Bright Spots: How Crashing Teaches Us to Fly
Dear Educator,
I had the opportunity to join a cross-section of educational leaders at an event last week to rethink education. I had my perspective on what is possible both validated and pushed. Bringing together divergent perspectives can spark innovation, challenge existing norms, and create new approaches that can fundamentally shift and improve our education system for a more inclusive, adaptable, and forward-thinking future.
One of the most salient points we discussed was the role of content in education. I think this is a worthy conversation and hearing multiple perspectives is critical to finding an approach that is more "both-and" than "either-or." During my time, collaborating with many brilliant adults, I was mindful of the perspectives that were missing, particularly the student perspective.
To bring that perspective in, my Bright Spot this week is a TEDx talk from a high school student that a colleague shared with me.
With Gratitude,
BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK
Designing Competency-Based Professional Learning
Logan Teeple shares his experience learning through Authentic Exploratory Research (AER)—a learning framework provided at his high school in Laguna Beach USD. He highlights: “We choose what we want to learn and how we want to learn about it with guidance from an expert in the field as our mentor.” He and his peers are exploring a wide variety of topics based on their unique interests. The content is theirs to choose.
Importantly, these students have to develop knowledge and skills that go beyond the topic they're exploring—research, mathematics, and scientific concepts. They have to understand politics, the history of civilizations, and what motivates human beings to create new ideas and solutions. Ultimately they have to read, write, and communicate effectively to share what they've learned as well as influence people to pay attention to their ideas.
Logan notes he and his classmates are deeply learning about how multiethnic countries collaborate (or don’t), how to install new traffic policies, and how to make a plane fly. But, he notes, “we aren’t learning through endless slide show presentations or boring online assignments. We are getting our hands dirty and our minds confused for the joy of learning. This is real education."
In what ways are real-world learning experiences occurring in your school or district? Share your story here.
NEW FROM LEARNER-CENTERED COLLABORATIVE
?? Not All Rubrics Are Created Equal: How Competency-Based Progressions Are The Way to Go. "Competency-based rubrics are integral to fostering a truly learner-centered environment. By providing clear, consistent criteria for skill development, they empower learners to own their educational journey through meaningful self-reflection, peer feedback, and goal-setting." Learn how to evolve your rubrics.
?? RECORDING: Competency-Based Assessment: From Measuring Seat Time to Demonstrating Learning. "Bostonia Global’s Nerel Winter and School Foundry’s Jeff Petty share innovative ways to assess student learning through real-world demonstrations and exhibitions. We delve into the importance of performance assessments, where students showcase their knowledge and their ability to apply it in practical, meaningful ways." Discover real-world examples of competency-based assessment practices.
??? WEBINAR: Creating Coherence and Aligning Systems Towards a Learner-Centered Vision. "Learn how to create a cohesive roadmap that aligns your entire organization towards common goals. We'll explore techniques for identifying key priorities, setting actionable objectives, aligning success metrics, and fostering a shared vision." Register here.
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