What are the objections to personalized learning?
The National Education Policy Center has released a report that examines modern personalized learning and outlines objections to the model. Modern personalized learning leans too heavily on technology, especially data, and “reflect[s] a restricted, hyper-rational approach to curriculum and pedagogy that limits students’ agency …,” according to the authors of the report.
Full Story: Forbes
Cengage, McGraw-Hill announce plans to merge
Publishers Cengage and McGraw-Hill Education have revealed plans to merge — to become single company McGraw Hill — with Cengage CEO Michael Hansen taking the helm. If approved, the union would make McGraw Hill the second-largest textbook publisher in the US.
Full Story: EdSurge
US students lack knowledge about the Holocaust
While the number of reports of anti-Semitic incidents in US schools is rising, there also is a growing lack of awareness about the Holocaust among younger students, according to a 2018 survey by Claims Conference, a group that represents Holocaust survivors in restitution negotiations. Lawmakers in several states are considering whether Holocaust lessons should be mandatory.
Full Story: PBS
Researchers try to create more diverse gifted programs
Researchers are studying the effect of identifying students for gifted programs by choosing the top-performing students at each school instead of comparing students’ standardized test scores. A University of Wisconsin-Whitewater education professor, Scott Peters, says his research finds that this method improves diversity in gifted programs, but some students may be less prepared and need more support.
Full Story: The Hechinger Report
Study shows disappointing Common Core outcomes
Few students are performing better — and, in some cases, they are performing worse — in many of the states that adopted the Common Core State Standards, according to research from the American Institutes for Research. Lead researcher Mengli Song noted that some states were more affected than others, because their previous standards were less rigorous.
Full Story: Chalkbeat
Audrey Altmann is an editorial assistant at SmartBrief.
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This “most read” feature reflects the most read items in ASCD SmartBrief from the previous week. Sign up for ASCD SmartBrief to get news like this in your inbox, or check out all of SmartBrief’s education newsletters, covering career and technical education, educational leadership, math education and more.