Resource Round Up: Competency-Based Education

competency education fitting blocks

Stakeholders throughout the education field are asking how student-centered approaches might address inequities and challenges. Some schools already utilizing a personalized, competency-based approach have found the transition to remote learning less difficult, though the articles below make a case for adopting competency-based approaches during remote learning – and in the future. How to Use Online… Read More ›

A Roadmap for Student Self-Direction: Building Essential Skills for the Future

self-directed learning notebook

The BEST Self-Direction Toolkit is a collection of resources for teachers to use in the classroom for instruction and assessment that focuses on self-direction. The toolkit includes the self-direction rubric, self-direction activities and targeted resources for teachers. All tools are designed by teachers and tested in the classroom. Who is the toolkit for? It’s for… Read More ›

Resource Round-Up: Motivation and Remote Learning

motivation image

I bet that if you are reading this, you are teaching remotely at least some part of your week. Keeping students motivated and engaged in this new learning format is an ongoing challenge. Below are some thoughts from fellow educators and researchers to spark some ideas you can try in your virtual classrooms. How to… 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 ›

Exploring the Pandemic-Formed Future for Young Children

families and kids

This interactive learning and strategy session, facilitated by KnowledgeWorks’ social innovation partner Openfields and forecast partner Capita, will help you to make sense of our uncertain future, and to apply insights from Foundations for Flourishing Futures: A Look Ahead for Young Children and Families during COVID-19 and the rebuilding to come. Register

2020 Aurora Institute Symposium

Positioning Competency-Based Education as an Equity Strategy: Theory, Practice, and Evidence to Push the Field Session Learning Outcomes: Be able to describe how CBE can be a de-tracking/equity strategy, based on research, theory, and implementation stories from KnowledgeWorks partnerships. Leave with a greater understanding of the indicators that may be used to capture whether and… Read More ›

Lesson Study: Resources for Administrators, Educators and Guardians

lesson study online

In order to improve student learning, teachers need opportunities to observe and discuss instruction. Lesson study provides a structure for teachers to collaborate around pressing problems of practice and to engage in cycles of inquiry to explore the intersection of pedagogy and student learning. School Administrators Are you a school leader or department head who wants a… Read More ›

How to Better Support Your Black Colleagues

Black teachers change schools or abandon the profession at higher rates than their White counterparts, so supporting the needs of Black teachers is crucial in the fight for racial justice in our schools. For schools to be truly student-centered, they will need to be able to attract, retain and support teachers of color. This Edutopia… Read More ›

State Guidance for Building Resilient and Equitable Education Systems

This guidebook provides education stakeholders with important considerations for this calendar year and beyond.

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 ›

Using Social Justice to Promote Student Voice

Students needs a safe place to process and use their voices to learn to contribute positively to the national conversation about racism.

This article describes how a middle school teacher nurtures student voice by teaching students to articulate their views on topics they care about. The author describes an assignment during distance learning that asked students to look at the ways in which intersectionality and systemic issues played out in a topic they cared about. Issues of… Read More ›

5 Steps Toward Cultural Competence in Schools

Five ways educators can build cultural competence, including setting measurable goals and being comfortable with vulnerability.

This article explores the habits and actions of culturally competent educators and administrators. The author provides a good overview of what it means to be culturally competent and then provides detail on 5 things culturally competent educators do, including growing their own knowledge, setting measurable goals, collaborating and sharing, and being comfortable with vulnerability. This… Read More ›