Education in the Balance: Tensions Affecting Education’s Future

strained systems

Education leaders at all levels need to grapple with key issues and tensions as they strive to meet learners’ needs, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to understand how to support and empower school systems in tumultuous times, we explore three topics in the series Education in the Balance: Tensions Affecting Education’s Futures: leadership… Read More ›

A Need to Evolve: The Impact of Strained Education Systems

strained systems

Education systems’ capacity to address the complex problems they face is limited. Will new approaches and funding address looming challenges? Or will systems continue to rely on inadequate approaches and structures? KnowledgeWorks’ Lillian Pace, vice president of policy and advocacy, and Rita Pello, program manager for impact and improvement, join Jason Swanson, director of strategic foresight, to… Read More ›

Greater Cincinnati Remake Learning Days

Remake Learning Days logo

Remake Learning Days Across America is an innovative learning festival for families and youth. Taking root in more than 17 regions, these hands-on and engaging events are designed for kids of all ages at libraries, schools, tech centers, museums, play spaces, community centers and more. KnowledgeWorks and the Catalytic Fund are excited to be sponsoring Greater Cincinnati Remake… Read More ›

Report on Promising Practices to Accelerate Learning for Students with Disabilities

female student with mask on

What are proven, effective models and considerations for student populations who have been historically marginalized, especially students with disabilities? A new report from the National Center for Learning Disabilities looks at just that, with emphasis on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected opportunity gaps for those students. The student-centered approaches they found to work include:… Read More ›

One School’s Commitment to Equity Using Student-Centered Learning

overcoming barriers

We know that within the past year lower-income families have been relegated to remote learning with inconsistent or nonexistent internet service, improper removal from special education services, lack of suitable WIFI-enabled devices, insufficient or nonexistent childcare, food insecurity and innumerable other challenges. Comparatively, wealthier families have in-person classes, higher diversion rates to private schools, availability… Read More ›

Strategies for Making Human-Centered Learning a Reality

transform_ed

Human-centered learning allows people to relate in new ways to education systems, society and the natural environment. In a recent publication, KnowledgeWorks introduces a bold, aspirational vision human-centered learning – for education that enables life-affirming experiences and outcomes for everyone involved in learning systems. The paper looks at the four essential elements of human-centered learning… Read More ›

Three Lessons From New Hampshire’s Effort to Expand Deeper Learning

BEST_Photos_JFF_SocialStudiesInitiative_SouheganHS-29-scaled

In 2019, Aurora Institute released the new definition of competency-based learning. This seven-part definition was developed with extensive support from practitioners, researchers and leaders across the country. Image courtesy of Vander Els and Stack, 2019 This updated definition reflects a deeper understanding of key issues and developments in the field. This is certainly true for… Read More ›

Resource Round Up: Competency-Based Education

competency education fitting blocks

Stakeholders throughout the education field are asking how student-centered approaches might address inequities and challenges. Some schools already utilizing a personalized, competency-based approach have found the transition to remote learning less difficult, though the articles below make a case for adopting competency-based approaches during remote learning – and in the future. How to Use Online… Read More ›

A Roadmap for Student Self-Direction: Building Essential Skills for the Future

self-directed learning notebook

The BEST Self-Direction Toolkit is a collection of resources for teachers to use in the classroom for instruction and assessment that focuses on self-direction. The toolkit includes the self-direction rubric, self-direction activities and targeted resources for teachers. All tools are designed by teachers and tested in the classroom. Who is the toolkit for? It’s for… Read More ›

EdPalooza 2020

2020 has sounded an urgent call to action on behalf of students and their future. On December 1-3, 2020, Governor Jeb Bush and ExcelinEd will host EdPalooza, a thought-provoking, action-inducing virtual convening for anyone and everyone who wants to have an impact in education. Our own organization, KnowledgeWorks, will be leading a session on the… Read More ›