Changing how students learn, starts with changing how educators learn
As educators, we are socialized into the profession in various ways. These may include observations of our previous teachers (known as the apprenticeship of observation), our preparation programs, and especially our first on-the-job experiences. In short, our beliefs and expectations are shaped by our experiences including professional learning, which is why I often say: "If we want to change how students learn, we need to change how educators learn." Too often though, I hear from teachers and administrators (and this is further substantiated by research) that professional learning is not meeting the needs of the majority of teachers and ...
3 Ways to Include and Amplify Student Voice
What happens when we listen to our learners? Spoiler Alert! The path that is ahead of us becomes so much clearer. Access three tried and true practices districts, schools, and learner-centered leaders are using to give students a seat at the table to amplify their voices.
So You Designed a Profile of a Graduate, Now What?
The first step is to co-author a shared vision for graduates with your community stakeholders. From there, we recommend the following considerations as a way to make your vision a reality.
4 Key Shifts from School-Centered to Learner-Centered
Discover 4 key shifts at the heart of learner-centered change in schools. Learn what they are, why they matter, and how to ignite change.
Evolving Education Live Book Club Sessions
Evolving Education Book Club with author Katie Martin. Recording for watching on-demand or to support running your own book club with your learning community.
4 Examples of Learner-Centered Leaders Challenging the Status Quo
Get to know four learner-centered leaders whose actions inspire others to think big, take risks, learn from challenges, and share their learning process as they iterate, grow and, ultimately, make impactful changes toward more learner-centered models of education.
Evolving Education Self-Assessment and Conversation Guide
Capture your thoughts and learning as you read Evolving Education with this book study guide complete with activities, prompts, and protocols to use before, during, and after reading the book.
Bright Spots Collection
Compilation of learner-centered Bright Spots from classrooms, schools, and districts curated by Dr. Katie Martin.
Chapter 1: Evolving Education
Katie Martin's second book, Evolving Education, offers a deep dive into how educators can harness new technologies, learning sciences, and pedagogy that center learners and learning.
Bright Spots Newsletter
Bright Spots from Katie Martin- Your weekly source of learner-centered inspiration.
When Learning Is Authentic
Authentic learning experiences can feel at odds with school systems and structures, but they don’t have to. Katie Martin shares how schools are pushing the boundaries to successfully orient toward relevant, meaningful, real-world learning experiences.
Why Curiosity is Foundational to Learning
If we want our children to develop new skills, knowledge, and mindsets, it is foundational to spark curiosity. Otherwise, even through our best efforts to teach them, they may not actually learn.
Using Feedback to Build a Sense of Connection, Purpose, and Ownership
Meaningful feedback is not the same as a grade or an evaluation. Feedback is information for the learner about where they are in relationship to the goal or target to help them get there.
What Does Your Ideal Learning Environment Look Like?
Leaders commonly use strategic plans or vision statements that describe the desire to develop life-long learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and the like, yet a misalignment often occurs between the vision, policies, and practices. The tension between what we say we want our students to know and be able to do and what we prioritize and assess often tell a different story.
To Engage Students, Focus on Connection Over Content
It’s important to understand how student’s emotions impact their attention, engagement, and what they learn. Scheduling time with each student to connect, learn more about their circumstances, their goals, and ideas, created a different dynamic that built empathy and allowed for more personalization and meaningful connection. Students also recommend, reaching out via text, calling them or just checking in every so often.
How Can We Make the Most of Synchronous and Asynchronous Time in Distance Learning?
Effective distance learning blends both asynchronous and synchronous learning experiences to maximize the time together virtually to build community and learn collaboratively, while also providing autonomy for learners to engage in content, read, investigate and demonstrate mastery at their own pace.
Do Your Assessments Improve Learning?
Grading and reporting of grades is one of the cornerstones of teaching but not always learning.
Emergency Remote Learning: What Worked Well?
After months of distance learning and countless conversations with educators, here's an overview of what successful practices have emerged, which include building relationships, flexibility, choice, feedback and creativity.
