Difference Making

Our challenges and opportunities are shared and it’s never been easier, or more important to make a difference.

From hundreds of school visits and thousands of conversations with students, parents, preachers, policy-makers and the like — making a difference has emerged as the most important way for us to transform learning experiences for young people and build a better future for all. We look forward to continuing to share these experiences with you through our blog and an upcoming book.

Earth Day

Difference Making

We Can Never Repay The Earth, But We Can Try

Getting Smart Staff

Apr 22, 2020

This Earth Day, we're reflecting on our duty to the planet: to experience it to its fullest and to face the largest issue of our time head-on.

Difference Making

Why Difference Making is the New Superpower

Tom Vander Ark

Apr 22, 2020

Difference making can be the new superpower when we empower kids to make their own impact on the world.

Difference Making

Can Peer Mentoring Solve the STEM Gender Gap?

Guest Author

Apr 18, 2020

Global technology education nonprofit Technovation demonstrates the power of a community-based approach to teaching computer science to young females that centers around real-world problem-solving and mentorship.

reconciliation

Difference Making

Making All Things New: The Work of Reconciliation

Tom Vander Ark

Apr 10, 2020

We enter this season of reconciliation with new humility, a sense of individual and communal fragility and turn to the wisdom that came before.

student podcast

Difference Making

Oaklore: A Student Podcast About Difference Making in Oakland

Tom Vander Ark

Apr 9, 2020

Students in Oakland have launched Oaklore, a student podcast focused on highlighting Oakland's changemakers and cross-generational storytelling.

Difference Making

Why Your Community Needs an Environmental Sustainability Coordinator

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 24, 2020

This Seed To Table program offered in a southern California school demonstrates the potential of compelling community-connected learning.

Greta Thunberg

Difference Making

Difference Making: New Tech Makes it Easier than Ever

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 18, 2020

Introducing some of this new tech into high school entrepreneurship courses could teach students the importance of making a difference.

Difference Making

24 Goals to Save the Planet (+1 in Case We Don’t)

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 13, 2020

Studying the Global Goals students can develop leadership and problem-solving skills, and identify how they can become difference makers.

Difference Making

Demo Day for Difference Makers: Emerson Collective

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 6, 2020

Emerson Collective's annual Demo Day brings together thinkers, innovators, and change-makers for a day of dialogue and celebration.

JW Kuebler, Director, Irving Park, Chicago International Charter School

Difference Making

Your Work is to Discover Your Work: On Calling and Contribution

Tom Vander Ark

Dec 21, 2019

The idea of responding to a calling in our professional lives is widely appreciated across disciplines.

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What is the name of the school? *

What is their website? *

Why are you nominating this school? What is their superpower? *

If we were to write a blog or do a podcast with this school to highlight their innovation, what would it be? *

Who can we contact to learn more? *

What is their email? *

Enter an email.

Rate Your School Along the Following Innovative Shifts *

For more information about any of these shifts, check out our New Horizon Design Principles.

	Beginning	Piloting	Implementing
From Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery	BeginningFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Beginning	PilotingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Piloting	ImplementingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Implementing
From One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning	BeginningFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Implementing
From Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry	BeginningFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Beginning	PilotingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Piloting	ImplementingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Implementing
From Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning	BeginningFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Implementing
From Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities	BeginningFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Beginning	PilotingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Piloting	ImplementingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Implementing
From Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment	BeginningFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Beginning	PilotingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Piloting	ImplementingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Implementing
From Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets	BeginningFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Beginning	PilotingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Piloting	ImplementingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Implementing