CATALYST

Igniting a Learner-Centered Paradigm

Dear Esteemed Colleague,

In the education landscape, seat-time requirements have long been a prevalent but limiting aspect of the traditional system. By mandating a specific amount of time for students to physically occupy a seat in a classroom, the focus shifts away from true learning and growth. 

Instead, we must strive to empower students to grasp concepts at their own pace, promoting a more personalized and impactful learning experience. This is particularly important when we recognize that learning happens anywhere and at any time. It is time for us to break free from the constraints of seat-time requirements, ultimately paving the way for a more dynamic and effective education system.

In challenging the status quo, learner-centered leaders can play a pivotal role in revolutionizing the learning process. By advocating for learner-centered practices that prioritize individual student needs through whole-learner, competency-based education, we can move away from the rigidity of seat-time requirements and towards a more flexible, empowering approach. 

This paradigm shift is essential to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in education. By redefining the notion of learning success, we can foster an environment where students can thrive and reach their full potential. Ultimately, it is through the removal of unnecessary barriers like seat-time requirements that we can create a truly learner-centered education system that better serves the diverse needs of all students.

Yours in learner-centered collaboration, 

RESOURCES

📕 READ

THE RIDICULOUSNESS OF SEAT TIME REQUIREMENTS

Here are two compelling reasons for us to eliminate seat time. Read now 

RETHINKING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IN A HYBRID WORLD

Access concrete examples, including innovative scheduling models, around how we might shift away from seat-time-driven credits into performance-based demonstrations of learning. Read now

✅ TRY

LEARNER-CENTERED STRATEGY LIBRARY

Have you checked out this collection of actionable educator strategies aligned to learner-centered experiences such as competency-based learning? Explore them now and bookmark the ones you want to focus on this school year! You'll be glad you did!

💡 LEARN

SPOTLIGHT ON A COURSE

Check out this self-paced course, Plan With a Competency-Based Approach, that supports educators in designing meaningful and aligned assessments that truly measure the desired learning outcomes, co-define success criteria through a variety of styles of rubrics with learners, and build in cycles of iteration.

EVENTS

 📆 AUGUST CONFERENCES

We are thrilled to be delivering a keynote and several sessions at Jefferson County, Kentucky's Deeper Learning Symposium 2023: When Learners Lead. Follow along on social this week with #JCPSDL!

LEARNER-CENTERED CATALYZER

Each month in Catalyst we’ll celebrate a learner-centered catalyzer—an individual or team putting learners at the center getting us closer to our vision for education ecosystems that empower all learners to know who they are, thrive in community, and can actively engage in the world as their best selves. Have someone to nominate? Tell us about them here.

August’s Learner-Centered Catalyzers 

Kelly Eveleth and Stacey Lamb, both esteemed Learning Experience Designers (LEDs) at Design39Campus, are at the forefront of promoting flexible learning in their educational practice. 

With a shared passion for empowering students, they have embarked on a journey to transform traditional learning paradigms into dynamic and adaptable experiences. Through their innovative approach, Kelly and Stacey embrace learner-centered methodologies that allow students to explore and absorb knowledge at their own pace, fostering a deep sense of ownership over their learning journeys.

By curating interactive and engaging learning environments, they inspire curiosity and creativity, enabling students to connect with the content in meaningful ways. Emphasizing flexibility, Kelly and Stacey continually adapt their teaching methods to cater to the diverse needs and learning styles of each individual, ensuring that every student thrives and reaches their full potential. Their dedication to flexible learning serves as a powerful catalyst for empowering students to take charge of their education and become lifelong learners.

Thank you Kelly and Stacey for your unwavering dedication to asking questions and designing solutions to best serve your learners and for sharing your innovative practices with others so we can improve outcomes for all learners. To learn more follow @Design39Campus.

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