Craft Category: Artifacts

Over the last decade, the American education system has seen unprecedented transformation of teaching and learning as educators have grasped the power of new learning models to close achievement gaps and extend access to high-quality learning opportunities.

The next few years hold great potential to continue the incredible progress we have achieved—with new learning models that allow personalization of instruction for each student and a shift towards competency education that will ensure teaching and learning are built on a foundation of true mastery. These advances have the potential to close achievement gaps, prepare more students for college and career, and reduce inequities in our education system.

However, this shift cannot be sustained without changes in state policy. Laws, rules, and regulations written in the analog era must be adapted to support new learning models. States must ensure that students have access to a wide range of choices across the learning continuum, that those choices are of high quality, and that the necessary supports and infrastructure—funding models, data systems, and broadband connectivity—are in place to enable highly personalized pathways.

This policy brief provides concrete, actionable recommendations for state policymakers.

This CompetencyWorks brief provides an introduction to competency education with a snapshot of states’ policies regarding competency education. The report notes how states are advancing competency-based learning, and it describes eight ways that states can upgrade their policies.

This CompetencyWorks brief provides an introduction to competency education and insight into how federal policy can remove barriers and catalyze competency education. The report provides a snapshot of competency-based state policy throughout the U.S., and it explains what individual states are doing to advance competency education.

This report discusses a student-centered federal policy framework designed to advance the growth of competency education. The authors argue that the current traditional system fails students, and it is time to reframe quality, accountability, and access.

The traditional education system is often reinforced by federal, state, and local governments through outdated compliance requirements and funding structures. The success of competency education rests heavily on the federal adoption of a new student-centered policy framework. Read this report and discover how this proposed federal framework builds the capacity for systems change.

The purpose of this report is to explore how to redesign grading systems to best help students gain the skills necessary to be successful. This report explains the weaknesses of traditional grading systems, and how to redesign grading along the 6 elements of competency-based grading. It highlights lessons learned from the field, such as transparency, community engagement and continuous improvement, and discusses important topics such as college admissions. The research depicts how to design for deeper learning and equity. This report will help districts and schools converting to competency education develop new philosophies of grading, as well as the specific practices needed to operationalize them.

This report studies the best practices necessary to rethink the skills, methods and pedagogical evolution that teacher education must address. If we are to ensure great teachers are trained, mentored and retained for our students — the programs themselves must emulate 21st century skills.

The examples found in this report have unique elements and frameworks that others may learn from and replicate. Read this report and discover how to train today’s teachers to match new learning models.

This brief summarizes iNACOL’s New Learning Models, which personalize learning using competency-based approaches. Supported by blended and online learning modalities, teachers use technology to differentiate instruction and engage students in deeper learning.

By adapting instruction to reflect a student’s level of mastery, blended and online models have the potential to keep students engaged and supported as they progress at their own pace. Browse this brief to explore new learning models that lead to higher levels of student learning and attainment.

iNACOL publishes a research agenda on an ongoing basis to continue its work in field-building, capacity-building and knowledge-building. Based on a 2013 survey of the field to identify research needs, iNACOL developed a research approach, including the following:

• Build a collaborative research agenda, including: field experts, the iNACOL Research Committee, the iNACOL Research Special Interest Group, leadership experts, and communities of practice.
• Identify research needs for the field.
• Create the final national research agenda report.

The purpose of this research agenda is to evaluate broad needs across the field and to prioritize future research needs. Browse this report to explore iNACOL’s research agenda and needs across the field.

Explore the latest data concerning online and blended learning, enrollment, access, courses, and key policies indicators. Review online learning statistics, trends, policy issues, and iNACOL strategic priorities.

Obtain a snapshot view of state funding models for both full-time and supplemental online learning programs. Examine this resource now to stay connected with the most recent facts regarding the online learning field.

This roadmap was designed to provide guidance to NYCDOE school administrators in implementing blended learning programs in their own schools. Over the 2012-13 school year, iNACOL worked with 8 NYCDOE Lab Schools, each with its own blended learning model, to create this roadmap to improve blended learning implementation.

This roadmap has the following goals:

• Provide an overview of current blended learning models.
• Provide an understanding of iLearnNYC program and its support system.
• Identify and define 6 elements of a successful blended learning program.
• Identify essential questions administrators should consider.
• Share promising practices.
• Provide case studies.
• Share resources: rubrics, timelines, and continuums.

View this roadmap now for guidance on how to set school goals and implement the model that will best meet the individual needs of the students in your specific school.