A Tour of Innovative Schools

Dr. Bernard Bull

www.etale.org

@bdean1000

Bernard.bull@cuw.edu

What is a school?

Essential

Important

Present

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 turnover

8. Highly protective of what (or who) they put in the water

9. Heavy investment in ongoing PD, especially new people

10. 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 Solution

1. 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 Global

How does it work?4. Semester defense

5. Supplemented with online, blended and some traditional AP courses.

6. Learning teams

7. 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 coaches

2. Legacy teachers

3. Community partnerships

4. 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 Solution

1. Personalized Learning

2. 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 School

A 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 iPad

4. Other curricular partners

Tagos Leadership Academy

The Problem / Possibility

How can we provide a personalized path to

helping students build self-confidence and academic

skills?

Tagos Leadership AcademyThe Solution

1. Personalized learning plans

2. Student-led project-based learning

3. Restorative justice

4. Learning coaches

5. Advisory circles

Tagos Leadership Academy

How does it work?

1. Personalized plan with learning coach

2. Town hall meetings

3. 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 defenses

6. 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 student

2. Presentation area

3. Meeting area

4. ALEKS for math

5. Modest library

6. Distance learning room

7. No traditional classrooms

Innovation Lutheran High School Network

The Problem / Possibility

How can we adapt to local needs & contexts while

leveraging the power of the global Lutheran education

network?

Innovation Lutheran High School Network1. 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.com

4. LHS Open Badge (Micro-Credentialing) Curriculum Project

5. CUS Dual Credit Consortium

6. Teacher/Course/Curriculum Co-op

7. LHS MOOCs

8. Center for Research and Innovation in Lutheran Education

A Tour of Innovative Schools

Dr. Bernard Bull

www.etale.org

@bdean1000

Bernard.bull@cue.edu