Nearly one hundred members of #VaLIN Cohort 2 signed up to participate in the July 23rd Summer Pathways Culminating Collaboration. But the story is more than the fact that, with everything educators have going on right now, people came together in service of purposeful learning, equity, and engagement and connection. The story is, who you […]
Month: July 2020
Our Values In Action: My Service In 2020-21
Since my first year as a teacher in 1998, the month of June has presented a natural point of reflection and iterative design. In June, details of the recently completed academic year are fresh and tactile. Inspiration for what could be in the fall is intrepid and energized by the prospects of a rejuvenating summer. […]
In Crisis, Opportunity.
What does it mean to be an educator? In January of this year, our answer to that deceptively simple question would have been quite predictable. Since March, though, we have witnessed so many educators in our profession reveal a more nuanced and humbling elaboration beyond anything we could have ever imagined. To be an educator […]
Deeper Assessment: Why don’t we practice what we know we should do?
This four-part series on Deeper Assessment began with a high-level overview of using backwards design to decide what we really want students to know and do. Prioritizing learning outcomes is a common first step in designing a guaranteed and viable curriculum that prepares students beyond “the test.” Prioritizing standards helps determine vertical scope to prepare […]
Connecting Careers, Curriculum, and Community
Across the Commonwealth, school districts seeking to make learning experiences more authentic and purpose-driven for their students are exploring the intersection between and among career preparation, curricular outcomes, and community engagement. To that end, several VaLIN Innovation Teams are designing and facilitating systems to define career pathways, establish high-interest academies, and/or expand community partnerships that […]
“Zoomed Out” Reimagining Professional Learning Recap
Co-authored by: Dean Shareski, Victoria Caruso and Julie Foss When a product becomes a verb it’s likely a pretty good sign for that company. Today we “Google” an idea, ask for a “Kleenex” and “Photoshop” a person into a picture. You can now add “Zoom” to that list. Whether you use Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, […]