Talk Here

We welcome your input.

Become an author.

Comment on articles.

Be a sponsor or advertise.

Click a link below
to share in the adventure.

Submit an Article

Sponsor or Advertise

FEATURED AUTHORS

LeiLani Cauthen, CEO & Publisher

LeiLani is well versed in the digital content universe, software development, the adoption process, school coverage models, and helping define this century’s real change to teaching and learning. She is the author of the newly released book, The Consumerization of Learning.

the Learning Counsel Staff

the Learning Counsel is additionally inclusive of expert instructional designers, curriculum managers, writers, editors and researchers that create works and join advisory projects.

Charles Sosnik, Editor in Chief

Charles is an education journalist and editor who uses his deep roots in the education community to add context to the education narrative. He is a frequent writer and columnist for some of the most influential media in education, including The Learning Counsel, NSBA Journal and eSchool News. Charles is unabashedly Southern, and likes to say he is an editor by trade and Southern by the Grace of God.

Christopher Piehler

Christopher Piehler is the former editor-in-chief of THE Journal. He has been an ed tech commentator on both TV and radio, has served as a CODiE award judge, and has been a speaker at the FETC and CoSN conferences.

Julia Brolin

Julia Brolin holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism and has received more than 20 awards for her storytelling. Early in her career she worked as a news reporter for Fox 21 News in Duluth, MN where she made many connections with school administrators, educators, and students which fueled her excitement around education and technology. In her free time Julia enjoys fishing and snowboarding in below zero temperatures and playing with her dog Cooper.

Vinod Lobo

Founder and CEO of Learning Upgrade, which publishes online courses to teach math and reading through songs, video, and games. In 1998, he brought together educators, musicians, artists and programmers to produce innovative, engaging lessons designed to support struggling students in reading and math. Through the incorporation of song, video, games and educational research, Learning Upgrade has helped over 1 million students find a new path to learning success.

Connie Bosley

Connie writes for the K-12 EdTech industry. Her goal is to help bridge the communication gap between K-12 districts and the education technology community.

Dr. Marion Blank

Director of Education for ReadingKingdom, a revolutionary online reading & writing program. She is a world-renowned literacy and language expert on the faculty of Columbia University where she created and directed the Light on Literacy Program. She has lectured extensively around the world, authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles and books and developed numerous award winning teaching programs. She is also a recipient of the Upton Sinclair Award which honors individuals who have made a significant contribution to Education.

Rachel Norris

Rachel is a freelance writer committed to telling stories of interest and value within the education space. Rachel spent several years as the Program Manager of an entrepreneurial mentoring organization. She studied economics and fire juggling at the University of Massachusetts.

Dennis Pierce

Dennis Pierce is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience reporting on education. He can be reached at denniswpierce@gmail.com.

Suzi Wilczynski

A former archaeologist and middle school teacher, is the founder and president of Dig-It! Games, an independent developer of interactive educational games for kids. Through a seamless blend of fun and learning, Dig-It! Games believes in the power of games to change the way kids learn.

Jamie McQuiggan

Jamie is a technical writer at SAS and co-author of the book “Mobile Learning: A Handbook for Developers, Educators and Learners.” She also co-authored last year’s “Implement, Improve and Expand Your Statewide Longitudinal Data System: Creating a Culture of Data in Education.”

Emily Garner Sumner

She has the pleasure and honor of showcasing the amazing work that educators across the country are doing. As Principal of Underscore Creative, a boutique marketing firm that specializes in working with education businesses, a significant part of Emily’s week is spent talking with educators about the innovative ways they’re using her clients’ products and services to improve learning outcomes for their students. Emily holds a Masters of Library and Information Science from Emporia State University. When she’s not at the office, she loves to read, eat doughnuts and ride her bike up tall mountains. Though rarely all at the same time..

Suhail Farooqui

Suhail is a former physicist turned education advocate and Founder/CEO of K12 Insight. He’s on a mission to rebuild public trust in America’s K-12 schools by helping educators build stronger relationships with parents, teachers, students, and staff.

