We’re back to school with a brand new learning game on BrainPOP’s GameUp. After the Storm: Day One lets students and teachers access the first day of work as editor-in-chief of an online magazine the day after a major hurricane hits the community. Designed to 6th grade Common Core in reading and writing, After the Storm: Day One is an excellent digital tool to kickstart the school year. Read VP of Product Development Anne Richard’s post about why we’re so excited to have a version of the game available on BrainPOP.

Mark your calendars! BrainPOP is hosting us for a free webinar “Critical Thinking Through Game Play,” October 8 at 3:30pm ET. Anne will present along side Kathy Yu Burek, educator experience lead, using After the Storm to demonstrate how a game can prompt problem solving and decision making.

Leveraging Technology and Innovation to Engage, Empower, and Improve Student Learning

None of us have all the answers to educating our next generation of leaders, and collaboration must be the name of the game. We’re focused on sharing knowledge about why digital learning is important, and how to infuse new edtech during and outside of the traditional school day. What could your school or classroom look like in the very near future? How might you incorporate quality digital learning resources into your school or community? We’re discussing these topics with fellow presenters from The Makery and Iridescent at the 7th Annual Urban Education Symposium hosted by the Storefront Academy Harlem. Be sure to check back in during the month of October when we’ll share some of the findings discussed at this conference.

NYC Friends: There’s still time to register!

Mary Meeker Pays Us A Visit

We had the chance to sit down with Classroom, Inc. Honorary Board Member and Queen of the Net Mary Meeker. Being a partner at one of the most successful venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers, Mary can’t help but have a laser-like focus on data and results. We discussed that no matter how cutting-edge your edtech product might be, it’s critical to show impact—whether that be on students, educators, or the school system as a whole. Did you miss Mary’s annual Internet trends report? Check out slide 24 where she discusses why education might be at an inflection point.

Is Your School District #FutureReady?

The U.S. Department of Education recently released the Future Ready District Pledge to assist school districts with transitioning to personalized, digital learning. It creates a framework for achieving the goals of President Obama’s ConnectEd Initiative:

upgrading broadband and high-speed wireless connectivity;

providing access to educational devices and high quality digital content; and

training teachers to use technology effectively to improve student learning.

We are committed to these goals by working closely with school districts around the country to provide rigorous and engaging digital learning, particularly for under-served struggling readers. And as we make our school year resolutions, we’re expanding our training and coaching model for educators. To find out how to partner with us on this work, contact VP of Partnerships Christina Oliver.