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New Designs for School

Request for Learning: Mass IDEAS Planning Grant

Released September 17, 2018.

Mass IDEAS invites applications for planning grants to support both new school designs and whole-school redesigns, so that students across Massachusetts can attend high-quality, innovative public schools focused on the knowledge and capabilities learners need to thrive in the 21st century. Applications are due November 5, 2018.
Reimagining Assessment

Assessment for Deeper Learning: Reclaiming the Power of Assessment

We as educators need to answer these 3 essential questions so that everyone understands the vital role that assessment plays in learning and teaching.
Professional Learning

A Shared Sense of Place and Purpose at Cohasset's PBL Summit

More than 60 adults gathered at the historic Lightkeepers House in Cohasset, MA to experience project-based learning as a community.
Professional Learning

The Art and Science of Coaching Educators

Coaching is truly an art to behold when done well. But is it all an art when coaching educators? Can science aid a coach? Should it?
Reimagining Assessment

Is School a Competition?

A ‘relevance gap’ between learning in school and learning in life is partly caused by creating conditions that feel very much like a competition.
Building Community

Inspiration and the Right People @ iNACOL 2015

"Transforming education cannot be done to people, or for people, but must be done by people." -Gisele Huff
New Designs for School

A Shift in Literacy Instruction in a Primary Classroom

We can learn a lot from kids when they’ve been allowed to truly use their voice and treated as an active player in the game of learning.
Reimagining Assessment

Five Elements for Assessment Design and Use to Support Student Autonomy

By Andrew Calkins, David Conley, Margaret Heritage, Nicole Merino, Raymond Pecheone, Linda Pittenger, Denis Udall, and Justin Wells

This brief from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Assessment for Learning Working Group presents research showing that, when the concepts of student autonomy and assessments' role in that development are explored, implemented, and measured, students will become more competent and confident learners ready to handle challenges in academics, the workplace, and civic life. The brief also offers examples of student autonomy and initial proof of viable concepts. Finally, we leave the reader with discussion questions to prompt consideration of related issues of policy and practice.

The five elements:

  1. Provide accessible and actionable information that supports further learning
  2. Be understood, embraced, and valued by students as authentic and worthwhile
  3. Align with curriculum and instruction to support knowledge transfer
  4. Create opportunities to build strong identities
  5. Promote equity

July 2018
New Designs for School

Educators as Change Agents at Mahar Regional School District

Teachers in Mahar Regional School District are leading a grassroots change effort to redesign learning, with the backing of the district's superintendent.
New Designs for School

How Tech in the Classroom Can Enhance Human Interaction

Want better conversations in your classroom? Let your students start teaching themselves.