CTE in High School: Does It Improve Student Outcomes?
In this article, researchers Shaun Dougherty and Dara Zeehandelaar describe results from their study showing positive outcomes for students who participated in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. They note that CTE programs may increase student engagement by connecting learning at school with real world use. The article outlines some of the failures of older… Read More ›
Defining Student-Centered Learning
This two-page overview of student-centered learning was developed by Meriden Public Schools based on the Nellie Mae Education Foundation’s, Putting Students at the Center: A Reference Guide. It provides short descriptions of the main tenets of student-centered learning: student-owned, personalized, occurs anytime, anywhere, and is mastery-based. It also details what students and teachers should look… Read More ›
Case Stories From One Middle School’s Efforts for Partnership
This article is written by Students at the Center Distinguished Fellow Dr. Frank LaBanca, principal of Westside Middle School Academy Magnet, as part of volume 10 of the educational journal LEARNing Landscapes. The article highlights his successes and challenges as principal of a start-up urban magnet middle school committed to a student-centered inquiry-based learning environment that values extended… Read More ›
How Design Thinking Became a Buzzword at School
This article discusses the lack of clarity around the concept of design thinking. Confusion around the topic is not surprising as design thinking encompasses a wide array of mindsets and philosophies. For this piece, the author interviewed Neil Stevenson, the executive portfolio director at IDEO Chicago, one of the best-known organizations dedicated to design thinking.… Read More ›
Designing New School Models: A Practical Guide
This school design guide, written by Springpoint, a group of school design experts, outlines a student-centered approach to designing innovative school models where students can be active agents in their own development. The guide was compiled from best practices gathered over four years while working with districts, networks, and charter management organizations around the country… Read More ›
Will Blended Learning Fulfill its Disruptive Potential?
In this opinion piece, Thomas Arenett explores blended learning and the concept of disruptive innovation, a theory of change and the central theme of research at the Christensen Institute. Researchers there hope disruptive innovations can end the cycle of fads in education reform, in which new approaches enter the landscape with promise but fizzle out… Read More ›
Under the Hood of Personalized Learning: A New Hampshire Teacher of the Year Explains
In this opinion piece, Kim Carter, a Students at the Center Distinguished Fellow, and 1996 New Hampshire Media Educator of the Year, describes the successful use of personalization at New Hampshire charter school MC2 School. The MC2 School places a high emphasis on building relationships inside and outside the classroom and creates opportunities for student-directed personal learning… Read More ›
21 Tips for Connecting Learners to Their Community
This blog explores the importance of place and community-based approaches to learning and offers tips on implementation from the author’s experiences in schools. Place and community-based approaches can be transformative for all stakeholders and help students draw deep connections to themselves, their school, and other broader communities. The article offers relevant suggestions in five main categories: Helping students… Read More ›
XQ Expert Series: Technology and Learning for an Interconnected World
This video podcast series, created by XQ America, a national movement to rethink high school, and hosted by Michelle Cahill, a distinguished fellow in education and youth development for the National Center for Civic Innovation, gives an opportunity to listen in on conversations with leaders in education as they discuss a wide variety of education related… Read More ›
A Learner-Centered System Student Experience
This graphic presents a story of a typical day in the life of a fictional student, Katrina, at the age of 4, 11, 19, and 27, experiencing student-centered learning. It brings to life learner-centered education and shows the long term impact a shift in the education system could have on students’ future success. To more… Read More ›
Internships Aren’t All About Careers
This blog post by Tristen Gamboa, a junior at High Tech High North County presents a student’s view of the internship experience, and his growing understanding of the concept of ‘deeper learning’. Tristen’s four week internship at the Center for Research on Equity & Innovation (CREI) influenced his thoughts about college readiness and his career path. He… Read More ›
Glossary of Instructional Strategies
This glossary defines over 1,000 instructional strategies, including many used in student-centered environments. The short entries use simple, clear language. This tool will be helpful to families and community members who need quick definitions of education terms used by their child’s teachers and school leaders. Source Organization: Kelly Jo Rowan Visit the Resource