ASKING QUESTIONS, EXPLORING OPTIONS, CHANGING THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Ed News

Grant Writing Is Not As Hard As It Looks.

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Hello REEP blog readers. My name is David Martinez and I am currently working with Harris Galveston Subsidence District educating Houston area 4th and 5th graders on the importance of water conservation and the effect of subsidence from over use of ground water.  I’ve been attending classes at Rice University School Science & Technology Program
since 2009. The program goal is to ensure proper science education, promote leadership in schools, and boost confidence among leaders in the education field to be master teachers of science.

What I love most about this learning experience at Rice is not only the knowledge that I gained from the in depth instruction and hands on exposure, but also the opportunity to network with amazing educators who are one way or another involved in the REEP world.

I recently attended an event hosted by REEP called the Education & Innovation Exchange at Rice Jones Graduate School of Business and heard a lot of the guest speakers urging educators, like you and me, to take action now and do something (anything that is in our power!) to improve the current public school system. I have served in several roles on Elementary campuses in recent years, and am well aware of shortage of funds for use in our classrooms.

So here I am, writing on this blog, with the intention to share what I know (from my own experience) with you and to spark the conversation of what we can do individually or collectively to secure funds for important school education projects or our own professional development as educators.

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Innovation

REEP Interviews EdSurge On How To Navigate The EdTech World

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With all of this new technology popping up in education, how do you know whom to trust when making a smart investment for your school or classroom? Unfortunately new technology can be scary to purchase. There is always the risk of technology not working as promised and the learning curve for the end users. So, here’s the big question, how do you know who to trust?

On July 19, I got the privilege to sit in on the K-12 Education & Innovation Exchange being put on by REEP. Coming from a small business owner perspective, I learned a lot about technology in the classroom and how several of our Houston school districts actually utilize this technology. One of the best speakers at the event was Betsy Corcoran. She is a cofounder of EdSurge, a company devoted to uncovering what education technology works and what doesn’t. Her goal is to be able to make recommendations and weed out the technology that is not the right fit for education.

I asked Betsy a few questions about this obvious dilemma and she had some great advice to share.

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School House

Teaching 2.0

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A few years ago, I heard someone deliver this quote: “All this talk of educational change is ridiculous. You, kids, are sadly mistaken if you think that my generation of teachers is just going to retire, while a new and motivated generation joins each other hand in hand, expelling ignorance from the educational landscape of America. I’m sorry, that’s just not how it works.”

And to an extent, the female who said this is correct. I really don’t see that happening. There is no wave of new teachers, there is no generation with a goal of expelling ignorance, there is no silent withdrawal of older teachers, there is no sign of union or determination among educators.

There just isn’t. So I applaud the brashness of the statement above, because, to a large part, it makes sense.

But then again, maybe there is. After my recent experience attending the REEP Education & Innovation Exchange at Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business, I began to really see the flaws in the quote I opened with.

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School House

Batteries Not Included

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How many of us are sick of the current educational route? Raise your hands and shout “aye” if you agree with me when I say that the American learning system has its vulnerable points and gaping flaws. Fifty years ago, we were on top of the world. Our education system, from kindergarten to graduate school was the envy of the world.

So I ask you, REEP blog readers, what happened? Where did we as a nation lose our prowess among the global intellectual elite? I can name one of the biggest issues: technology. (more…)