Students at the Center Newsletter – February 2013
Student-centered approaches are being discussed, implemented, and documented throughout the country. This month we bring you research and news items that touch on Students at the Center topics such as the strategic use of technology to customize education for all student populations, competency-based education, student-centered teaching, building supportive literacy communities, and the connection of brain… Read More ›
Students at the Center Newsletter – January 2013
Without an emphasis on personalization, motivation, and student voice, “NextGen” education reforms won’t be any more successful than their predecessors. This month we bring you a superintendent’s thoughts on creating a system of customized pathways across a district, and blogs and webinars on grit and student ownership of their education. Subscribe to the Students… Read More ›
Using Educational Technology to Help Students Get Back on Track
This brief explores ambitious, blended learning classrooms that help engage young people who have fallen off track to on-time graduation by incorporating the best elements of both face-to-face classrooms and virtual learning environments, enabling acceleration, flexibility, competency-based learning, customization, instructor interaction, and supportive tutoring. Access the Resource →
Who is in charge here? BDEA reflection on student ownership
It has been a busy year at Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA), and much of our focus has been directed to our third 5-year charter renewal—a crucial milestone in the life of a charter school. During the 3-day visit by BDEA’s re-charter team, a student panel was asked “Who is in charge here?” Our… Read More ›
Students at the Center Newsletter – December 2012
Without an emphasis on personalization, motivation, and student voice, “NextGen” education reforms won’t be any more successful than their predecessors. This month we bring you a superintendent’s thoughts on creating a system of customized pathways across a district, and blogs and webinars on grit and student ownership of their education. Access an online version of… Read More ›
Students at the Center Newsletter – November 2012
Too often in education, we talk about what is best for students without actually speaking with the students themselves. One of the four student-centered approaches to learning as defined by Students at the Center is: “Embracing the learner’s experience and learning theory as the starting point of education”. Let’s remember to invite students through… Read More ›
Aligning Competencies to Rigorous Standards for Off-track Youth: A Case Study of Boston Day and Evening Academy
For over 17 years, Boston Day and Evening Academy has served a population of young people often left behind: those who are off track to high school graduation or who have dropped out altogether. Through its competency-based approach, BDEA has tackled one of the toughest education conundrums of our time: how to recover low-skilled students two… Read More ›
A Mathematics Identity and Mathematics Outside School
JFF interviewed Dr. Rochelle Gutiérrez, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign professor, at the 2012 Students at the Center Symposium in Boston, MA, about the importance of student-centered learning and where it’s heading. The symposium gathered 150 leading practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and funders to discuss the latest research on student-centered approaches to learning. Gutiérrez wrote Latino/a and Black… Read More ›
Students at the Center Newsletter – October 2012
Discussions of student-centered learning strategies continue to permeate education conversations – and for good reason. To prepare our future as a nation in an increasingly global and fast-changing society, our educational system is needed to enable all students to learn, not just some. This month we bring you news, a new video from the spring… Read More ›
Students at the Center Symposium Highlights
Students at the Center Newsletter – September 2012
With the momentum started at the Students at the Center symposium in spring 2012, and the priority Race to the Top places on student-centered learning strategies, we have a great opportunity to inform practice like never before. This newsletter will feature updates on the project, news, new research, and promising practices regarding student-centered learning strategies.… Read More ›
Diving into How Students Learn Best
In a fortunate turn, advances in research and theory are emerging at a long-awaited moment in U.S. education: the agreement of 46 states and the District of Columbia to adopt the Common Core State Standards. The standards were developed with the recognition that global socioeconomic imperatives, combined with the dizzying pace of technological innovation, create… Read More ›