Student Agency: Creating An Integrated and Authentic K-12 Approach
This article explores authentic student agency, using California’s Aveson Charter Schools, where the author is founder, to show it in action. It emphasizes the critical role of student agency in a competency-based learning model. The author discusses a number of research-backed practices used at Aveson: The development of foundational or noncognitive skills such as relationship building and self-regulation.… Read More ›
Examining Cultural Relevance
This one page tool provides a set of questions to determine the cultural relevance of a given unit, learning task, or project. Many of the strategies for infusing cultural relevance focus on student-centered practices such as inclusion of choice in topics, sources for information, and ways of displaying knowledge learned as well as connection to… Read More ›
Models of Excellence
Models of Excellence is an open resource featuring exemplary pre-K to 12th-grade student work. The collection is curated by EL Education, a collaboration between The Harvard Graduate School of Education and Outward Bound USA, whose mission is to support teachers. The website showcases interdisciplinary projects produced by students around the country. Projects can be searched… Read More ›
Next Gen Tools: Personalized Learning Plans and Learner Profiles
This innovation brief describes the use of Learner Profiles and Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) at three schools and outlines the advantages and challenges of these two strategies. Learner Profiles are used to collect information about each student’s learning styles, strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Learning Plans lay out students goals. Students take an active role in the… Read More ›
Proficiency-Based Learning Simplified
This toolkit provides support for schools looking to transition to a proficiency-based system. It focuses on the development of efficient standards-based systems that will prepare all students for success in colleges, careers, and communities of the 21st century. The toolkit outlines 10 key components of an efficient proficiency-based system and introduces the Proficiency-Based Learning Simplified… Read More ›
Personalized Learning in New York
This report looks at early results from Education Element’s work in NY state, since 2013, to design, implement, and support personalized learning. Education Elements provides consultation services, technical assistance, and tools to help districts implement personalized learning. At the time of this report, 16 districts and two Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) across NY have… Read More ›
Relationships Bloom When Students Are Seen and Heard
This article, written by educators in Cherry Hill Public Schools in New Jersey, makes a case for the importance of student voice, and discusses how their district amplifies it. Some of these tips include starting activities like student-led town hall meetings, and establishing strong relationships through positive recognition programs. The article also shares feedback on how… Read More ›
Next Gen Tools: Hiring for Mindset
Hiring for Mindset describes a strategy used by Da Vinci Schools, a Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) breakthrough model school, to hire teachers that will contribute to a culture of innovation that supports personalized, blended learning for students. The strategy involves a group planning exercise, sample teaching session, student-led school tours, and parent interviews to help assess candidates… Read More ›
The Student-Centered Learning Fact Sheet Series
These four Student-Centered Learning Fact Sheets discuss RI state policies that support and/or limit the spread of student-centered learning practices, highlight best practices, and provide recommendations for expanding and strengthening student-centered learning in RI. Each of the four fact sheets aligns with each of the principles of student-centered learning outlined in the Students at the Center framework:… Read More ›
RI Personalized Learning Initiative
The Rhode Island (RI) Personalized Learning Initiative was launched in September 2016 by the Rhode Island Office of Innovation with the Rhode Island Department of Education, Highlander Institute, and other partners. It supports educators and administrators statewide in the development, piloting, and growth of new models for personalized learning; and facilitates the sharing of best practices and… Read More ›
Maine: Making the Most of High-Leverage Strategies
This article provides an overview of the progress the state of Maine has made towards competency education. It outlines the steps taken to build school capacity and public and policy support for student-centered education. These steps resulted in the 2012 passage of Act LD1422, which requires districts to begin awarding proficiency-based diplomas. It reviews the implementation timeline… Read More ›
Community Learning Walks
This short 2-minute video documents a community learning walk at a high school in Meriden, CT that is implementing many student-centered approaches. It includes footage of educators interacting with business and community members as they tour classrooms at the school. It also features interviews and clips from the debriefing section highlighting key takeaways from their… Read More ›