Publishing
“Difference Making at the Heart of Learning” by Thomas Vander Ark, Emily Liebtag
“Learning in the Zone: The 7 Habits of Meta-Learners” by Dr. Sonny Magana
“Core Practices for Project-Based Learning” by Pam Grossman et. al.
“An Ethic of Excellence: Building a Culture of Craftsmanship with Students” by Ron Berger
“Evolving learning” & “Invisible learning” by John Moravec
“How I Taught My Kid to Read” by John McWhorter
Key Takeaways:
Deeper learning (problem-based, challenge-based) leads to a more engaged learner.
Teaching and learning that gives control to students unlocks their passion and motivation. Stronger feelings of belonging lead to stronger academic outcomes.
The best digital tools fuse learning and doing, engagement and pedagogy, standards-alignment and outcome delivery.
Purposeful student work needs to be shared, especially because student-directed family engagement is more effective.
Fanschool with Josh Chernikoff, educational enrichment expert, and John Gamba, Director of Innovative Programs at University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.
Play
“Our thesis is that a primary cause of the rise in mental disorders is a decline over decades in opportunities for children and teens to play, roam, and engage in other activities independent of direct oversight and control by adults.” The Journal of Pediatrics
A growing community of researchers and educators are now exploring, defining and developing the vital role of play in human development, wellbeing and learning.
“Free to Learn” makes a good case for the importance of play as a renewable resource for school reform and transformation.
Optimal approach for students = Incorporating key elements of play (wonder, exploration, and agency) into loosely structured lessons that are gently supported by teachers.
“When humans create and share experiences designed to delight or amaze, they often end up transforming society in more dramatic ways than people focused on more utilitarian concerns.” - Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World by Steven Johnson
“We have become a culture that is overtly pre-packaged and prescribed... Kids are starved for a place to simply play." - Playful by Design, a landmark report
“Play generates optimism, seeks out novelty, makes perseverance fun, leads to mastery, gives the immune system a bounce, fosters empathy and promotes a sense of belonging and community” - National Institute for Play
“The sooner you begin to play, you begin to learn about the social world.” - Brains at Play
Kids can learn more from guided play than from direct instruction, report finds.
Portfolios
Networks and relationships are critical.
XQ’s Learner Outcomes
New Tech Network’s Middle School Rubrics
NGLC’s What Learners Need to Thrive in a world of change
Should struggling students be held back a grade?
What skills are needed?
Solving the problem of students feeling isolated and disconnected from their peers.
Fanschool can help students to feel more connected, supported and engaged in their learning.
Here are some of the specific problems that Fanschool solves:
Lack of opportunities for student collaboration.
In traditional classrooms and school systems, students often have limited opportunities to collaborate with each other. This can make it difficult for students to learn from each other and to build relationships with their peers. Fanschool provides a platform where students can easily collaborate on projects, share ideas, and give each other feedback.
Feeling isolated and alone.
Many students feel isolated and alone in school. This can be due to a number of factors, such as feeling like they don't fit in, having different interests than their peers, or being the only one in their class who is struggling with a particular subject. Fanschool provides a platform where students can connect with other students who share their interests and who can offer support and encouragement.
Lack of access to resources.
Not all students have equal access to resources, such as books, computers, and educational materials. Fanschool provides a platform where students can access a wide range of resources, including articles, videos, and lesson plans. This can help students to learn at their own pace and to get the support they need to succeed.