Professional Learning
Professional Learning

Educators are the lead learners in schools. If they are to enable powerful, authentic, deep learning among their students, they need to live that kind of learning and professional culture themselves. When everyone is part of that experiential through-line, that’s when next generation learning thrives.

Learn More

New England teams interested in redesigning the high school experience can apply by April 30 for mini-grants with the Innovative Schools Learning Excursion to Kentucky, October 21-24, 2024.

Update May 1, 2024: The application for this excursion is now closed.

Many schools across the U.S. are working to innovate the high school learning experience in ways that leads to the outcomes our young people need and deserve. At NGLC, we are particularly excited about the innovative learning at STEAM Academy in Lexington, Kentucky, and nearby Eminence Independent School District. And in partnership with the Barr Foundation, we are thrilled to invite high school teams in New England to apply for the Fall 2024 Innovative Schools Learning Excursion and join us in Kentucky to visit STEAM Academy and Eminence schools!

> Is your community interested in making high school more relevant and engaging for students?

> > Are you curious to see how other high schools have approached innovation?

> > > Do you want to bring student voices into your redesign work?

> > > > Are you ready to implement strategies to redesign the high school experience and looking for a little inspiration—and time—to explore and plan your next steps?

The Innovative Schools Learning Excursion to Kentucky has been designed for school communities—educators, students, and other partners—that are answering these questions with a resounding "yes!"

Read on to see why we're so excited about these two school communities and the partners in Kentucky that are supporting them. And then download the program overview for more details about the schools, the learning excursion programming, the application process, and the link to the application form.

Applications are due Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Mini-grants are provided to support teams' travel and learning!

STEAM Academy, Fayette County Public Schools

In STEAM Academy’s strong culture of high-expectations and inclusion, students experience both a sense of family and a highly engaging project-based learning environment. The science, tech, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) emphasis fosters learning of both course content and the school’s STEAM Habits. Internships and dual credit opportunities are accessible to students through an innovative schedule that prepares all of the school’s diverse students for these real-world learning experiences. Learning excursion participants will observe student engagement in a variety of learning spaces, interdisciplinary STEAM learning, and student-centered practices.

What Is STEAM Academy? (2022) was produced by students!

Eminence Independent School District

District-wide, from pre-kindergarten to senior year at Eminence Independent School District, “Surprise and Delight” combines with a personalized, passion-based, experiential learning model that empowers Eminence students to be risk-takers, collaborators, communicators, leaders, and visionaries, as expressed in the Eminence Exemplars. Participants will observe the joy and productive struggle in classrooms filled with meaningful moments; learn about standards-based grading, microcredentials, and defenses of learning in multiple grades; and experience the vibrant school culture and learning spaces like the multimedia Edhub which combines both technology and play.

Sustaining a Schoolwide Culture of Playful Learning (2024) was produced by Edutopia.

Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC)

The Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC) is a consortium of 14 school districts serving over 150,000 students in north central Kentucky. Learning excursion participants will learn about deeper learning initiatives across the state, how OVEC is contributing to an ecosystem of deeper learning support for innovative systems-level change, and lessons learned from across OVEC districts’ efforts to provide deeper learning experiences and outcomes for students.

  

LEARN MORE AND APPLY BY APRIL 30!

NGLC logo square

NGLC Team

Next Generation Learning Challenges

A dedicated team moving the mission of NGLC forward, helping to bring next gen learning to today’s students.