The Knewton Blog

In Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology, education professors Allan Collins and Richard Halverson tackle the fraught issue of what it means to be an educated person in today’s society: “Deeply embedded in the culture of schooling is the notion that students should read, listen to, and absorb a large body of facts, concepts, procedures, theories, beliefs, and works of art and science that have accumulated over the centuries. An educated person is one… Read more

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Here at Knewton, “Photoshop Friday” is a time-honored tradition–one we’re hoping to resurrect in 2012. Recently, I took a dive through my inbox and resurrected these gems: THE FELLOWSHIP OF KNEWTON                                     THE KNEWTON NETWORK

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Knewtonians are ravenous readers. From our book club to our book swap, there are a variety of ways to partake in the active literary culture at Knewton. Here’s just a taste of what folks at Knewton have on their shelves these days: 1. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole David Ingber, Master Teacher “I find myself unable to read as many pages in one setting as I used to. That’s why I’m almost glad that I ride… Read more

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Those who work in technology will be familiar with the term, “agile development.” Formally introduced in 2001 through the Manifesto for Agile Software Development, “agile development” is a method that promotes an iterative, flexible, and “time-boxed” approach to product development (as opposed to “waterfall development” which is traditionally associated with a slower and more bureaucratic approach). According to those who created the methodology, the result of embracing agile development is an emphasis on rapid execution… Read more

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Designing an educational game that teaches while it entertains may be a lofty goal, but if you follow the steps in this series, you should be able to make your vision a reality — even if you don’t have a huge budget and a cutting-edge creative team. Along the way, I’ll also tell you about our own experience here at Knewton designing an educational course inspired by the principles of gamification. If you missed the… Read more

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Games, like novels and films, are cultural products that inspire loyal fans and followers. The appeal is clear: games are fictional universes that seduce players into alternate realities. Designing a game that teaches while it entertains may be a lofty goal, but if you follow the steps outlined below, you should be able to make your vision a reality — even if you don’t have a huge budget and a cutting-edge creative team. Along the… Read more

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The following experience is common to most teachers: a meticulously planned class activity succeeds in capturing student interest for a few minutes, but attention evaporates quickly and afterward no one can remember the point of the lesson. Despite the flashy visualizations, the expensive 3-D models, the age-appropriate allusions (references to Justin Bieber and Lindsay Lohan), the clever asides, and sensational content, the material failed to stick. What went wrong? According to Daniel Willingham, cognitive scientist… Read more

Posted in Adaptive Learning, Knewton | 8 comments

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New technology is transforming the art of teaching. It is reducing administrative burden and enabling teachers to orchestrate activities more effectively and coach individual students with a precise attention to their needs. In particular, adaptive learning–a teaching method premised on the idea that a curriculum should adapt to each individual–can harness the power of data mining to give teachers new freedom in the classroom and deeper insight into their students. 1) Reduce Administrative Burden As… Read more

Posted in EdTech, Education, Technology | One comment

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Whether or not you’ve heard the term “mastery-based learning,” you’ve probably encountered it in practice, in school or on the job. In any situation where you’re given a set of labs, problems, or activities where your progression is dependent on successful completion of various tasks rather than seat time, you’re engaging in mastery-based learning–a teaching method premised on the idea that student progression through a course should be dependent on proficiency as opposed to amount… Read more

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Whether it’s because of cost, implementation challenges, or the fear that something newer and better will rapidly render the investment outdated, educational institutions are not known for being early adopters of technology. Some institutions, however, have pushed forward with initiatives that have broken ground in all facets of education–from classroom learning to campus life to administration. Here are some schools that have taken the plunge and are finding the deeper waters exceptionally rewarding. Library Science… Read more

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