Place Based Education
school visits
Schools Worth Visiting
Kepner Keeps True to the Innovation Model
Kepner Beacon Middle School is in its inaugural year, but it has already developed an impressive program. Here, I share some photos that outline what I saw in my recent visit to the school.
SEL & Mindset
Houston High Schools Provide Career Options and Choice for Students
By: Emily Liebtag and Tom Vander Ark. All across Houston, there are high schools that range in focus from law enforcement to language. Join us for a look at the innovative programs that two of these schools are using to develop career-ready students.
Project-Based Learning
My First School Visit: Project-Based STEM at TAF
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I was first invited to go on a school visit in my home district of Federal Way, where I received my 20th-century education. Read more about how the district is making strides towards next-gen learning here.
Leadership
Personalization and Real-World Learning at Big Picture Schools
By: Rosie Clayton. As part of my exploration of innovation ecosystems in education across the U.S., I had a chance to visit two Big Picture Learning schools and found these six aspects of the schools extremely impressive.
Leadership
Reengineering HigherEd: Student-Centered Learning at Olin College
By: Tom Vander Ark. Olin College was designed to be different. Here are nine things that stand out about Olin that other higher education institutions could consider implementing to innovate programs and graduates.
Leadership
Pennsylvania Charter Emphasizes Liberal Arts for Success
We recently had the opportunity to visit Renaissance Academy, a K-12 public charter school in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, that focuses on liberal arts to prepare students for college.
Leadership
4 Lessons Learned from a Silicon Valley School Tour
By: Laura Gilchrist . A Kansas City teacher shares four lessons learned from her recent Silicon Valley school tour that she feels can help her and other community leaders empower their students to create, learn and lead in school and community.
Personalized Learning
Denver Public Schools Partners with KIPP Colorado for Student Success
As we witnessed on our recent school tour in Denver, the state's educational options are improving and getting much more interesting, including a partnership between DPS and KIPP. Here are a few examples from the schools we visited.
Leadership
Visiting Schools: Transformative Professional Learning
Over the years we've visited hundreds of schools, and have found that seeing innovative education models in person can be a transformative professional learning experience for educators and edleaders.
Leadership
Do You Have A Blended Learning Department? You Should.
Washington, D.C., is an interesting place for education, as we recently witnessed while touring schools there with a group from Kansas City to learn more about what the district has done to blended and personalized learning.