#plearnchat on Personalized Learning (12/7)
Nadya Bech-Conger, from Burlington High School, will be leading the 12/7 #plearnchat from 7p-8p EST. The chat will focus on balancing structure with choice in a personalized learning environment.
Virtual Viewpoints: Roberto Gonzalez, STEAM Box
This episode is the fourth in our series documenting the Fuse Architect Project, a collaboration between the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, the Highlander Institute, and several other Rhode Island-based stakeholders endeavoring to design and pilot systems that promote student-centered learning. In this episode, we’re talking with Roberto Gonzalez of the Rhode Island-based nonprofit STEAM Box.… Read More ›
The challenge of “thinking outside of the box” while existing inside the box
In education as in other sectors, there exists this buzz phrase – “thinking outside the box.” While so commonly used, Highlander and its Fuse Architect partner schools have experienced that this phrase may not be as simple a concept as it sounds. From the start of the Fuse Architect program, Highlander and NMEF have… Read More ›
Casco Bay High School: The What and HOW of Learning
Originally posted on CompetencyWorks on November 23, 2015 This post is part of the series Road Trip to Maine. This is the third of a four-part look at Casco Bay High School. Read Part One for Tips and Takeaways and Part Two for Learning as Exploration. Check out Casco Bay on the Students at the Center… Read More ›
Watch Lectures at Home, do Homework in Class
This article highlights blended learning classrooms at Revere High School in Revere, Massachusetts. According to the Revere High principal Mr. Lourenco Garcia, introducing flipped classrooms has fostered more personalized learning opportunities, increased student ownership of work, and has created a dynamic and engaging learning environment for all its students. Source Organization: The Boston Globe Visit… Read More ›
Continued Progress: Promising Evidence on Personalized Learning
This report examines achievement in 62 public charter and district schools that are pursuing a variety of personalized learning practices, and examines implementation details in 32 of those schools. Researchers obtained achievement data for personalized learning students and a matched comparison group of students attending other schools serving similar populations. They also collected and analyzed… Read More ›
The iNACOL State Policy Frameworks 2015: 5 Critical Issues to Transform K-12 Education
This policy brief from the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) provides concrete, actionable recommendations for state policymakers seeking to build competency education based on new learning models that allow personalization of instruction for each student. The iNACOL State Policy Frameworks covers five main issues: create competency-based education systems, improve student access and equity,… Read More ›
Design Thinking in Schools: “You can’t make school better without student voice.”
Have you thought about bringing design thinking to your school or district? One of the major foundations for the Fuse Architect project is design thinking. Through a partnership with IDEO, the Fuse Architect schools’ design teams used and continue to use design thinking to help re-envision the way school happens. IDEO defines design thinking… Read More ›
Smart Parents Want Powerful Learning
This iNACOL presentation by Tom Vander Ark, Carri Schneider, Mary Ryerse, and Bonnie Lathram provides tips and action steps (from a variety of sources) for parents interested in understanding more about their children’s education. Source Organization: Getting Smart Visit the Resource
Supporting Students: Investing in Innovation and Quality
This report describes the approach of the College Ready group at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It outlines five key design principles necessary for successful academic student supports. These include mastery with clear progress trajectories, feedback which occurs immediately, subject immersion using the real-world language and tools of the studied discipline, multiple experiences to learn and apply… Read More ›
Student-Centered Learning: It Starts With the Teacher
This blog post explores the role of teachers in creating a student-centered classroom. The author discusses the shift from a directive to a consultative classroom and explores several key steps including allowing students to share in decision-making, believing in students’ capacity to lead, recognizing students need for learning that is tied to their real-world experiences, and giving up… Read More ›
Education Indicators for Maine 2015
In this report from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Educate Maine examines 10 indicators around education access, achievement, and participation for Maine students. Beyond promoting discussion, this paper serves as a call to action for increasing engagement, positive dialogue, and support for promising strategies amongst stakeholders so all Maine’s students receive the education they deserve.… Read More ›