{"product_id":"better-together-isbn-9781119439103","title":"Better Together","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBring students, teachers, and administrators together to facilitate higher school achievement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBetter Together \u003c\/i\u003epresents a tour through one of the modern era’s most important educational innovations, and provides smart strategy for working optimally within the school network sphere. There are more than 50 high-quality scaled charter networks in the U.S.; most share a learning model, professional supports, and—increasingly—platform tools. Although these charter schools get most of the attention, there are over a dozen other networks that connect district schools and provide design principles, curriculum materials, technology tools, and professional learning opportunities to streamline school improvement and help build great new schools from scratch. This book details some of the many success stories, and includes expert analysis of learning models, strategies, and innovations that are making quality scalable and helping schools produce more positive student outcomes.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIllustrative examples from the New Tech Network, Summit Public Schools, Big Picture, and other big-name networks provide both guidance and inspiration, while expert discussion clarifies essential details and processes for implementation. Teachers and administrators will find much food for thought both inside and outside of a school network system.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eExamine proven learning models for scaled school networks\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eExplore the latest innovations for more effective collaborations\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eRead success stories from school networks across the country\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLearn smart strategies for optimizing the educational network experience\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eDigital platforms have transformed the way we connect with friends, family, colleagues, and businesses. That revolution has finally come to education, opening doors to collaboration, resource expansion, and school success. \u003ci\u003eBetter Together\u003c\/i\u003e explores beyond disruption to show how the U.S. K-12 system is truly evolving.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbout the Authors xiii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments xv\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreface xvii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction: The Promise of School Networks 1\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart One: Platform Revolution 11\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 Platforms: A Place You Call Home 13\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 Network Effects: When Bigger Is Better 19\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 Learning Platforms: When Will They Transform Education? 37\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart Two: Transforming Schools 51\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 Powerful Learning: Personalized and Project Based 53\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 Design Thinking: The New Frame for School 81\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 Connected Teaching: Technology Enables Co-Creation 95\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 Learning Organizations: Building Collective Capacity 109\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 Dynamic Networks: Picking the Right Structure for Scaled Impact 129\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePart Three: Navigating the Future ... Starting Now 147\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 Leadership: From Compliance to Agreement Crafting 149\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 Impact Engines: Picking the Right Business Model 167\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 Governance: Use Networks to Boost Quality Options 179\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 Powerful Learning at Scale: Inspiration and Intermediation 189\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 Advocacy: A Nation Proud of Its Public Schools 197\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAppendix: Networks, Schools, and Tools Mentioned 209\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 219\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTOM VANDER ARK\u003c\/b\u003e is an advocate for innovations in learning. As CEO of Getting Smart, he advises schools and impact organizations on the path forward. He previously served as the first Executive Director of Education for the Bill \u0026amp; Melinda Gates Foundation and as a public school superintendent in Washington State. Tom is the author of the Jossey-Bass book \u003ci\u003eGetting Smart\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLYDIA DOBYNS\u003c\/b\u003e is an advocate for transforming public education. She is President and CEO of New Tech Network (NTN), a leading design partner for comprehensive school change. NTN supports a nationwide K-12 school network comprised of 200 schools in 28 states. She has combined careers as a technology entrepreneur and executive, with elected public service and non-profit organization leadership roles.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBetter Together\u003c\/i\u003e is a guide to the most important innovation in today’s education - school networks. Innovative schools that belong to networks are organized around a shared approach to teaching and learning, common tools, and collaborative learning opportunities for principals and classroom teachers. The authors—two noted education experts—detail the best practices and strategies for working effectively within the school network arena and highlight the fact that dynamic networks get better and more valuable as they grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCapturing the media’s attention are hundreds of high-quality U.S. public charter schools, many that are part of school networks. However, there are also hundreds of high quality, innovative public district schools that are part of over a dozen networks that connect district schools and provide design principles, curriculum materials, technology tools, and professional learning opportunities that strengthen school improvement and help build new schools from the ground up. \u003ci\u003eBetter Together\u003c\/i\u003e contains compelling stories from many of the 200 New Tech Network schools and dozens of other innovative networks and contains an analysis of the current approaches that are designed to help networks produce positive outcomes for students.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBetter Together\u003c\/i\u003e offers administrators and teachers a hands-on resource for examining the proven learning models used in scaled school networks as well as information on the most recent innovations for creating more effective collaboration. The authors include savvy strategies that can be employed to get the most out of school networks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDigital platforms have transformed the way we connect with friends, family, colleagues, and businesses. We are on the verge of seeing that the digital revolution is helping to transform schools by providing effective paths to collaboration, resource expansion, and school success.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jossey-Bass","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47988804387045,"sku":"NP9781119439103","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781119439103.jpg?v=1761781655","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/better-together-isbn-9781119439103","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}