Education & Technology Blog

In Our Own Write

Education sets our imaginations aloft. Technology excites our senses. And—together—they help us to see the world anew.

At Clarity, we're always seeking, always learning, always looking for opportunities to share the latest exciting discovery. Be sure to visit our blog for the latest Clarity musings and revelations.

Why Should Girls Code?

January 13, 2015 Sarah Berry

Girls Who Code is a non-profit organization that provides after school and summer programs for girls interested in computer programming. Their web site notes that women currently represent 12% of all computer science graduates, but in 1984, they represented 37% of all computer science graduates. This is remarkable, since that period saw personal computers make programming more accessible, and also saw the number of female college graduates surpass the number of male graduates. Read more about Why Should Girls Code?

Technology and Student Achievement—The Right Question to Ask

December 9, 2014 Tod Johnston

What is the impact of technology in our classrooms? Stats, like the ones below from Project Tomorrow’s 2014 United States Speak Up Reports, are increasingly common. Read more about Technology and Student Achievement—The Right Question to Ask

Hi-Tech, Mid-Tech, Low-Tech: The Personalized 21st Century Classroom

November 21, 2014 Peggy Grant

Although the idea of personalized learning has been around for a long time, the availability of technology has made it more practical for today’s classrooms. Teachers who have been working in traditionally teacher-centered environments are now thinking about how technology can make their classrooms more personalized, leading to more engaged students and improved academic achievement. Read more about Hi-Tech, Mid-Tech, Low-Tech: The Personalized 21st Century Classroom

The Reality of Augmented Reality in Today's Classrooms

October 6, 2014 Lisa Fisher

Augmented Reality (AR) and its value in education is a trending topic being discussed and debated among experts in the field of ed tech. While many see great potential with its educational application, others argue that the “cool factor” may be overshadowing its actual benefit. Read more about The Reality of Augmented Reality in Today's Classrooms

A Day in the Life of a Personalized Learner

October 1, 2014 Dale Basye

Let’s follow Richard, a middle school digital native whose school has adopted a personalized approach to learning.

8:00—Richard wakes up to an alarm from his smartphone charging next to his bed and checks his reminders. He notes that he has an English project due in two days and that he needs to check with his friend Chris in his science class today about their genetics’ experiment. Read more about A Day in the Life of a Personalized Learner

Five ways to bring “maker education” to your classroom

September 13, 2014 Sarah Berry

Here in Portland the Mini Maker Faire has arrived at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). An annual fun-fest of tinkering and creating, the Maker Faire celebrates hands-on, informal learning. Maker education combines problem-solving, creativity, and engineering with an ethos of sustainable re-use, playfulness, and social value. Some emphasize the Maker Movement’s links to shop class and a renewed appreciation of trade and technical skills. Read more about Five ways to bring “maker education” to your classroom

Technology and Pre-K- Is it a Good Idea?

August 15, 2014 Cath Cuff

The use of technology with Pre-K students is a bit of a controversial topic. Much of the conversation is about, what technology is developmentally appropriate? How do educators find the right balance of infusing technology into current best practices? Are we, as educators, using technology too early with pre-K students? Read more about Technology and Pre-K- Is it a Good Idea?

Personalized vs. Differentiated vs. Individualized Learning

August 6, 2014 Dale Basye

ISTE has just published a blog written by Clarity Content Developer Dale Basye (co-author of Personalized Learning: A Guide for Engaging Students with Technology) that demystifies the three most common (and often confusing) terms associated with personalized learning: what is “personalized”; what is “differentiated”; and what is “individualized”? Read all about it here.

5 Things You Need to Know about Personalized Learning

August 1, 2014 Dale Basye

1. Personalized learning is a 21st century form of differentiation, refreshed with technology.

Personalized learning isn’t the individualized programmed instruction of the 70s or the grouping of the 90s, although both approaches can play a role in today’s personalized learning environments. Personalized learning is an approach to instruction where students make choices about what and how they learn while developing self-direction skills and feelings of self-efficacy. The 21st century twist is that technology makes the whole process easier and more exciting. Read more about 5 Things You Need to Know about Personalized Learning