“[Students] need to understand how to come up against problems in society. They need to be able to think. They need to be able to challenge. They need to be able to collaborate. They need to feel empowered enough to have a voice and to use that voice to make change. And I think [...]
We are proud to share our work and learning through our Open Resources. This practice embodies our core value of transparency and supports a community of educators in their search for transformative resources and design inspiration. A few years ago, we created a space on our website to share our Learning What Matters competency [...]
Earlier this month, Building 21 was featured on the Competency Works blog. Tom Gaffey, Building 21's Chief Instructional Technologist, authored a piece that highlights our Learning What Matters Framework and details a few of our introductory professional development activities. We are honored and excited to share our work on a [...]
Reimaging school. As easy as riding a bike, right? We think it’s more like setting aside what you know about riding a bike and learning how to ride in a completely different way. Which has been done before. Check out Destin from Smarter Every Day and The Backwards Brain Bicycle. [...]
In July, we hosted 90 partners and colleagues for the Summer Design Institute, three days of learning, designing, and growing as professionals and adult learners within the Building 21 Network. We welcomed teachers and administrators from across the country, as well as many partners and supporters from across the region and beyond. This year’s [...]
"That’s a big budget! With resources of that size, smart teams could take on the most interesting opportunity of our time—quality elementary and secondary education for every young person on earth." "Platform networks that share outcome frameworks (we call them diploma networks like Building 21) have the potential to help schools adopt new goals and learning models [...]
As 2018 comes to a close, we share this reflection written by Donell McNeal, Principal of Central Academy. Central Academy is one of our affiliate schools located in the West Ada School District (Meridian, Idaho). “To create a learner driven environment, we must move from compliance to autonomy. Each member of the [...]
"The goal is personalized pathways where student strengths and interests shape a journey through foundational skills to college and career readiness." Tom Vander Ark Earlier this month, Building 21 was featured on the Getting Smart blog. We are honored and excited that our work is being shared on a national level. With transparency [...]
This post originally appeared at GETTINGSMART on July 8, 2018. By Chip Linehan Our current system’s narrow definitions of student success value content knowledge over the skills and mindsets needed for students to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world. On the other hand, next-generation graduation requirements that measure and credit a broader and deeper array [...]
"There is, however, one thing that the twins' teachers, families and communities can do to improve their odds, no matter where they go to school: Make sure they are engaged in learning something important with someone who cares about them." To Overcome Poor Schools, Students Need to be Engaged by Karen Pittman Early in [...]
