Next Gen Learning in Action
This blog offered perspectives from educators engaged in redesigning the future of public schools. This blog is no longer being updated.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Personal Learning: Perspectives from Schools, Districts, and the Community
As many U.S. school districts continue to struggle to reach the goal of implementing personal learning, it's helpful for educators and school leaders to have some exemplars that have already paved the way.
Education
Opinion
Self-Pacing: The Key to Differentiating Effectively for All Learners
By restructuring our classrooms to transfer ownership from the teacher to the learner, we discovered that the most effective method to differentiate was clear: self-pacing.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Developing Replacement Behaviors for Traditional Measures
We need to shift the conversation about the value of test scores toward the development and communication of replacement behaviors, which empower learners to regularly demonstrate their level of proficiency.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Who You Know: Building Students' Social Capital
This Friday Focus: Practitioner's Guide to Next Gen Learning is devoted to the concept of social capital and its implications for educators.
School & District Management
Opinion
The Nature Gap and High School Redesign
The 'nature gap' that today's urban and low-income students experience is, in fact, an opportunity gap--something that generates greater inequities in social, cultural, and physical capital. Intrepid Academy at Hale (IAH), a semester-long 11th grade expeditionary learning program created jointly by Hale and the Boston Public Schools (BPS), aims to change this, and it's showing promise in a variety of ways.
Assessment
Opinion
How Does a Feedback Loop Encourage a Culture of Learning Conversation in the Classroom?
Based on our conversations with teachers, here are some key takeaways in creating a culture of conversation around feedback.
Assessment
Opinion
Creating Space
If we want good things to happen in K-12 education, we have to create space for them. And creating space isn't easy.
Professional Development
Opinion
Innovative Back to School Professional Development
If you're trying to deliver a 21st century school, your teacher training must reflect that.
Personalized Learning
Opinion
Problem-Based Learning: Preparing Students for the Race of Their Lives
What's the value of instruction that offers theory without valuable, hands-on practical experience?
Professional Development
Opinion
Educators as Change Agents at Mahar Regional School District
Teachers in Mahar Regional School District are leading a grassroots change effort to redesign learning, with the backing of the district's superintendent.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Seeing is Believing Tour, Part IV
Personalized learning is no fad; students today know what is relevant to their needs. We've seen significant evidence that personalized learning is meeting students where they are, and then giving them the feedback necessary to help them develop to where they need to be--or want to be.
Personalized Learning
Opinion
How Self-Pacing Improves Students' Academic Achievement and Self-Confidence
By requiring all students to work at a predetermined pace irrespective of their needs, we as educators make the proactive decision to value speed over mastery. The solution lies in developing a classroom model that empowers students to work at their own pace.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
5 Ways to Boost Collaboration and Create Teams That Thrive
To work effectively toward successful outcomes, all teams, regardless of industry, require a culture that enables them to thrive. These five practices help create a culture of teamwork and deep collaboration at your school.
Professional Development
Opinion
Want to Scale Innovation? Start With a Conversation About What You Value
One of the biggest mistakes education leaders say they have made when scaling a new initiative is to jump to tactical planning before defining strategic values and objectives. Here are our recommendations on the critical questions that all leadership teams should actually be asking.