Five Strategies for Advancing Student-Centered Innovation
In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan-based Future of Learning Council, share five strategies for addressing challenges revealed by the pandemic. The strategies were developed by looking at innovations policymakers and educators implemented as temporary strategies to better meet the needs of individual students. What of these temporary strategies can become… Read More ›
Education in the Balance: Tensions Affecting Education’s Future
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 ›
Resource Round-Up: Teaching Jim Crow South and the Lynching Era
Many educators are trying to advance social justice in the United States, which involves a large learning curve for many White Americans who want to be allies. During COVID-19, it’s hard to travel places and resources to do so may be limited. So, we’ve compiled resources that can help anyone, anywhere, be able to visit and learn from an immersive experience on Jim Crow South. While… Read More ›
A Need to Evolve: The Impact of Strained Education 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 ›
Three Lessons From New Hampshire’s Effort to Expand Deeper Learning
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 ›
Personalized Learning and Tech Equity Under COVID-19
COVID-19 and the shift to remote learning, either full-time or part-time, have made such efforts even more difficult in many places. Too many students still do not have adequate access to Wi-Fi or digital learning devices to engage in meaningful remote or hybrid learning; opportunities to engage in professional development remain insufficient; and building academic… 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 ›
Glossary of Education Terms
Common terms and phrases used when talking about personalized, learner-centered environments A – E | F – J | K – O | Q – T | U- Z Agency The initiative and capacity to act in a way that produces meaningful change in oneself or the environment. (Closely related terms: ownership, student-ownership) Sources: “Anytime,… Read More ›
State Guidance for Building Resilient and Equitable Education Systems
This guidebook was created in response to COVID-19’s disruption to help guide education policymakers and stakeholders in taking action to create resilient and equitable education systems. This guidance provides education stakeholders with important considerations for this calendar year and beyond on how to advance personalized, competency-based systems that empower students to master rigorous learning pathways… Read More ›
Anti-Racism Resources for Educators
The dual pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism have strengthened calls for a national gut check. Recognizing the disproportional impact of the pandemic on already oppressed communities, folks from a variety of backgrounds are looking at how schools are designed and saying, “I don’t want to return to normal. Normal isn’t good enough.” So, where do… Read More ›
Tools for Scaling Best Practices: Windows, Bridges and Roadmaps
Our last two articles (here and here) explored the scaling of Work-Study Practices (WSPs, a.k.a., deeper learning competencies) in New Hampshire, the growth of this education innovation in the state and the role of a statewide, nonprofit intermediary, the New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI) as a scaling agent. There is another driver of scale observed… Read More ›
Students Are Demanding Anti-Racist Curriculum and Instruction
This article from Education Week’s Teacher blog discusses the important involvement of youth in recent social-justice demonstrations, petitions and demands. The article outlines the demands made by students in several different parts of the country for their respective school districts to embrace, including demands such as more culturally diverse and explicitly antiracist curriculum. Educators will… Read More ›