"Learning management systems, authoring tools, and personal learning environments don’t quite get the “it’s the platform, stupid” aspect of the internet. Most of the tools we have available today in education allow us to create content within a system. What a platform enables is very different; it enables the extension of a system."

An intro into the basics of Finland schooling.

"Our current system of teaching kids to sit in straight rows and obey instructions isn't a coincidence--it was an investment in our economic future. The plan: trade short-term child labor wages for longer-term productivity by giving kids a head start in doing what they're told.

Large-scale education was never about teaching kids or creating scholars. It was invented to churn out adults who worked well within the system."

A really interesting app from ProPublica that analyzes data released by the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. Even though it hits just a few data points it is fascinating to compare various districts and schools.

Great advice about how to approach college.

Interesting article on reforming higher education.

Andrew Sullivan surveys reader opinions about the dearth of gifted programs in public schools.

"In today’s dynamic classrooms, the teaching and learning process is becoming more nuanced, more seamless, and it flows back and forth from students to teachers. Here’s a look at current trends in teaching and learning, their implications, and changes to watch for."

"What we as adults experienced in school, as educators and students, will bear little resemblance to what lies ahead. Here’s a look at current trends, their implications, and changes to watch for."

It turns out that not all universities are content to view Wikipedia as an inaccurate and untrustworthy knowledge pool. Professors at various east coast schools are having students work in groups to improve entries. Sounds like a great use of all that journal access colleges have.

"A Princeton University student whose Web site revealed the breadth of student information publicly available on Princeton servers has drawn criticism from the university and support from some students who say privacy safeguards should be tightened."

"Education can become about designing the day around discovery of information, connections to real world challenges, discussions digging into our experiences with the world."

An interview with Will Richardson about changing education. Schools should be re-geared to be more about learning and helping students get content on their own. Teachers should become co-learners, supporters, and mentors.

"As schools, we are going to have to “forfeit some control,” as we well should as the learning opportunities outside the classroom become more ubiquitous and effective. But we have to make sure that those opportunities are equitable and open as much as we can."

One school benefits by ditching mass emails and keeping all communication on a staff blog. The information is archived, searchable, and comments beat the heck out of traditional email.

"The class was a crash course in things that are usually picked up slowly and by accident, like lost coins, over the course of your life. This class was so memorable because it was so little like school, and so much like life. School is basically a way of keeping people occupied — a theatrical set piece designed to take up time and spit out consenting consumers."