Learner-Centered Collaborative

During the 2023-24 academic year, Learner-Centered Collaborative partnered with The Innovative School to support their learner-centered journey. After graduating their first fifth grade class in 2023, The Innovative School embarked on a journey to codify their core program elements with Learner-Centered Collaborative as a trusted partner. This Framework process aimed to define whole-learner outcomes, expand learning experiences (including educator core competencies), and create key enabling conditions for learner-centered transformation. Learn more about their story, and how a Framework for the Future provides a strong foundation for transformational work: https://hubs.ly/Q02XF4fP0

Our Learner-Centered Scorecard Guide introduces a powerful framework for measuring and communicating educational progress beyond traditional metrics. This comprehensive guide provides a four-step process for creating, implementing, and leveraging Scorecards to drive improvement, engage stakeholders, and showcase your school or district’s unique success story in a learner-centered paradigm. Download your guide: https://hubs.ly/Q02XFblL0

Start your weekend off right with The Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast! In our latest episode, Dr. Jill Siler joins Katie Martin to discuss: ?? Developing supportive, intentional leadership and community accountability practices ?? Creating spaces that foster belonging and community in professional learning ?? The impact of designing learning environments that reflect the values of the community ?????? Shifting from standardized testing to broader measures of student and teacher success ?? Building a sustainable educational system through intentional design and high expectations for all students Listen here: https://hubs.ly/Q02XDsfQ0

Cultivating a sense of belong in your classroom, school, and district, requires a foundational understanding of creating equitable and inclusive learning experiences—for young people and adults alike! Our equitable and inclusive learning pathway gives you the tools to: ?? Nurture a Meaningful and Engaging Learning Community ?? Cultivate a Sense of Belonging ?? Partner With Learners to Reach Their Full Potential Explore what each course in this pathway has to offer by visiting our courses homepage on our website: https://hubs.ly/Q02XmJHg0

After four uplifting days at the Aurora Institute Syposium, Katie Martin reflects on her time at Learner-Centered Collaborative's pre-conference workshop and the opportunity to facilitate a dynamic student panel with learners from Clark Street Community School.

Joanna Libby reflects on the yearlong journey her 8th grade history class went through to make learning authentic and meaningful to her and her students: "What began with a simple question about engaging discussions had grown into a complete evolution of our classroom dynamics. Through each shift – from curiosity to possibilities, from control to empowerment, and ultimately to trust – our learning environment became more dynamic, more authentic, and deeply engaging. My students hadn’t just learned history; they had lived it, debated it, and connected it to their world in ways I never imagined possible at the start of the year." Dive into the full story and the four shifts that completely changed how Joanna taught from that moment onward: https://hubs.ly/Q02X544X0

"Content knowledge is important. There is no doubt about that. But if your goal is to become something other than a college professor, you want to learn to do things with your content knowledge. To do things, you don’t just need to know ‘the what’ (content) but also ‘the how’, or, in other words, application processes." As part of Getting Smart's H3 Learning series, Sujata Bhatt shares how focusing on processes such as design thinking, engineering design, and the scientific method equips students with practical skills to thrive in real-world scenarios. And, that traditional subjects are important, but integrating them with real-world applications through project-based and competency-based models enhances student engagement and long-term success. Dive in to see learn more about designing learning environments that are agile and ready for an ever-evolving future.

Dr. Jennifer Karnopp and Dr. Peter Bjorklund Jr. share a research-backed perspective on the power of cultivating educator belonging and how school and district leaders can do it with their teams. Read the full article here: https://hubs.ly/Q02WJFkG0

Carissa Rickard is a student representative on Colorado Springs School District 11's District Accountability Committee, and has an important message for all of us who are committed to cultivating learner-centered ecosystems: "To all the educators reading this: I encourage you to actively seek out and genuinely listen to what your students have to say. Our unique perspectives offer valuable insights that can amplify the learning experience for everyone. When we are involved in the decisions being made about our education, you are not just improving the system—you are empowering us to take agency for our learning and become more engaged. Through working together, we can create a more inclusive, effective, and supportive academic environment." Learn more about their experience on our blog: https://hubs.ly/Q02WJwkC0

It was a scary good week with our learner-centered partners. Here are the highlights from the final week of October ?? Leadership from Colorado Springs School District 11 engaged in a design sprint and relational-trust activity as they build skill in human-centered design through the D11 Design Lab. Also at D11, as part of an empathy-based listening session, parents and school leaders gathered at West PreK-8 to highlight current strengths, share their visions for their learners, and explore what's possible for the larger learning community in the year ahead. During our Discovery Visit at Adelanto Elementary School District, we visited multiple classrooms across the district and highlighted Bright Spots that will spark learner-centered change moving forward. A Bonsall Unified School District Design Team of 30+ students, teachers, school leaders, classified staff, and Executive Cabinet came together to design toward the aspirations found in BUSD's Framework for the Future, specifically to launch a districtwide implementation of the BUSD Learner Profile. Wiseburn Unified School District kicked off their entire TK-8 staff professional learning by diving into an exploration of Competency-Based Assessments, Reporting and Pedagogical Strategies. It was an exciting start to a new journey towards a more equitable learner-centered assessment paradigm. Onward!