District Redesign Centered around Student Learning
This 12-minute video introduces the basic ideas involved in a district-wide shift to student centered learning and explores the specific efforts undertaken in Pittsfield. It features the superintendent, principal, teachers, parents, and students. The video focuses on personalized extended learning opportunities for students, community involvement efforts, the student-led site council, and the advisory program. This video… Read More ›
What You Need To Know: A Guide To Understanding The Pittsfield School District Redesign
This article outlines the plans of the Pittsfield School District to redesign teaching and learning to become more student centered. The document introduces the concept of student centered learning. It also provides detailed descriptions of the district’s plans to provide multiple pathways to learning through in classroom, co-curricular, and non-traditional opportunities such as authentic assessment, flexible… Read More ›
Pittsfield School District Logic Model
This working document lays out the roadmap for a shift to student centered learning in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. The logic model looks at several areas for improvement: development of 21st century skills such as civic responsibility, study skills, and social-emotional learning; systems and infrastructure support for student centered learning; community involvement; student achievement; and student… Read More ›
How to Make Additional Time Matter: Integrating Individualized Tutorials into an Extended Day
This paper details research conducted at the MATCH Charter Public school in Boston. Education research on the impact of extending the school day is mixed. This study examined the impact of adding additional time to the school day when that time is used for individual tutorials. This study showed that two-hour individualized tutorials taught by… Read More ›
What is Flipped Learning: Flipped Learning Definition
This two page overview developed by the Flipped Learning Network gives an excellent definition of flipped learning, suitable for introducing the concept to any audience. It lays out the components of successful flexible learning, detailing each of the four pillars: creating a flexible learning environment, shifting to a student-centered learning culture, providing intentional content to… Read More ›
Flipped Learning Toolkit: Getting Everyone on Board
This tool features a short video that provides teachers with tips to help educate students, administrators, and parents about the flipped classroom teaching approach and gain their support. It also includes a short article for parents explaining the benefits of a flipped classroom, an article for students with tips on getting the most out of… Read More ›
New England Secondary School Consortium
This organization, the New England Secondary School Consortium (NESSC), is a regional partnership that promotes innovations in the design and delivery of secondary education across New England. Five states—Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont—come together to promote equity and opportunity for all students. NESSC is coordinated by the Great Schools Partnership. The organization… Read More ›
Coalition of Essential Schools
This organization is a diverse network of schools committed to creating and sustaining personalized, equitable, and intellectually challenging schools. Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) provides opportunities for professional development and networking amongst member schools. CES Affiliate Centers provide technical assistance to schools committed to the CES vision. CES also advocates for local, state, and national conditions… Read More ›
The New Opportunity to Lead: A Vision for Education in Massachusetts in the Next 20 Years
This report, commissioned by the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, is a call to revamp the education system in Massachusetts in order to lead the world in preparing students for the demands of the 21st century. The report calls for an approach that focuses less on compliance to state mandates to one that creates conditions… Read More ›
Re-Energize Your Classroom in the New Year
This article is a composite of great ideas that you can use to change things up for the second part of the school year—and that can also help beat the winter blues. Source Organization: Edutopia Visit the Resource
Four Steps to Transforming a School
This article looks at the four practices that, taken together, create a transformational school environment; an environment where students exhibit agency by achieving academically and taking ownership of their learning. Source Organization: Getting Smart Visit the Resource
ConnectED: Learning Powered by Technology
This website outlines former President Obama’s 5-year effort called ConnectED, with the goal of providing high-speed broadband and wireless to 99 percent of students and improving the skills of teachers—providing every educator in America with support and training to integrate technology into classroom lessons. Preparing America’s students with the skills they need to get good jobs… Read More ›