Welcome

“These kids that are digital natives – we just need to meet them where they’re at, and the reality is technology is where they’re at.” Marc Ecko, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and founder of Sweat Equity Education (SEE), an education innovation organization, is working at the intersection of education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. At SEE, Marc uses the technology that excites kids today and combines it with real-world projects that teach real-world skills.  SEE is focused on re-engaging and re-invigorating at-risk students and young adults to help set them on a path for success – in school, in the workplace, or in launching their own businesses. I had the pleasure of meeting Marc in his New York City office:

Blackboard wants to hear your voice! The BbWorld and DevCon 2012 call for presentations is now open and will remain open until January 20. We would love to hear your story at this year’s Developers Conference July 9-10 and BbWorld July 10-12 in New Orleans, LA. Why should you present? Blackboard user conferences are a great way to share best practices with peers, influence and enhance teaching and learning at other institutions, and shape eLearning around the world. We are looking for experts to lead by example and connect with the education community.

Together, Blackboard and NBC Learn celebrate education’s top influencers and their contributions with Solutions in Action – an inspiring series of video interviews that highlight who is succeeding and how they’re doing it. NBC News Chief Education Correspondent Rehema Ellis sits down with education innovators who are using technology in new ways to create solutions that work:

• See how Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President of UMBC, uses technology in new ways to change attitudes about math and science.
• Understand how Julie Young, President & CEO of Florida Virtual School uses technology to close the gap between how students live and how they learn.
• Marc Ecko, fashion designer and founder of Sweat Equity Education, scales education’s biggest challenges and uncovers ideas about how to build a better education experience through applied learning.

Watch the Videos

You’ll hear how these individuals are taking unique perspectives and leveraging technology in new ways to solve the challenges educators face every day. Join us as we look through a different lens and uncover the ideas to build a better education experience.

At the end of the summer, I had the opportunity to join a research trip in Misiones, Argentina with a group from Stanford University and Seeds of Empowerment. We were field testing a mobile learning solution designed for the most remote parts of the developing world. The solution combines Blackboard Mobile Learn software with specialized hardware designed to be portable, durable, and able to operate off a car battery where needed. Over the course of the 10-day trip, we worked with more than 250 kids in 10 different middle and high schools.  It was great to see the power of mobile devices in education first hand. At Blackboard, we talk about the importance of making the education experience interactive and collaborative, but seeing it in action is incredibly powerful.

It’s American Education Week – a time to raise public awareness of the importance of education and to highlight the great work teachers across the nation are doing in the classroom every day. And what better way for us to do this than to, once again, recognize the outstanding work done by Kristin Kipp, an online English teacher for the Jefferson County 21st Century Virtual Academy in Colorado and the SREB 2011 National Online K-12 Teacher of Year! We had the opportunity to sit down with Kristin to hear her secrets for success in online teaching and learning, and to discuss the most effective ways to engage online students.