ASCD’s Free EduCore™ Common Core Implementation Tool

ASCD, the global education community, announced new features available on its free common core implementation tool ASCD EduCore. For the new year, the updated EduCore website features simpler navigation and expanded resources.

Launched in August of 2012, the free EduCore digital tool is available for educators implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in both mathematics and literacy. The tool—funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—is a virtual showcase of digital and Common Core-aligned professional development opportunities from ASCD, the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC), Student Achievement Partners, the Math Design Collaborative (MDC), and other partners.

The updated site features videos, articles, and example lessons to help educators and instructional leaders keep up with the most recent trends and instructional shifts in CCSS implementation. A key feature of the EduCore resources is that they can be used independently or as part of a group with principals, team leaders, and content area coaches leading the discussion. The wealth of articles available to educators offers impressive versatility, with opinions on each side of the CCSS debate, as well as articles and papers with the most up-to-date information on the CCSS and others chronicling the standards’ history and adoption.

Another important development is the addition of the ASCD Virtual Learning Network (VLN), which provides educators with ongoing virtual professional development training in the instructional shifts of the CCSS. Through a series of webinars led by ASCD faculty experts in mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies standards, teachers will explore how to implement the standards in their classrooms. Each webinar is structured around a problem of practice, and teachers will engage with resources that can be used in the classroom. All webinars will be archived online, enabling educators to participate at their convenience.

In the coming months, the EduCore tool will be expanding its resource bank, with additional math, science, and assessment resources. Since its inception, the EduCore digital tool has attracted more than 130,000 users and continues to grow.

By registering for the online resource, educators can access additional features, such as the ability to download modules, track viewed resources, take notes, and leave feedback using the improved comments feature aligned with the ASCD EDge social networking platform.

Visit the EduCore tool at http://educore.ascd.org and the VLN site at www.ascd.org/vln. Additional ASCD resources to aid educators as they implement the Common Core State Standards can be found at www.ascd.org/commoncore.