Elliot Soloway

Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Department of CSE, College of Engineering, University of Michigan. In 2001, UMich undergraduates awarded Soloway the “Golden Apple Outstanding Teacher of the Year”. In 2004 and 2011, students in the EECS HKN Honor Society awarded him the “Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award.” Soloway has given presentations on educational technology all over the world for the past 20+ years.

Cathleen Norris

Regents Professor, College of Information, Department of Learning Technologies, University of North Texas. Norris taught math for 14 years in the Dallas Public Schools, where she was awarded its “Golden Apple Outstanding Educator Award”. Cathie has been President of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and President of the National Educational Computing Association (NECA). Norris has given presentations on educational technology all over the world for the past 20+ years.

Katie Ann Wilson

Katie Ann Wilson brings passion to educational technology with over 12 years’ experience in the public school sector. She is known the world over as the go-to person for information on implementing augmented reality in schools with over 200,000 educators and administrators reached. She founded the Augmented Reality for Education Google+ group and her blog The Diary of the Techie Chick has generated many new ideas in educational technology.

Carl Hooker

Carl is the Director of Innovation & Digital Learning at Eanes ISD (TX). He is also the founder of the learning festival called iPadpalooza and the author of the six-volume Mobile Learning Mindset series of books, which offers practical knowledge and strategies for successful implementation of K-12 BYOD programs and 1:1 initiatives.

Jonathan Levine

Jonathan has more than 25 years of experience in information technology, cloud operations, data analytics, software development and corporate strategy. As Chief Technology Officer of Intermedia, he is responsible for the company’s technology strategy, ensuring that Intermedia continues to deliver the security, availability and value that its customers depend on. Levine holds five patents on his innovations in online marketing and database technology, is the co-author of two books on e-commerce and Java technology.

Don W. Brown, D.Ed.

In his long career working with educational technology, Don W. Brown, D.Ed., has been the Director of Gladstone Center for Children and Families (OR), an assessment specialist for the Oregon Department of Education, and an instructional technologist for Lane Education Service District (OR). He currently helps clients at Odysseyware make the transition to online curriculum.

John Page

John Page is a software engineer, originally from England, and now living in California's Silicon Valley. Seeing that computers could do a much better job of conveying concepts than heavy paper textbooks, he built the site Math Open Reference to help teachers teach and students learn.

Dr. Sally I’Anson

Dr. Sally I’Anson is the Director of Research at PowerSchool, an education technology platform for K-12, serving more than 57 million users, 20 million students, 36 million parents, and 70 countries around the world.

Ted Levine

Ted Levine is the president and CEO of the award-winning social studies and science publisher Kids Discover.

Dr. Robert Dillon

Dr. Robert Dillon has served as an educational leader throughout the Saint Louis area over the last twenty years as a teacher, principal, and director of innovation. Dr. Dillon has a passion to change the educational landscape by building excellent engaging schools for all students. He is the author of four books on best practices in learning. Twitter: @ideaguy42

Dr. Leanna Prater

Dr. Leanna Prater is a Technology Integration Specialist at Fayette County Schools in Lexington, KY. She is also a LEGO Education Ambassador Program (LEAP) teacher. Connect with her on twitter: @TOTALTeacher

Judy Perez

Judy is the CEO and founder of iLearnCollaborative, a nonprofit organization that offers educational services to schools and districts in the U.S. and Latin America supporting blended and online education. She has 25+ years in education including 14 years in online/blended learning. She is also the co-founder and chief operations officer at eL3, LLC.

Cathleen Norris & Elliot Soloway

Cathleen Norris and Elliot Soloway work as team – bringing education and technology together – what a concept! Cathleen is Regents Professor & Departmental Chair, College of Information, Department of Learning Technologies, University of North Texas. Elliot is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Department of CSE, College of Engineering, University of Michigan. They can be reached at: cathie.norris@unt.edu or soloway@umich.edu

Dr. Lynn Moody

As the Superintendent of Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Dr. Lynn Moody oversees 20,000 students, 3,000 employees and 35 schools. She works closely with the community, business leaders, parents, teachers and administrators to create a new vision for education in her area. Dr. Moody has held the positions of teacher, counselor, coach and administrator.

