This was originally published on the Forward Edge blog.
About Edge•U
Edge•U is a professional learning system designed by teachers, for teachers to provide professional development in the use of technology tools, web applications, and strategies for instructional leadership. The platform is set up so that participants earn “badges” that correlate to a specific number of points (e.g. one to five) depending on the scope of the work or how in-depth the participant will need to get with the tool. Edge•U reaches all learners with its broad net reaching from basic productivity tools to presenting tools on a grander scale; i.e. state or national presentations. Edge•U gives participants the chance to align their professional development goals to an anytime, anywhere learning platform.
About ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the premier nonprofit membership organization serving educators and education leaders. ISTE is committed to empowering connected learners in a connected world and serves more than 100,000 education stakeholders throughout the world.
About the Seal of Alignment
Regardless of a solution' s intended grade level, purpose or content area, by addressing the ISTE Standards and earning a Seal of Alignment, a solution is shown to consciously, purposefully and meaningfully support best practices for digital age teaching and learning. ISTE considers a solution aligned to the ISTE Standards only after an extensive review conducted by trained ISTE Seal of Alignment reviewers, and it has been determined to meet all critical elements of a particular standard indicator in accordance with specific review criteria.
By earning a Seal of Alignment, ISTE verifies that this product:
90% of Educators say
Edge•U Badges is valuable
professional development!
Based on Surveys completed
by Edge•U Badges Users.
Summary of Findings from the Seal of Alignment Review Process
To achieve the seal of alignment from ISTE, the Edge•U Badge platform went through a two-step review process with a select group of ISTE review committee members of education and instructional experts. The reviewers examined all aspects of Edge•U including evaluating the 110 badges currently available in the badge library to assess its alignment to the ISTE Standards for Educators. This process took over three months of work for the team to work through all the badges within the platform to determine if standards were aligned.
Click Here to Read ISTE' s Report on Edge•U!
After the detailed review process, Edge•U Badges was determined to meet the ISTE Standards for Educators at the Foundational and Applied levels!
Our results have proven that this program is a fun and engaging way to participate in professional learning, while also giving the administration at districts across the country insight into teachers' professional development and continuing education like never before! For example, Skycrest Christian School in Florida has experienced 98% staff participation since the program began in their district. At Loveland City Schools, educators earned over 500 badges within the first 3 months of Edge•U. Additionally, teachers at Three Rivers have completed enough badges in 3 months to have over 660 classroom hours impacted! Edge•U is a proven way to increase engagement in district technology integration initiatives, with over 90% of educators using the program saying that Edge•U is valuable professional development!