Do Current Policies Hamper Personalized Learning?

Yes, according to Ian Quillen’s Education Week piece State, Local Policies Seen to Slow Personalized Learning.  The problem is how to change to more flexible policies without creating “unintended new side effects”.  Some educational leaders recommend gradual change, while others suggest total revamping of policies relating to time-seat mandates, competency/proficiency, and textbooks. In addition to the need to revise policies that don't seem to be working because of new methods of learning, policies need to be established related to mobiles devices, social networking, Digital safety, common core standards, learning alternatives, etc. With the pace of technology change, newly established policies will need to be written with a look to the future rather than the status quo. Creating such policies will be a challenge for districts and states.

Graphic Novels in the Classroom?

What do you think of using graphic novels in the classroom? Could they be put to work for literature, like classic comic books, might they be used to motivate students who have difficulty with reading, and how about use for history or civics? In South Carolina there are middle and high school teachers working with students on “Justice Case Files” a series of graphic novels featuring civics. The content for the novels was created by the National Center for State Courts, and the lesson plans that go along with them were developed by social studies teachers. Topics include Internet piracy, identity theft and jury duty. You can order copies at the National Center for State Court site.