Blog Archives - Learner-Centered Collaborative https://learnercentered.org/category/blog/ Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:12:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://learnercentered.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/favicon-180-66x66.png Blog Archives - Learner-Centered Collaborative https://learnercentered.org/category/blog/ 32 32 What Learners Really Experience: Reflections from the LiftOff Design Sprint https://learnercentered.org/blog/what-learners-really-experience-reflections-from-the-liftoff-design-sprint/ Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:00:10 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11289 I recently had the opportunity to participate in the LiftOff Design Sprint, where 75 leaders from education, technology, research, philanthropy, and civic sectors came together in Silicon Valley. Over three days, we worked in teams to rapidly prototype 10 innovative learning models designed to help young people build the habits, skills, and mindsets they need...

The post What Learners Really Experience: Reflections from the LiftOff Design Sprint appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> Public Microschools as an On-Ramp to Systemic School Redesign https://learnercentered.org/blog/public-microschools-as-an-on-ramp-to-systemic-school-redesign/ Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:49:39 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11276 The idea of microschools is generating growing interest across the education landscape. They’re showing up more frequently in philanthropic conversations, conference sessions, and learner-centered education spaces as leaders look for new ways to respond to longstanding challenges and emerging opportunities. For school and district leaders, this rising interest can feel irrelevant to their local contexts....

The post Public Microschools as an On-Ramp to Systemic School Redesign appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> Rethinking SAMR in the Age of AI: Why the Model Needs a Second Axis https://learnercentered.org/blog/rethinking-samr-in-the-age-of-ai-why-the-model-needs-a-second-axis/ Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:02:27 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11250 This article originally appeared on Getting Smart and has been republished with their permission. Written by Vriti Saraf, Nate McClennen, & Katie Martin Key Points The SAMR model needs a second axis (positive vs. negative impact) to better evaluate AI’s effect on teaching and learning. AI’s role in education is nuanced—its success depends on whether...

The post Rethinking SAMR in the Age of AI: Why the Model Needs a Second Axis appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> What an 8th-Grade Defense Taught Me About Competency-Based Learning https://learnercentered.org/blog/what-an-8th-grade-defense-taught-me-about-competency-based-learning/ Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11211 Written by Maysa Dadmun Have you ever watched a student light up when they get to learn about something they truly love? That spark is what shaped my entire 8th-grade defense project, and now, as a freshman in high school, it’s shaping the way I approach learning every day.  I attended Sussex School, a K–8...

The post What an 8th-Grade Defense Taught Me About Competency-Based Learning appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> If No One Was Telling Us What To Do, What Would We Build? https://learnercentered.org/blog/if-no-one-was-telling-us-what-to-do-what-would-we-build/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:53:53 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11224 For decades, K-12 educational leaders have worked within a system and structure of someone else’s design. We’ve generally been operating with an “outside-in” policy model where Federal rules, funding, accountability systems, and compliance requirements have shaped what we do and how we think about what is possible. State Departments and local education agencies have incorporated...

The post If No One Was Telling Us What To Do, What Would We Build? appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> Looking Back to Move Forward: Our Year of Redesign, Renewal, and Relentless Hope https://learnercentered.org/blog/looking-back-to-move-forward/ Tue, 30 Dec 2025 22:05:23 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11186 As 2025 comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a season marked by uncertainty, rapid change, and a growing chorus of voices calling for something better for our kids, educators, and communities. From the fluctuating role of the federal government to the dizzying acceleration of AI, the context around education has shifted faster...

The post Looking Back to Move Forward: Our Year of Redesign, Renewal, and Relentless Hope appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> Webinar Recording: Let’s Talk About Competency-Based Learning https://learnercentered.org/webinars/webinar-recording-lets-talk-about-competency-based-learning/ Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:35:37 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11181 In this webinar, three learner-centered leaders share their journeys implementing competency-based teaching, learning, and assessment in their unique school systems. Melissa Olson (Spring Lake Park Schools), Wendy Fairon (Chico Country Day School), and Sharon Stanley (Compass Academy) describe how they shifted from traditional grading and reporting toward systems that elevate clarity, student agency, meaningful evidence...

The post Webinar Recording: Let’s Talk About Competency-Based Learning appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> This is Our Opportunity to Create A Learner-Centered Path for AI Integration in Education https://learnercentered.org/blog/this-is-our-opportunity-to-create-a-learner-centered-path-for-ai-integration-in-education/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:57:06 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11146 In conversations across the country, I hear a growing mix of excitement and apprehension about the role of artificial intelligence in education. Many see the potential, yet most also sense a disconnect between what today’s AI tools produce and the kinds of learning experiences we want for young people. This tension is not incidental—it reflects...

The post This is Our Opportunity to Create A Learner-Centered Path for AI Integration in Education appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> Webinar Recording: How Districts Are Making Big Moves to Create Learner-Centered Systems https://learnercentered.org/webinars/webinar-recording-how-districts-are-making-big-moves-to-create-learner-centered-systems/ Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:50:59 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11130 In this webinar, Dr. Jackie Removcik from Hampton Township School District (PA) and Alison Fieberg from Del Mar Union School District (CA), share how their districts are making bold, learner-centered shifts through distributed leadership, clarity of vision, and intentional system redesign. Both districts highlight how whole-learner outcomes, strategic coherence, and empowered educators are helping transform...

The post Webinar Recording: How Districts Are Making Big Moves to Create Learner-Centered Systems appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]> 5 Tips for Launching Internships and Apprenticeships in Your District https://learnercentered.org/blog/5-tips-for-launching-internships-and-apprenticeships/ Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:00:32 +0000 https://learnercentered.org/?p=11096 Every year, thousands of students graduate high school without stepping foot into a professional work setting. In today’s rapidly changing world, this lack of exposure is not providing students with the experiences and skills they need to thrive beyond graduation. So, what if school was not separate from the “real world,” but an active part...

The post 5 Tips for Launching Internships and Apprenticeships in Your District appeared first on Learner-Centered Collaborative.

]]>