EdGate Correlation Services's blog

So what is a blockchain and what are the applications for a blockchain? Blockchain is a digital record of a transaction. A transaction is simply an exchange of data. One type of data are cryptocoins. Trending in the news are articles about cryptocoins which use blockchain methodology. The idea being that a transaction is verifiable.

In the past three years, Google searches for queries such as "best education system in the world" and the "whole child" approach have hit record highs as educators and parents across the nation eagerly seek out new ways to help students. State agencies and educational think tanks churn out new standards, tests, and methodologies yearly in response-and yet Catholic schools have always been focused on the whole person, body, mind, and spirit.

2,300 new resources have been added to the Curriculum Matrix from the sources listed below:

• Grammar Revolution
• GrammarBook.com
• Illustrative Math
• Royal Society of Chemistry
• The Punctuation Guide
• Weather Wiz Kids

There is an interest to expand the 21st Century Skills educational standards from the current 4 "Cs", to 5 or 6 core skills. The current "4C's of 21st century" skills consist of 1) critical thinking, 2) creativity, 3) collaboration, and 4) communication. The 5th 'C' would represent "Computational" skills, or computational thinking, and become another core skill of the 21st Century Skills, and would be taught to all students.

In 2017 we began development of a new and improved API and are happy to announce it is ready for implementation!

Depending on the level of service you receive from EdGate, you will have access to any of the following basic or premium features:

Discussion continues to take place regarding the integration of standards into teaching in ways beyond outlining the curriculum to be taught. One idea that has arisen recently has been the concept of standards-based grading, in which students are given ratings based on their level of mastery of individual concepts within a larger course. Proponents of this system state that it has advantages ranging from enabling better-targeted teaching to reducing test anxiety.

We are excited to announce EdGate's partnership with Microsoft Education. Through an agreement with Microsoft, EdGate supplies links and metadata for carefully curated and vetted OER that have been aligned to national and international educational standards. Additionally, EdGate provides Microsoft with ongoing and constantly updated K-12 education standards.

Bringing technology into the classroom is a topic we revisit often as it is such an important aspect of the 21st century classroom. Content providers are continuing to integrate innovative and fun resources to enhance student learning. One such resource is Microsoft's Minecraft game which was recently featured in an article touting its use in the Montour Pennsylvania School District.

Have you ever entertained the idea of how much variation there is or is not between educational standards? If you have, the next question that may naturally come to mind is, "What would be the best way for me to find out?" then groan internally when you realize you may need to go state-by-state and compare each set.

Updates to The EdGate Standards Repository include: