building 21
The Superhero Schools of Philadelphia
By: Chris Unger - These inspiring schools are doing important work for underprivileged students in Philadelphia. This is how they extend student possibilities.
Shining a Light on the Future of Learning at Aurora Institute
The Getting Smart team reflects on the standout themes of the 2019 Aurora Institute (formerly iNACOL) Symposium, a conference aiming to move the needle forward for competency-based and personalized learning.
How $5 Billion Could Provide a Great Education for Every Kid on Earth
From developing more early college high schools to supporting the development and expansion of innovative platform networks, learn more as Tom outlines a plan using 15 investment and strategy opportunities, totaling $5 billion, to provide a great education for every child.
Workspace Education: A Creative Approach to Competency- and Project-Based Science
By: Erik Day and Michelle Berkeley. This innovative learning community focused on project-based learning has instituted a competency-based science program using badge criteria for students to create a personalized pathway tailored to their unique interests.
A Proposal to End Standardized Testing
Standardized testing and its lack of integration with formative measures, continues to receive backlash as we continue the shift to digital learning. Tom Vander Ark shares an approach on how states can develop better systems and the power of diploma networks to accurately capture whole student growth and achievement.
Diploma Networks: A New Way to Help Schools Adopt Broader Outcomes and Next-Gen Learning Models
Diploma networks can offer schools a promising approach to adopting new outcome frameworks and learning models to help better prepare students for the future.
Pathways to Personalization: Highlander Institute’s Framework for School Change
A problems-of-practice approach also lends itself to models that improve the system we have rather than lead to breakthrough innovations. In particular, it’s hard for one or two pilot teachers to build a competency-based system where students are learning at six different learning levels in multiple subjects.
Building 21: Bold Outcomes, Innovative Model, Next-Gen Network
Building 21 is leveraging its network to promote access to personalized and competency-based learning for students through their outcome framework.
What Game Are You Playing: Improvement or Innovation?
Improvement and innovation have different rules, expectations, and risks. The key is knowing which game you’re playing but getting the balance right between fostering innovation and fighting for equity may be the challenge of our time.
What Moment Are You In?
Tom explores what the question "what moment are you in?" means for education leaders and how the answer to that question shapes education policy.