Bored? Try studying it. Boredom studies are experiencing a “boomlet” in recent years, even culminating in an international Boring Conference. (Wall Street Journal)

A small class project, multiplied. A Rutgers University student leaves Post-it notes with inspirational messages in random locations across campus, in hopes of motivating his peers. (The Star-Ledger)

He’s on a boat. ArnContinue Reading »

No more forgotten lunch money. Students in one Florida school district pay for school lunches by scanning their palms, which are linked to their accounts. (USA Today)

Can creativity be taught? Respondents to a new survey say yes. And NASA arguably thinks so; the company hosts a monthly class for its employees aimed at boosting creativity. (The Daily Press)

Arne Duncan as SecretaryContinue Reading »

No more woodshop. The Pentagon’s research arm has created “hackerspaces,” or high-tech workshops, in 15 California high schools that teach students about digital manufacturing. (NPR) Lifelong learners. The nation is beginning to see a small uptick in the number of bachelor-degree holders who are returning to community college for an associate degree. Some say the two-year degreeContinue Reading »

In Duncan’s second term. While state education chiefs want a reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says he won’t push for it without more interest from Congress. Instead, he plans to focus more on principal evaluation and preparation, while continuing to push for reform at the state and local levels. (PoliticsK12/Education Week)

Well, that wasn’Continue Reading »

What the re-election means for K-12 … President Obama will focus on expanding Race to the Top, supporting early education, and better training educators to teach in STEM-related fields, say education thought leaders. (Hechinger Report)

… and higher education. More than once, Obama has made mention of awarding some federal financial aid based on a university’s efforts to curb rising tuitiContinue Reading »

Incentive to finish on time. University of Texas at Austin students could have up to $8,000 in student loans reimbursed if they graduate with a B average within four years. (College Bound/Education Week)

In a time of crisis, opportunity. “It is probably no accident that budget woes have coincided with a period of tremendous ferment in higher education,” writes Ben Wildavsky, senior felloContinue Reading »

Won’t back down? In reviewing the new movie, Michael Gerson points out that states are in fact backing down from previously rigorous standards. He cites Virginia’s recent standards debacle. Of course, Virginia did back down. (Washington Post)

Heck of a deal. A reporter visits the PIE Network meeting in Minneapolis, where “Heck of a deal” is high praise indeed. SeeContinue Reading »

Too many teachers? Andrew J. Coulson argues that the United States has too many teachers, citing this statistic: Since 1970, the public school workforce and the money spent on schools have doubled while student enrollment has only increased by 8.5 percent. (Wall Street Journal)

Tying tests to grade promotion. Now that more states have laws requiring third-graders to pass a reading test iContinue Reading »

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan lauded the NCAA this week for raising academic standards among Division I teams in postseason play. If the standards, which begin next year, aren’t met, teams won’t compete. “There’s no better way to teach life lessons than on the playing field or on the court,” Duncan said during a conference call with reporters.

RewiContinue Reading »

Guestimations. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is under some criticism today, after the Center on Education Policy released a report that showed 48 percent of schools nationwide didn’t make Adequate Yearly Progress this year – far below Duncan’s earlier prediction of 82 percent. But Andy Rotherham says, “Wait, don’t shoot the messenger.” (Eduwonk)

ThContinue Reading »