WHY
Need for Next Generation Learning
• The Colorado job market is evolving quickly
• Colorado is producing far fewer college graduates than our job market
demands
• The Colorado Paradox
• There are fewer and fewer places for those without degrees to begin
their career
1
WHY
Policy Opportunity
• State policy is a powerful way to focus and sustain efforts
• In May 2013, the State Board of Education adopted a new set of Graduation
Guidelines which create a positive incentive to shift systems toward personalized
learning (PL)
− Focus on competency-based requirements rather than seat time
− Provide students with a menu of options to demonstrate readiness (portfolios
and capstone projects), rather than a single exit exam
− Promote multiple pathways for student learning
− Reinforce the next generation learning student outcomes
• However, this policy also creates an unintended incentive to lower the bar for
some students
Our strategic plan provides an exciting opportunity to create resources, practices,
systems, and policies that support rigorous and high-standards implementation of
the new competency-based system in Coalition schools and statewide
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WHO
The Promise of the Coalition Lies in Sharing, Scaling, and Sustaining
D11
Competency-based
systems, models,
and tools
PL trainings,
modules, and
resources
Adams 50
Thompson
Next
Gen
Learning
Partners,
awareness, and
resources
CLF
CDE
Personalized
instruction,
performance-based
assessments
Policy, permission,
and tools
3
WHAT
Colorado’s Vision for Next Generation Learning – Student Outcomes
4
WHAT
Colorado’s Vision for Next Generation Learning – Learning Environment
Characteristics
Current
Next Generation
School- and grade-based
Personal and personalized
Seat time
Competency-based
Teacher-driven learning
Co-created
Culture is secondary
Safe and healthy
Time-, talent-, and
technology-driven
Time-, talent-, and technology-enabled
5
WHAT
Colorado’s Vision for Next Generation Learning – System Characteristics
Current
Next Generation
Risk averse
Manages risk through learning agenda
Narrow focus of
accountability
Holds schools accountable for all next
gen outcomes
Centralized
decisions
Co-created
Students and teachers
organized into cohorts
Organized to be responsive to
individual students
Driven by historical
schedules and structures
Driven by learner needs
6
IMPACT
The Promise of the Coalition Lies in Sharing, Scaling, and Sustaining
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