Author Archives: mhbaumk12
Forward to the past: How technology is bringing back grassroots educational marketing
At the SIIA Ed Tech Business Forum in New York last month, one source of buzz was “consumerization.” The term appeared a few days later in an Education Week article focusing on Schoology and other “freemium” models. While I agree … Continue reading
The loneliness of the long-distance teacher
Some of the more interesting discussions at ISTE’s Leadership Forum last month revolved around social media. Use (or misuse) of Facebook, Twitter, etc., by students has gleaned plenty of press attention and even legislation, but use by and between educators … Continue reading
ISTE Leadership Forum: How can we know the dancer from the dance?
Some 400-500 educators came to Indianapolis last week for ISTE’s inaugural conference focused on leading school change. It was a solid first effort, illustrating ISTE’s growth over the past decade from a “techie” group to perhaps the most vibrant overall … Continue reading
EdNET 2012: Situation critical but not serious
MDR’s annual gathering of ed tech leaders in Baltimore last week was surprisingly upbeat considering the challenges facing both marketers and their customers. Anne Wujkic even reported in the closing “Catbird Seat” session that a recent survey shows increases in … Continue reading
“The new abnormal” in K-12: Tactics are more important than ever
“Strategy” has become such a common term in business, many folks forget that it originated in war. “Strategos” is the ancient Greek word for “general.” So strategy really means the art of generalship: how the top commander directs resources against an … Continue reading
Tablets: Take them and call me in the morning?
At ISTE last week I was asked by a representative of a development firm, “Is it important that our curriculum products work on iPads?” I replied: “Only if you want schools to buy your products.” Like most flip answers, even … Continue reading
ISTE2012: Where do we go from here?
This year’s conference sprawled. Perhaps it was the venue – San Diego, next to the ocean, conference center wrapped around a huge quasi-outdoor “Sails” pavilion with tent roof like Denver airport. Perhaps it was the ambiguous theme “Expanding Horizons.” Overall, … Continue reading
hoping for crocuses at ISTE
In San Diego, site of this year’s ISTE conference, they probably don’t know a lot about seasons. Their climate is pretty much spring year round. But here in the upper Midwest we’re used to cycles where things bloom and die, … Continue reading
games, learning, & a ghost
I spent most of last week at the 8th annual (“8.0”) Games, Learning, & Society conference at University of Wisconsin Madison. Attendance – educators, researchers, game developers, geeks – set a record, and the energy was palpable. But I think I … Continue reading
K-12 school funding outlook: Behind the numbers
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) just published the latest in a 3-yr series of surveys on the impact of the recession on school districts. More than 500 administrators, mostly superintendents, responded. Behind the political elements to be expected … Continue reading
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