Cluster Groups

23: Open Virtual Science Labs in Every U.S. High School

This intervention envisions the deployment of virtual science laboratory capacity in every U.S. high school and the requisite training, development of networks of teachers, national competitions among students to demonstrate best uses of virtual labs, networks of people who can update materials. To do this, we need to engage NGOs, governments, businesses and educators from across the U.S. to support this effort. Open virtue science labs already exist, thus not requiring new development. This should enhance deeper learning of science materials, and will be seen by advocates of STEM as a way of engaging kids in authentic science.

required innovations

Networks among teachers and networks of professional scientists and educators are required. There will be opportunities for students to create innovations in the uses of the instrument(s).

22: Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

State Open Content Collaborative

Writ large, the notion is that states collaborate to assemble and/or develop the full scope of sequence of CCSS curricula (ELA and math) under an open license and institute an ongoing mechanism for continuous improvement and sustainability, including teacher development. The net result will be affordable and more effective instructional materials and better teaching and learning. Three broad stages: (1) Recruiting states (initial target states are likely Common Core adopting, open territory states like NY, ME, MD and VT) and co-developing a plan to implement and sustain. Plan would be 'endorsed' by all participating states, which commit to implement. A critical mass of states does not need to be larger than 3 or 4. More is better, though management/coordination becomes more complex. (2) Initial assembly and/or development of the full scope of sequence of CCSS curricula (ELA and math) under an open license - in a digital format. States that have adopted CCSS have already committed to develop and/or adopt new curricula. The notion is that states would identify what they are already doing; commit to sharing with other states in the collaborative via an open license; develop a mechanism to identify existing and emerging CCSS-aligned resources that could be assembled; and commit via a joint RFP process to develop only what does not already exist or is already under development. Standards for quality would be agreed to in advance by participating states. Goal is full assembly of scope and sequence of CCSS. (3) Deployment. States would offer full scope and sequence of CCSS materials to their teachers for free under an open license. Could be deployed over multiple platforms (or even in print), so long as interoperability and data analytics/feedback mechanism are considered up front. (3) Ongoing management. In order to ensure that materials are maximally implemented, effective and sustained, each summer participating states would offer professional development activities to teachers that would entail the review, revision and enhancement of the open CCSS materials by the teachers themselves. The benefit is that PD is already being delivered, so this could be re-purposed and at the same time the CCSS curricula would benefit from constant review and revision. If built on a digital platform, learning effectiveness of the curricular items would be a major factor in prioritizing targets for curricular revision/enhancements. Other states could use the developed materials, too - as could educators around the world.

required innovations

Requires process innovation: (1) states collaborating around joint content development and teacher support; (2) how individual states participate in local instructional materials adoption processes; and (3) how individual states support teacher engagement/development and enhancement of instructional materials.

If staged, risks are quite manageable and able to mitigated. NOTE: Form is not allowing us to answer and save some of the answers to the above question.

3: Open Curriculum Pathways

Design your own self-guided course set.

13: Gamification of Education

Teaching metacog skills via straetgy games.

16: Instructables for OER

Videos and how-tos for [building and] using OER.

21: OER Information Accuracy Effort

A concerted effort by a broad group of people in the OER world to accurately portray a neutral, factual information about OER. Leverage the global, international traffic to Wikipedia to find information on OER and related topics, including links to best practices and a comprehensive source of OER information. Must be neutral and show all sides. Better quality and quantity of information on Wikipedia on this information would promote conversation and support dispersed efforts at OER adoption. Although this information may separately be used to support advocacy efforts, this project is not itself advocacy -- must be neutral and factual.

required innovations

Design workshops (online and offline) to train and support community forming and peer support.

This is an expression of the Open Education Collaborative Documentation Project: already a proposed project, with phase 1 underway and phase 2 in the proposal phase with Hewlett.