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.
Harnessing Uncertainty as a Learning Tool
When it comes to how we learn, rarely is something more impactful than navigating uncertainty. Deeper Learning happens when people are in situations where they must simultaneously learn, apply thinking, and reflect.
Success Takes Agency, Identity, and Competency
Young adult success requires agency, an integrated identity, and competencies. Drawing on research from many fields, theory and practice to identify building blocks for life success, The University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research developed a framework for youth development.
Rethinking Assessment to Meet the Demands of the 21st Century Workforce
With innovative teaching models and new assessment capabilities brought about by technology, students and teachers will have greater access to information about levels of understanding, remediation can decrease, and personalized learning at scale will become reality.
Choosing to Leave Private School for a Self-Directed Journey
By: Colleen Broderick. Not many students consider leaving elite academies to pursue their own learning experience. Nick Bain, a high school junior at Colorado Academy, left school last semester to test the efficacy of agency of his own education.
How I Paved my Unique Path with Career Path High
By: Eleanore “Ellie” Northrop. How Ellie's decision to take control of her secondary journey led to a personalized high school experience, two job offers before graduation, and the beginning of her career.
Your Kid Just Said He’s Not Going to College, Now What?
Your kid says he’s not going to college, what do you do? Start by asking Jr. how he thinks he’s going to make a living and if he’s got longer term aspirations. Listen before advising. If and when it makes sense, run these seven HigherEd options by Jr.
Simon’s Rock Early College: Three GenDIY Women Paving Their Own Path
By: Mickey Revenaugh. Occupying an idyllic slice of the Berkshires is an early college school where students often joke about being the country’s best educated high school dropouts.
Experiencing the World, Designing my own Learning Plan
By: Caleb Silverman. While my family travels to Ethiopia, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Eastern Europe, being away from school for six months means I must find alternative ways to learn on the road.
Student-to-Student: Customize Your High School Experience and Make it Meaningful
By: Grant Ryerse. Seven ways students can pursue their interests and customize high school: Finding "the best" parts, service learning, career exploration, teamwork, hands-on learning, and online learning.
Connections Education & Nexus Academy: Changing the Vision
By: Lindsay Penny. Blended schools like Nexus Academy of Lansing are flowering because they mirror the imperatives of GenDIY: School choice, course-level choice, personalized learning plans and coaching models and access to advanced digital tools.