Teacher Inquiry Labs in South Carolina Demonstrate Personalized Learning in Action
This article discusses a hands on approach to teacher professional development. In South Carolina learning labs are part of the state-led support for personalized learning. They are educator-driven and volunteer-run. A host district highlights one personalized learning practice that they are using across the K-12 continuum and district leaders, educators and instructional coaches from across… Read More ›
Every Student Is a Mathematics Language Learner
This article discusses the benefits of explicitly teaching all students how to use mathematical language. The author, a veteran teacher, notes that while English Language Learners often need support to learn mathematical language, many other students struggle as well. The author shares one simple technique to scaffold learning called talking point cards. Any math teacher… Read More ›
Let Student Voices Ring—In and Out of School
Imagine building a bonfire in a local park—legally, of course. You start throwing in file folders filled with papers, and somehow your laptop ends up in there too. Before you know it, everything you’ve collected, catalogued, and annotated is burning in the fire. When faced with the concept of student-led classrooms, many educators visualize something… Read More ›
Pittsfield Tries New Approach On Education
This radio clip from New Hampshire Public Radio features Pittsfield schools. The small district of Pittsfield adopted an approach that flips the traditional model of teaching through student-led discussion and independent projects. To learn more about Pittsfield schools, this short case study in Pioneer magazine provides a look at the school. Also check out the… Read More ›
How an LMS Can Solve Professional Learning’s Challenges
This interview transcript looks at the role of Learning Management Software (LMS) in the delivery of professional development opportunities for educators. EdSurge staff interviewed Ken Dirkin, the Director of Online Professional Learning at Michigan Virtual, a nonprofit provider of digital learning solutions for Michigan’s K-12 schools. He discusses how LMS can deliver a personalized experience… Read More ›
Leveraging Digital Depth for Responsive Learning Environments
This paper explores the potential for wearables, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to help create more responsive learning environments that: Increase student engagement Enhance the personalization of learning Increase understanding of others’ experiences and perspectives Help develop greater levels of self-awareness Foster critical thinking Increase student agency The paper presents a frame for… Read More ›
A Focused Practice for Relationship Building
In this article an educator shares a simple practice to build relationships with students. The author describes the use of a 5 x 5 assessment to think deliberately about all students and make time to engage them in conversations on topics important to their lives. Improving relationships can contribute to a safe and engaging classroom… Read More ›
Visioning Toolkit: Laying the Groundwork for a Community-Wide Vision for Personalized Learning
This toolkit was designed to help districts include the larger learning community in the development of a vision for personalized learning. It can help district’s take the first, important step of crafting and sustaining a community-wide vision for personalized, competency-based learning. In particular it includes: Guidance on crafting a system-wide vision for personalized learning, incorporating diverse stakeholder… Read More ›
Allowing Students to Design Assessment Tools
As an educator, one would think that the point of every assessment would be clear to students. But if you are anything like me, sometimes we get so wrapped up in designing and creating the tools for students to use on the assessment (or in some cases, even the assessment itself), that we forget to… Read More ›
How Immigration Enforcement Policies Are Impacting Students and Teachers Nationwide
As immigration enforcement intensifies around the country, schools see the impacts firsthand on a variety of stakeholders – students, families, educators, and communities. While many of these impacts have been documented anecdotally through the news media and on social media, researchers at University of California, Los Angeles have recently published a series of papers with detailed… Read More ›
Science of Adolescent Learning: How Body and Brain Development Affect Student Learning
This webinar aims to help the public understand the changes in their bodies and brains that adolescents face and how those changes relate to learning. In this webinar, hosted by the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed), Dr. Jesse Washington, III, a practitioner, and Dr. Richard Clark, a researcher, will examine biological changes that occur during… Read More ›
The Promises, Challenges, and Futures of Media Literacy
The Promises, Challenges, and Futures of Media Literacy addresses the “fake news” problem by evaluating the successes and failures of recent media literacy efforts. Contemporary media literacy programs–commonly organized around the five main themes of youth participation, teacher training and curricular resources, parental support, policy initiatives, and evidence base construction–have demonstrated positive outcomes, particularly in… Read More ›