Why EdTech Is Key for Personalized Learning…But Content Is Still King
In this video, I share some thoughts on EdTech and personalized learning. If your preferred mode is reading, the transcript is below the video.
Read More
Why Instrument an Educational Simulation?
In earlier blogs, I showed how we are using metacog to instrument some of our prototype TEIs (technology enhanced items). The idea is simple: as thousands or millions of learners use a DLO (digital learning object), their actions can be streamed anonymously to the metacog™ servers. This happens in the background without interfering with the…
Read More
The Next Wave of Competency Portfolios
Victory’s spin-off, metacog, is up and running. As with any breakthrough technology, it may take some time for people to realize its full potential. One promising area has been getting a lot of buzz lately: competency portfolios. Originally, portfolios were the domain of artists or architects, and competency portfolios retain a visual emphasis. You want…
Read More
Talking to the Test—Spanish Localization
When people ask us to do a translation project, one of the first things to resolve is: Will localization be required? Localization depends on the target market. A translation for a Texas market will be different from one for New York or Florida. Localization is especially important for high-stakes assessment, where accessibility is paramount. Whether…
Read More
Talking to the Test: Translation or Transadaptation?
There’s a reason why people use the phrase “lost in translation.” Often, there’s more than one path to achieve a good translation, and rarely is the path a straight one. As translators, we have to navigate carefully so we don’t lose our way. Sometimes, we need to use alternate routes to convey meaning from one…
Read More
EdTech Tip: Using Screencasts for Feedback
I once worked for an editorial director who held us to a very high standard: If even one student could misinterpret our text, then it was unclear. We went back and forth as to whether this was a realistic goal, but it certainly improved our products. I often think back to it when we direct…
Read More
Talking to the Test: The Learning Continuum
Picture this: An urban middle school is on a new journey this year – project-based learning (last year it was standards-based grading). But this initiative is here to stay, the administrators promise. With little background and a whole lot of excitement, teachers engage in weekly team collaboration time. Through a grant, every teacher gets a…
Read More
’Tis the Seasons
Our winter is just starting in the Northern Hemisphere, but in fact our days are now getting longer, so we can celebrate the holiday season with the certain knowledge that spring is coming. To help you enjoy the holidays, we made this animation to explain why we have seasons.
Read More
EdTech Tip: Sharing Calendars
Victory recently created a calendar of educational publishing conventions for our holiday email. I’d like to share some insights we discovered along the way.
Read More
EduGames for Developing Mathematical Practices
A little while ago we posted about using a game-like simulation for authentic assessment. We used a different approach with Drop Zone, a two-person EduGame Victory developed for the NCTM Calculation Nation web site. Here there’s no pretense of authenticity; the goal is simply to make adding fractions fun (and develop CCSS Mathematical Practices). Please watch this…
Read More