A Tour of Innovative Schools

Dr. Bernard Bullwww.etale.org@bdean1000

Bernard.bull@cuw.edu

What is a school?Essenti

al Importa

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What do you know about…

personalized pathways, personal learning plans, adaptive learning, blended learning models and tools, online learning, real-time learning analytics, 1:1 programs, & charter management organizations.

What is educational innovation?

“Unchained solutions to educational problems through experimentation, exploration, and getting informed about the possibilities.”

What is an innovative school?

1. Visionary leadership informed by possibilities largely invisible to other school leaders.

2. One or two clear, unavoidable, school-shaping concepts

3. A “tough” mindset 4. Extensive “research” 5. Strong alliance with like-minded

organizations

What is an innovative school?

6. Effectiveness and impact data about student learning

7. Unusually high turnover8. Highly protective of what (or who)

they put in the water9. Heavy investment in ongoing PD,

especially new people10. Active in sharing their “secret”

KM Global

The Problem / Possibility

How do we prepare students for leadership

in a global and connected world?

KM Global

The Solution1. Personalized project-based

learning with local and global connections

2. Separate school, but embedded within the “legacy” high school

KM GlobalHow does it

work?1. Learning coaches and

content mentors.2. Semester-long inquiry

aligned to state standards & graduation requirements.

3. Connections beyond the school / internships

KM GlobalHow does it work?

4. Semester defense5. Supplemented with online,

blended and some traditional AP courses.

6. Learning teams7. Student access to “legacy” high

school resources.

Inquiry Examples How do you create and maintain an investment

portfolio as a young adult? How has the Human Genome Project changed

treatment for Sickle Cell Anemia over the last decade?

What evidence do scientists have that animals have emotion, and how can their emotion/behavior be changed?

How does geography and income effect a person’s nutritional diet?

How has the motorcycle impacted society? How has technology impacted the music industry

today? What does the existence of zombies in popular

culture say about society?

KM GlobalA Day/Week in the

Life• Meet with learning coach 4+ times/week• Written reflection 5+ times/week• Learning team advisory meetings 2 times/week• Weekly seminar 1/week• Attend and work in one or more legacy,

blended, or online courses as determined by personal learning plan

• Field experiences, interviews, visits, internships

KM Global

Resources1. Learning coaches2. Legacy teachers

3. Community partnerships4. Global connections

5. Project Foundry, Blendspace, Moodle, 1:1 laptop, Aleks math, video conferencing

technology

USC Hybrid High School

The Problem / Possibility

Only 8% of people from low income families

graduate college by age 24?

USC Hybrid High School

The Solution1. Personalized Learning2. High Expectations 3. Traditional + Studio

Time

USC Hybrid High School

How does it work?

1. Half of the time is teacher led courses.

2. Studio time working on interactive, self-paced, mastery lessons.

USC Hybrid High School

How does it work?3. Teachers spend significant

time designing the self-paced lessons.

4. Self-placed lessons are built for real-time tracking of student progress and mastery.

5. Optional academic exercises

USC Hybrid High SchoolA Day/Week in the

Life• Attend teacher-led classes classes• 75 minutes of studio time – “It is truly

empowering to watch a kid press pause.”

USC Hybrid High School

Resources1. USC

2. Emagine Charter Management Organization

3. 2:1 laptop and iPad4. Other curricular partners

Tagos Leadership Academy

The Problem / PossibilityHow can we provide a personalized path to

helping students build self-confidence and academic

skills?

Tagos Leadership AcademyThe Solution

1. Personalized learning plans2. Student-led project-based

learning3. Restorative justice4. Learning coaches5. Advisory circles

Tagos Leadership Academy

How does it work?

1. Personalized plan with learning coach

2. Town hall meetings3. Circles 4. Self-directed

projects

Tagos Leadership Academy

How does it work?3. Daily unplugged reading time.4. 10-12 annual “Experience

Days”5. Project defenses6. Adaptive math curriculum for

all students

Tagos Leadership Academy

A Day/Week in the Life• Circles

• 1 on 1 with learning coach• Town hall meeting• Reading time• Individual project time• Experience day (every third week)

Tagos Leadership AcademyResources

1. Office space for each student2. Presentation area

3. Meeting area4. ALEKS for math5. Modest library

6. Distance learning room7. No traditional classrooms

Innovation Lutheran High School NetworkThe Problem / PossibilityHow can we adapt to local

needs & contexts while leveraging the power of the global Lutheran education

network?

Innovation Lutheran High School Network

1. LHS management teams or SIGs for high-impact area (STEAM, blended & online, PBL,

personalized learning, etc.)2. Shared robust LMS for easy collaboration

3. 21cle.com4. LHS Open Badge (Micro-Credentialing)

Curriculum Project5. CUS Dual Credit Consortium

6. Teacher/Course/Curriculum Co-op7. LHS MOOCs

8. Center for Research and Innovation in Lutheran Education

A Tour of Innovative Schools

Dr. Bernard Bullwww.etale.org@bdean1000

Bernard.bull@cue.edu