April 16, 2026

Dear Educator,

This has been a full and energizing week at ASU+GSV—packed with meaningful connections, fresh ideas, and bold conversations about the future of education.

In a space where conversations are often centered on the “Age of AI,” one reframe really stuck with me: What if this is actually the age of human connection? That shift feels both grounding and clarifying. If connection is the goal, then it challenges us to intentionally design learning, systems, and structures that prioritize relationships, belonging, and human development.

My Bright Spot this week explores how one school (and district) is working toward exactly that.

With Gratitude,

What Happens When We Design For Human Connection?

We kicked off the week with a visit to Del Mar Heights, bringing 50 education leaders from across the country to experience what a vision that centers human connection can look like in practice.

What we saw was powerful—joyful learners, energized educators, and a culture rooted in purpose and collaboration. Teachers weren’t working to prove they were “good enough”; they were working together to get even better, continuously refining their craft in service of students.

On the bus ride, conversations centered on the science of learning and how research should actively shape everything—from instructional models to schedules to physical spaces. And at Del Mar, that alignment was visible.

There was a clear Portrait of a Learner. A shared, explicit Learning Model. Thoughtful systems that guided how educators collaborate, what resources they use, and how they design meaningful learning experiences.

It was a reminder that high-quality learning environments don’t happen by chance. They are intentionally designed, nurtured, and sustained through ongoing collaboration, reflection, and growth.

If this is the age of human connection, places like Del Mar Heights show us what’s possible when we design for it.

Is human connection embedded in your learning design? At Learner-Centered Collaborative, our ecosystem framework centers Whole-Learner Outcomes that are relevant to the community of learners (adults included!) being served. We partner with schools and districts to co-create these outcomes with the broader community through our Framework for the Future design process. If you'd like to learn more about how this work might align with your community's vision for learning, reach out to our team to learn more.

In collaboration with five other organizations, Learner-Centered Collaborative was honored to contribute to a one-of-a-kind publication exploring The Future of the Educator. Six organizations share the futures they imagine, offer reflections on each other's ideas, and reflect on the feedback they receive on their own essays. Explore the ideas here.

Resources to advance your learner-centered practice

🎙️ Authentic Learning in Action—Projects, Curiosity, and Classroom Joy. "In this podcast episode, Katie Martin is joined by her husband, Matt Martin, a high school chemistry teacher at High Tech High. Together, they explore what it means to design authentic, learner-centered experiences in the classroom." Listen to the full episode here.

🎯 Classroom Strategy: Support Learners in Understanding Themselves. "For learners to make high-quality decisions about their learning and truly be in community, they need to develop a strong sense of self. Who am I? How would I describe myself? What are my strengths? How do I learn best? As educators, we can support this self-discovery through the use of frameworks, tools, and time for self-reflection and exploration." Gain inspiration from these ideas.

🔎 Personalized Learning Deep Dive "Learn how to co-design learning experiences that elevate learner voice and align with each student’s strengths, interests, and goals." Start learning here.