Schools Worth Visiting
The Getting Smart team visits hundreds of schools each year and is grateful for the opportunity to see high-quality teaching and learning in action. This series features stories of schools that share best practices, lessons learned and next-gen teaching practices that support high-quality, personalized, project-based learning for all students.
Why We Use Digital Badges at Del Lago Academy
By: Alec Barron. Here is why educators at Del Lago Academy, an Applied Science focused high school, developed a digital badging system for our students.
Elementary & Middle Schools Worth Visiting
Here at Getting Smart, we think school visits are the best form of professional learning. Based on a couple thousand school visits, and with help from colleagues and readers, we’ve compiled this list of elementary and middle schools worth visiting.
The Technologies Reshaping Life and Livelihood
AI is rapidly reshaping the employment landscape, and given the opportunities and challenges this creates it is a topic every school community should be discussing with students.
Improving Connectivity to Create Powerful Learning Experiences
By: LaShona Dickerson. Lafayette Parish School System is the sixth largest district in Louisiana, and our outdated network made it impossible to provide connectivity for so many. Here is how we addressed our challenge and the lessons we learned along the way.
Holacracy: Organizing For Change At District 51
Holacracy is a system for self-organizing, so that as context changes, so can the organization. Here is more on how Mesa Valley County School District 51 is implementing this model internally as they shift to a competency-based education system.
Student-Centered Design Focused Learning at a Student-Led School
One Stone students and educators share their thoughts on what really sets this student-led and directed nonprofit high school apart and what they feel really worked for them this first year.
7 Critical Components to Empower Student Success
By: Lori Vandeborne & Steve Vanderhoff. Here are the 7 Critical Components to Empowering Success we implement at Rushmore Academy to ensure we remove any and all barriers to learning for our at-risk student population.
Student 3D Printing That Helps Make A Difference
By: Joy Schwartz. Students thrive when asked to solve real problems that have the power to make a difference, as demonstrated by my high school students while designing and building a working prosthetic arm to donate to a local seven-year-old girl.
Professional Learning: The Power of School Visits
School visits can be a powerful part of a professional learning plan and a critical part of a school transformation effort. Here are five specific reasons we feel school visits are a must-have item for community leader and school member participation.
The Vision of Performance-Based Education at District 51
During my visit to District 51 in Colorado to observe its shift to competency-based education, I learned more about how leadership is shaping the overall vision to create a culture that includes growth mindset and social & emotional learning.