Courtney Pepe

Mrs. Pepe is the Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction at the A. Harry Moore School of New Jersey City University in Jersey City, NJ where they do groundbreaking things with 21st century education and accessibility. @ipadqueen2012

Patricia Holzman

Patricia Holzman is an educator at the A. Harry Moore School in Jersey City, New Jersey. She is a certified Special Education and Elementary Education Teacher with thirty years of experience. She now teaches a Science and Math Enrichment Program titled S.M.I.L.E. @PholzmanHolzman

Deborah Bond-Upson

Deborah has over 30 years experience in assessment, learning media, teacher professional development and blended learning. She is the Chief Education Officer at Awesome Stories and CEO of Learning Bond, LLC.

Heather Hoxie

Heather holds bachelor and master’s degrees in education, has been teaching for more than 20 years and is currently a fourth-grade teacher in the Beaverton School District in Oregon. She is the recipient of several technology grants, which has enabled her students to have and learn using everything from tablets to interactive large displays.

Jacqueline Lain

Jacqueline (Jackie) Lain is the founder and president of Learning List, Inc. Ms. Lain formerly served as an Associate Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and as TASB's Director of Government Relations.

Alan November

Alan is an international leader in education technology. He thrives on confirming and challenging educators’ thoughts about what’s possible in the world of teaching and learning. More than anything, he is a teacher at heart, with a wealth of experience teaching learners of all ages. Visit him online: www.novemberlearning.com. Follow him on Twitter @globalearner

Stephany Hesslein

Stephany is a #MTPSpride Teacher in Middletown Township Public School District in New Jersey. Stephany is a Google for Edu Certified Trainer and Educator, a New Jersey Core Advocate, and Co-Moderator for the #njed Twitter chat. Connect with Stephany on Twitter @MissHesslein, and on Google+ google.com/+StephanyHesslein

Deagan Andrews

Deagan is the Director of Instructional Technology for Greeley-Evans School District 6 in Colorado. In this role, he is responsible for working with schools to design and implement personalized learning by leveraging blended models of instruction.

Monique Jensen

Monique served as an elementary school teacher for 14 years and is now the district instructional coach at Parma School District in Parma, ID. You can follow her on Twitter @CoachMo21326.

Anthony Johnson

Anthony is a 5^th-grade science and social studies teacher at Isenberg Elementary School in Salisbury, NC. He holds the title of Apple Distinguished Educator, TED-Ed Innovative Educator, and was just selected as Teacher of the Year for the Rowan-Salisbury School System.

Dr. Donald White

Dr. Donald White, K – 12 Science Content Specialist, Coweta County Schools, GA.

Dr. Shawn Wightman

Dr. Shawn K. Wightman is the Superintendent of Marysville School District in Marysville, MI. In this position he is responsible for approximately 300 staff and 2,750 students. He is outstpoken about utilizing technology and digital curriculum to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Chris Besse

Chris is the President and COO of Freshgrade and is passionate about growing and transforming the education sector. He has more than twenty years of experience as a director and contributor on numerous Boards and Committees exploring innovation and excellence in education. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Free the Children.

Dian Schaffhauser

Dian is a contributing editor for The Learning Counsel on the edtech shift. @Schaffhauser

Ryan Kirkham

Ryan is the principal of Maui Preparatory Academy. Ryan’s experiences have seen him as a Marine Science instructor at Seacamp in the Florida Keys, a naturalist for killer whale, dolphin, and beluga whale shows at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, a tree planter in British Columbia (including encounters with grizzly bears), and a manager of video game testers in Europe and Canada. Ryan is one of the founding faculty members of Maui Prep. He looks forward to seeing the school extend itself as a leader in 21st century teaching and learning on Maui.

