VOICES FROM THE CLASSROOM: Sure, it may be "all for the kids." But what do those "kids" think of edtech and education reform more broadly? The "voice of the student' has been little more than a ghostly whisper in most of the conversations around edtech. Now a group of student organizers are getting more outspoken: they have created StudentVoice, an organization that hopes to strengthen the presence of students in conversations around education change. Zak Malamed, a Long Island high school graduate who will be a freshman at the University of Maryland this fall, is spearheading what he describes as a grassroots, community support organization. "This isn't a resume-building exercise," he says. "We're supporting students everywhere who are really passionate about education." Zak told EdSurge that StudentVoice first took root in May as a series of weekly Twitter chats. (You can join in the chats on Monday evenings at 8:30 pm ET @stu_voice). "There's a lot of student organizations out there, but they're splintered," Zak says. StudentVoice isn't taking particular stands on issues because students around the country have different needs, he says. (One unifying issue, however, might be a dislike for high-stakes standardized testing.) But when government folks such as New York State governor Andrew M. Cuomo establish commissions on education, students should also get a seat at the table, contends Zak. "Any student can join," Zak says. "This is your movement. You can make it whatever you want it to be."
