This blog series features different Knerds explaining problems, concepts, equations, and projects that pertain to their work at Knewton. In this video, long-time publishing professional and Knewton client manager, Sally Searby talks about the evolution of content in the digital age. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in the future of content. If you liked this video, check out the series deep dive on differentiated instruction and implementation architect, Shawn Lauzon’s video on student… Read more

What is “differentiated instruction”? No two students come from exactly the same background or learn exactly the same way. Differentiated instruction addresses this reality by providing different students with different learning paths toward course goals. The goal of differentiated instruction is to provide every student with an effective learning experience that takes into account that student’s unique needs — cultural background, level of knowledge, motivation, language comprehension, etc. Teachers have long understood the importance of… Read more

By Marjan Ghara – Founder, CEO BiblioNasium – Where Kids Flex their Reading Muscles! Reading is a fundamental gateway skill. Reading aids children with language, speech, and communications skills. It provides the foundation for learning, comprehension and information processing. Reading is a skill that has the power to change a child’s life. Today, only one third of U.S. 8th graders are proficient in reading and writing. If a child is not reading proficiently in the… Read more

What is “Lifelong Learning”? With the advent of MOOCs (massive open online courses), there’s been a lot of buzz in recent years around the concept of “lifelong learning” which refers broadly to any variety of ongoing, self-motivated education. As the internet becomes more and more ubiquitous and digital solutions extend learning beyond physical classrooms, the potential for lifelong learning has grown dramatically. In earlier years, brick-and-mortar continuing education classes, books for self-study, and mentoring and… Read more

Television used to be four networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS. With cable came more channels — devoted to foreign language programming, cooking, sports, movies, history, and so on. Then the silos became narrower. History programming fragmented from the History Channel into the Biography Channel, the Military History Channel, and the Smithsonian Channel. On-demand services and the DVR took it further still, allowing people to choose exactly which show to watch, at exactly what time…. Read more

Here at Knewton we’re dedicated to supporting innovative educators. This post is written by Kaylie Reed. Kaylie was the founding teacher at Acton Academy and helped develop and run their Elementary program in its first four years before leaving the classroom this fall to launch a campaign seeking entrepreneurial educators and parents interested in replicating the Acton Academy model in their communities. She is currently consulting for blended learning programs around the country, including several new… Read more

What is “Collaborative Learning”? Collaborative learning refers to any situation in which multiple people learn or attempt to learn something together and thereby capitalize on each other’s skills and knowledge. The concept is related to Vygotsky’s “zone of proximal development” which holds that students are first able to do something with assistance before they are able to do it independently (with the difference between those states being their “zone of proximal development”). Today, collaborative learning… Read more