Effective learning builds on what individuals know and can do, and empowers learners to explore questions or challenges that directly impact them and their unique context.
Focusing on specific content and practices allows teachers to develop principles they can flexibly apply to their work with students. Being a flexible teacher means responding to core student needs in the moment, and this can be nurtured by professional learning that elicits teachers’ thinking and doing around the decisions they make.
Deep, meaningful learning—whether it’s for administrators, teachers, or students—takes time, ownership, and an investment. If you want to create a culture of rich learning, you have to invest in the process. After all, transformational professional learning is a process, not a singular event.Â
Read more about Professional Learning:
Blog
How might we create learner-centered teacher credentials?
Teachers and aspiring teachers, in no uncertain terms, are telling us we need to reimagine how they are being prepared and supported to do their jobs well. A recent report by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education delivers a concerning message: “Between 2008 and 2019, the number of students completing traditional teacher…
Blog
These Pennsylvania Educators are Ready to Make Change Happen
Co-authored by Brittany Griffin and Jesse Ross Collaborative, learner-centered innovation has taken off in Western Pennsylvania. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, 23 educators from four Western Pennsylvania school districts—Hampton Township, Shaler Area, Deer Lakes, and Avonworth—are participating in a Learner-Centered Collaborative Innovation Cohort. Get an inside view into the experience in this 3-part series…
Tools
Goal-Setting and Reflection Template
Goal-setting and reflecting is a part of a learner-centered practice and it can and should take place with our youngest of learners all the way through to our most senior administrators. This tool is intended to support educators and leaders to set meaningful and relevant goals that will support a growth mindset and continuous…
Blog
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…
Blog
Designing Units with Student Choice, Real-World Problem Solving, and Technology Integration
By: Vince Fabella, Math Teacher & Technology Lead at Laguna Beach Unified School District Student engagement and technology integration are crucial components of effective teaching and learning, helping to promote interactive, dynamic, and creative problem-solving approaches that empower learners. Although the use of educational technology has increased significantly in recent years, there may be…
Blog
Reclaiming Joy at the End of the School Year
At VIDA middle school in Vista Unified School District, students in an English class give each other affirmations and gratitudes throughout the year. “Joy is the ultimate goal of teaching and learning, not test prep or graduation.” – Gholdy Muhammad, author, Unearthing Joy The end of the school year is in plain sight. Maybe…
BlogWebinars
Webinar Recording: Revealing Our Secrets: Professional Learning that Makes an Impact
Katie Martin and Bryanna Hanson share what educators want in their professional learning experiences and where to find it.
BlogWebinars
Webinar Recording: 3 Learner-Centered Professional Learning Practices to Take Back to Your District
What’s happening behind the scenes of successful learner-centered schools and districts? Intentionally designed, collaborative efforts that prioritize people, community input, and a community’s unique culture and goals. School and district leaders will get an inside view of three unique, impactful practices our team leads with schools and districts putting learners at the center. These…
Blog
Unlocking Leadership Potential with Coaching
Dr. Bryanna Norton has been an educator for the last 19 years and is currently a Middle School Principal at Hidden Valley Middle School located in Escondido, California. Prior to her principal position she worked for the San Diego County Office of Education as a Coordinator of Human Resources coaching and mentoring administrators, and…
Building State Leadership Team Capacity for Personalized, Competency-Based Learning
Utah State Board of Education Building State Leadership Team Capacity for Personalized, Competency-Based Learning Oversees 1,075 public schools in 130 LEAs Reaches over 675,000 students across grades K-12 in the state of Utah. OUR SERVICES Leadership coaching, Learning Walks, Personalized Learning Pathway, Asynchronous Learning Resources, State-level Capacity Building. GOAL The Utah State Board of…
Tools
Learning Walk “Look Fors”
This tool will help you spark conversations, create alignment, and inspire “aha” moments during your Learning Walk.
Blog
The What, Why, and How of Learning Walks
Discover the benefits of Learning Walks, how to conduct them, and why you want to make them happen in your learning community too.
Blog
365 Days of Learner-Centered Collaborative
In its first year Learner-Centered Collaborative is progressing towards its vision for education ecosystems that empower all learners to know who they are, thrive in community, and actively engage in the world as their best selves. CEO and CIO, Devin Vodicka and Katie Martin, reflect on milestones from the past year and look to…
Tools
Continue, Start, Stop Protocol
A protocol for leadership and teaching teams that supports making intentional choices to prioritize, integrate, and do things differently, based on your vision and values, to help achieve desired goals.