Learning Deeply
In this blog, organized by Harvard education professor Jal Mehta and Washington-based education writer Robert Rothman, students, teachers, administrators, researchers, and policymakers explored the practice and policy issues around expanding deeper learning. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: student learning.
Assessment
Opinion
A Plan for Measuring Hard-to-Measure, 'Soft' Skills
Laura Hamilton and Brian Stecher of RAND call for research to develop better measures of competencies like academic tenacity and collaboration, essential skills that are seldom measured in schools.
Assessment
Opinion
Hard Data, Soft Skills
Summit Public Schools is using new measures to determine whether students have developed "habits of success."
Education
Opinion
10 Ways to Deepen the Learning (Part 2)
In the second of two posts, writer and educator Kathleen Cushman outlines five additional ways to restructure classrooms to produce powerful learning experiences for all students.
Education
Opinion
10 Ways to Deepen the Learning
In the first of two posts, writer Kathleen Cushman outlines lessons for restructuring classrooms to create powerful learning experiences for all students.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
True Accountability: Giving All Students a Shot
An accountability system that holds all actors--schools, districts, and states--accountable for ensuring equitable opportunities for learning will ensure students learn the competencies they need to succeed, says Joseph Bishop of the National Opportunity to Learn Campaign.
Assessment
Opinion
Transforming Assessment to Improve Teaching and Learning
Although public and educators' concerns are growing about testing, performance assessment done well can strengthen instruction and enhance learning, says Linda Darling-Hammond.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Preparing Teachers Well: The Clinical Difference
Ensuring that teachers are ready from Day One to teach well may require turning the traditional notion of teacher education on its head.
Education
Opinion
To 'Frustrated Parent': Understanding and Fluency Are Both Important
A problem that resulted in a father's Facebook post illustrates ways that mathematics education can change to enable students to learn more deeply.
Education
Opinion
Time for a New Metaphor: Student as Worker
What will it take to transform classrooms filled with teacher talk to classrooms in which students produce things that matter?
Assessment
Opinion
Standardization or Personalization? (Or, how not to fumble the equity ball.)
To ensure equity, some argue that assessments must be standardized, while others say they should be personalized. As states continuously improve systems of assessment and accountability, are there common principles that can guide us all to victory?
Education
Opinion
The Courage to Be College-Bound
A Massachusetts Expeditionary Learning high school has made students intellectually courageous--and successful--by making college the expectation for every student.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Intellectual Courage: Making Professional Learning Matter
Genuine professional learning requires the courage to say what you have to learn and the mindset to participate in active learning, says Cheryl Becker Dobbertin of Expeditionary Learning.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Is Intellectual Courage the Key to Great Teaching?
How teachers at one D.C. school took on the challenge of improving mathematics instruction by becoming learners, from Ron Berger of Expeditionary Learning.
States
Opinion
Laboratories of Innovation
Drawing parallels to the state "laboratories of innovation" for welfare reform that ultimately led to new approaches in federal policy, CCSSO's Steve Bowen argues for flexibility in a new era of state-federal partnership through ESEA reauthorization.