Learner-Centered

Diverse adults and children examining seedlings together in a community garden microschool setting.

New Pathways

The Rise of Millennial-Powered Microschools

Guest Author

Mar 7, 2024

Microschools, powered by millennial ideals, stand as beacons illuminating the path to a truly redefined educational experience.

Student with computer working beside large windows.

EdTech

The AI Revolution Should Foreground Youth Agency

Guest Author

Mar 5, 2024

Artificial intelligence is being leveraged by youth to develop actionable solutions to real world problems and projects.

New Pathways

The Role of Microschool Incubators: Nurturing the Future of Education

Getting Smart Staff

Feb 26, 2024

Incubators, specialized institutions or organizations that facilitate the creation and development of microschools, are a core part of learning innovation.

Two teachers engaging students in small-group discussion around tables in a modern, flexible classroom setting.

Learner-Centered

Where Does Work to Imagine a Learner-Centered Ecosystem Begin?

Guest Author

Feb 20, 2024

While learner-centered ecosystems can begin in a variety of ways, establishing key people, practices, connections, or conditions to build upon is one approach to developing a strong foundation.

Learners are all smiles while using conversions and proportional relationships to create tasty cinnamon rolls!

Project-Based Learning

How to Co-Design Curriculum: Fostering Inclusivity through Shared Family Narratives

Guest Author

Jan 4, 2024

Not sure how to begin a transformative educational journey with a co-designed curriculum with learners? Here is my experience doing just that, by partnering with learners to actively shape their experiences by celebrating diversity through family narratives and recipes.

Students and educators holding illustrated posters on democracy and civic learning at a collaborative workshop event.

Difference Making

Making Civic Learning Meaningful With And For Young People

Guest Author

Dec 14, 2023

Through iThrive's Game Design Studio teens were engaged as equals and experts in imagining and ideating alongside others in the civic education ecosystem.

Students gathered inside a Quonset hut makerspace with long tables, tools, and equipment for hands-on learning

Learner-Centered

Agency and Co-Authoring Thriving in Colorado Schools

Mason Pashia, Marissa Wicklund

Dec 11, 2023

Over the last few months, we’ve been fortunate to accompany school leaders to some outstanding Colorado schools that exemplify new learning models that lead to new pathways.

A teacher at Capital City Public Charter School provides feedback on a student’s science poster. (Expanded with AI).

Learner-Centered

The Students Are Talking, It’s Time We Listen

Mason Pashia, Nate McClennen

Dec 4, 2023

Student voice is often requested, but only selectively. We must encourage, engage and include students far more than we already do in our education systems.

Competency-Based Education

From the State House to the Classroom: How Policymakers Can Help Bring Competency-Based Education Into Reality

Guest Author

Sep 19, 2023

Wyoming’s big shift towards competency-based education (CBE) isn’t just a policy milestone - it’s an opportunity to examine partnership-based approaches to implementing CBE.

Place Based Education

Addressing the Reluctancy to Transform Learning Environments

Guest Author

Sep 5, 2023

Learning Communities offer a more collaborative and holistically supportive environment for kids and adults alike. Nathan Strenge shares more in their latest post.

	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

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Learner-Centered