Susanna Clavello

Susanna Clavello serves as the Coordinator of Digital Age Learning at Education Service Center, Region 20. She specializes in instructional technology, digital resources, 21st Century Skills, interactive whiteboards and mobile learning. @SusannaClavello

Darien G. Clary

As Sustainability Manager at Austin ISD, Darien implements programs and tracks performance in water & energy conservation, recycling & composting, alternative transportation, green building, and teaching & learning. She enjoys addressing sustainability to create positive change towards conservation, responsible practices, and youth engagement at Austin ISD.

Dave Blanchard

Dave is a 21st Century Skills and Technology Teacher and an avid EdTech presenter, innovator, and pioneer of products which allow teachers to do their jobs in new and meaningful ways. As a modern teacher and Instructional Designer, Dave wants to change the face of education through meaningful PD, reflective processes, and the appropriate integration of technology.

Dr. Marty Bray

Dr. Marty Bray is the former Chief Technology and Information Officer for the Forsyth County Schools and currently an intellectual-at-large. Prior to working with the Forsyth County Schools Marty was a Professor of Instructional Technology at the University of West Georgia. He has made numerous national and international presentations on the accessibility of websites and the integration of technology into the classroom.

Michelle Ciulla Lipkin

The Executive Director for the National Association for Media Literacy Education. Michelle began her career in children’s television production, in various roles on both corporate and production teams. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University. Michelle focused her grad work on children and television, where she caught the “media literacy bug.” She can be reached at mciullalipkin@namle.net.

Nancy Dellamore

Nancy Dellamore is product manager for The Marvel Group’s Focus Desk product line, a series of height-adjustable desks and tables for schools and libraries. The mother of a child with dyslexia, Nancy has personal experience in the benefits of sit/stand desks for children with learning differences. Learn more at http://marvelfocusdesk.com.

Betsy Hill

Betsy Hill is President of BrainWare Learning Company, a provider of cognitive literacy solutions. She is an experienced educator and has studied the connection between neuroscience and education with Dr. Patricia Wolfe (author of Brain Matters) and other experts. She taught foreign languages at the high school level and currently teaches strategic thinking in the MBA program at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, holds a MA in Teaching and an MBA from Northwestern University.

Ryan Schaaf

Ryan Schaaf is Associate Professor of Educational Technology at Notre Dame of Maryland University and faculty member in the Digital Age Learning and Educational Technology program at Johns Hopkins University. His passion is working with educators to explore the potential of gaming in the classroom, the characteristics of modern-day learning and learners, and exploring emerging technologies and trends to improve education. Follow him on Twitter @RyanLSchaaf

Erin Twamley

Erin Twamley and Joshua Sneideman are educators and co-authors of nonfiction children’s books on the topics of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Their newest STEM book release Everyday Superheroes: Women in STEM Careers shares stories of 26 diverse women in STEM. Erin provides author and S.T.E.M. encounters for schools to encourage the next generation of STEM professionals. She can be reached at erinedu365@gmail.com

Joshua Sneideman

Thom Markham

Thom Markham, founder of PBL Global, is a leading author, psychologist, and respected international school consultant who has assisted over 400 schools and nearly 6000 teachers across five continents in implementing project-based learning, 21^st century competencies, and successful inquiry-based systems of teaching and learning. He offers workshops, virtual coaching, online courses, and strategic consulting services through www.pblglobal.com. Email thom@pblglobal.com or follow @thommarkham.

Chaks Appalabattula

Chaks Appalabattula is the founder of Bloomz, a free app voted the 2018 Best App for Teacher/School-Parent Communication for two years in a row by Tech Edvocate andused by more than 3 million parents and teachers to strengthen the home-school connection.

Danielle McColl

Danielle McColl has been a teacher for 13 years, teaching general subjects in 1^st through 5^th grade. She is a gifted and talented endorsed, nationally board-certified teacher who currently focuses on science and ELA in 5^th grade.

