This month, our team has been writing and talking about learner-centered mindsets, how much has changed in education in five years, and what we're looking forward to in 2025.
January is nearly in the rearview mirror, and what a month it has been! From natural disasters to presidential transitions to simply returning to school after the holidays, our attention has been pulled in every direction.
During these high-energy times, we hope The Download can serve as a solid foundation for regrounding your learner-centered practice with insights, tools, and resources that support moving your work forward. Whether you're ready to make a big change or a small adjustment, we have you covered. With that, let's dive in!
Enjoy! The Learner-Centered Collaborative Team
QUICK HITS
đź“– 5(ish)-minute reads for those in-between moments
FEATURED ARTICLE: Why Stepping Outside Your School Could Be Key to Learner-Centered Change (6-minute read)
"If the system really honored the belief that each learner has unique strengths and passions that shape how they learn, how different would our learning environments look and feel?" ~Meg Parry
Rethinking Time in Schools: From Rigid Blocks to Meaningful Learning (4-minute read)
"As we rethink how we spend our time in schools, let’s ask ourselves: Are we using time to foster compliance or curiosity? Are we building systems that prioritize task completion, or are we creating space for students to thrive as independent, competent learners?" ~Katie Martin
Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Partnership, Progress, and Possibility (3-minute read)
"At the heart of these efforts is our unwavering belief in the power of collaboration. Together, we can reimagine education systems to better serve every learner, preparing them to succeed in an ever-changing world." ~Katie Martin & Devin Vodicka
6 School Design Elements That Will Bring Your Learner-Centered Vision to Life (3-minute read)
"Every school, irrespective of its current performance, harbors the potential for transformative change." ~Devin Vodicka
DEEP DIVES
Long reads, listens, and views for those topics you can't get enough of
FEATURED PODCAST: 5 Years Later: Revisiting 10 Reflections on Change in Education (29-minute listen)
"When we focus on the good, the good often gets better." ~Katie Martin
PODCAST: Empowering Learners Through Real-World Challenges with Miguel Gonzalez & Meg Parry (55-minute listen)
"Learning is human, [and my hope is] that schools feel like humane places where we can all show up as our full selves." ~Meg Parry
TOOLS & RESOURCES
Bringing learner-centered practices to life
FEATURED RESOURCE: Mindsets Reflection Tool (access here)
As we work to create learner-centered environments, examining our own water—our culture, assumptions, and beliefs—is key to cultivating the mindset shifts needed to change the water we’re swimming in. We can do this by visiting other schools implementing learner-centered practices or stepping out of our field and doing analogous experiences. The next time you plan such an experience, keep this tool by your side.
When learners track their own progress, assessment for learning (formative assessment) quickly becomes assessment as learning. Learners figure out where they are in their learning and how they learn best, which is powerful. Ideally, learners track their proficiency in specific skills, standards, or competencies – this can be done on paper or digitally. Be sure to create time and space for learners to both track and reflect on their learning.
TRENDING COURSE: Use Assessment as a Tool for Learning (access here)
Rethink the purpose of assessment as a tool for learning and learn how to leverage a variety of formative assessment methods, including quantitative and qualitative data, to modify a student’s path, pace or product and co-design personalized paths with learners.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Connecting with learner-centered educators in-person and online
FEATURED EVENT: Leadership Matters: Effective Techniques to be a Learner-Centered Leader (register here)