Sonny Magana

Dr. Sonny Magana is an award-winning teacher, best-selling author, and pioneering educational technology researcher. His book Disruptive Classroom Technologies has received wide international acclaim as: “A visionary work; truly insightful and inspirational!” (Robert Marzano, 2017); “A brilliant breakthrough in our understanding and use of technology for learning (Michael Fullan, 2017); and, “A major step forward; Magana’s T3 Challenge is credible, powerful, and exciting let’s do it!” (John Hattie, 2019). Sonny is an avid musician, yoga practitioner, climber and bee keeper.

Brad Smith

At TurnOnVPN, Brad Smith writes about his dream for a free internet and in his free time, unravels the horror behind big techs.

L. Beatriz Arnillas MFA, SPHR

L. Beatriz Arnillas MFA, SPHR, is the former director of educational technology at the Houston Independent School District and senior education advisor to itslearning, Inc.

Martha Burns, Ph.D.

As the author of more than 100 journal articles and multiple books, neuroscientist Martha S. Burns, Ph.D., is a leading expert on how children learn. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Northwestern University and serves as the Director of Neuroscience Education at Scientific Learning Corporation, makers of the neuroscience-based Fast ForWord® program.

Talya Taylor

Talya Taylor is the principal at Clay Charter Academy in Middleburg, Florida.

Eric Wells

Eric Wells is the chief admissions officer for Muskogee Public Schools. He can be reached at eric.wells@roughers.net.

Vlada Lotkina

Vlada Lotkina is the CEO and co-founder of ClassTag, simple free parent-teacher communication that just works, for everyone. She is a former Fortune 100 Executive, Wharton MBA graduate and mom of a 3rd grader.

Brittany Goerig

Brittany Goerig is a product manager at hand2mind and lead-author and co-creator of Daily Math Fluency. Before that, she was a K–5 mathematics consultant and an elementary and middle school teacher for 17 years.

John Kao

Dr. John Kao, founder of EdgeMakers, has spent almost 30 years creating compelling learning experiences for emerging innovators and entrepreneurs. He was a professor at Harvard Business School, taught at the MIT Media Lab and Stanford’s Bowman House. He was an advisor to countries on innovation policy and is a serial entrepreneur, as well as the best-selling author of books about innovation, a Tony award-winning producer and Yamaha Music’s first “artist in innovation” and a Yale Medical School trained psychiatrist.

Rick Wunderlich

Rick Wunderlich is a Math and Science textbook author, Math and Science curriculum writer and retired from the best career ever… a teacher.

Jamie Bricker

Jamie Bricker was a long-time elementary school administrator and teacher from just outside Toronto, Ontario. He is now an international educational writer and speaker. He can be contacted at www.jamiebricker.com.

Tom Hierck

Tom Hierck has been an educator since 1983, and he is the author of several books including Seven Keys to a Positive Learning Environment in Your Classroom.

Kent Peterson

Dr. Kent Peterson is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his research includes more than 90 studies and articles on the leadership of school principals.

Al Noyes

Al Noyes is CEO of Walch Mathematics

Kat Crawford

Kat Crawford is director of technology solutions for the Center for Education Excellence in Alternative Settings (CEEAS)

Franklin P. Schargel

Franklin P. Schargel is a former classroom teacher, school counselor and school administrator whose work has been recognized by The U.S. Department of Education, Business Week, Fortune Magazine, National Public Radio (NPR), the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and The New York Times. He is an internationally recognized speaker, trainer and author of thirteen best-selling books. In addition, Schargel has written over 100 published articles dealing with school reform.

Lynn Erickson

Lynn Erickson is the K-12 Technology Integration Specialist for Stafford Public Schools. Paul Gigliotti is a social studies teacher and a tech enthusiast with 20 years of experience. For more information on the SAMR and TPACK model, visit Lynn and Paul’s Rethinking Technology Integration in the Classroom webinar as well as Lynn’s blog post at http://blog.mimio.com/see-how-samr-works-in-real-classroomsand-in-your-lessons.