The Student-Centered Shift: Empowered International Schools and Classrooms Through Project-Based Learning

What do grades tell students about their learning? Are they even helpful?  Even though evidence suggests grades are a poor motivator for student learning, we still use them in our classrooms to evaluate learning. But there's a much better way to not only evaluate learning, but track learner GROWTH and PROGRESS.  In this highly engaging episode recorded live at my Book Launch Party , Gary Heidt takes us through his journey of replacing grades in his classroom with portfolios and presentations of learning, and the impact it had on his learners.  This episode will make you re-imagine what's possible in your won classroom when shifting from... Grades - - - - > Self, Peer and Expert Critique Get in touch with Gary Heidt: Linkedin, Twitter/X- @Ed_by_design, Instagram- @pvnovalab Gary's Blogs: https://onlyconnects.wordpress.com ,  Https://pvhsnovalab.com   Link to Gary's Gradeless Digital Notebook: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oOWav74ZSMcoS9wXQhB6r_UCbnQR7J_b/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107869970601559545884&rtpof=true&sd=true  12 Shifts Resources:  Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to identify areas for growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftscorecard  Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Shifts-Student-Centered-Environments/dp/1032484713  Learn about the 'From Teacher Led to Student-Centered' Professional Learning Cohorts Starting in January: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass 

With AI able to fill out worksheets, write five paragraph essays, craft short stories, or pen reports in seconds, the impetus for inspiring original, real-world work couldn't be greater.  How as student-centered faciltiators do we support students in producing the kind of work that they find PERSONALLY meaningful and beautiful? Helping them find THEIR unique, personal voice. In this groubreaking episode, recorded live at our 12 Shifts launch party, Matthew Neylon, Creative Director at Mt. Vernon K-12 school unpacks the secrets to curating this kind of work across an entire school.  Through his transformation story we learn how to transform the blank walls of our schools and classsroom with the creative work and genius of kids.  Connect with Matt: Instagram/Twitter (X) (@mattneylon), Linkedin, Website: https://cre8ivmvmt.com/  Purchase the 12 Shifts Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteaher Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to identify areas for growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Watch the video presentation and join the conversation on LInkedin: Join the Conversation

What happens to student empowerment when we move from the the front of the classroom to a gentle facilitator on the side?  We get more self-directed learners. More student voice, opinions, and ideas.  A range of diverse work products.  Making this shift is NOT easy. It requires a mindset of trust, and the facilitator 'moves' to support this kind of student-centered environment. Andrew Faulstich, a Montessori Adolescent Guide and Facilitator of these kind of learning environments teaches us how to make these shifts by: Unpacking the core tenets of learner-centered environments Providing concrete strategies to foster student-led discussion Suggesting a few changes in the way we design our classrooms Offering prompts for more open-ended learner supported questions   Get in Touch with Andrew: LinkedIn, Community (Enlightened Educator Project), Blog/Newsletter (Substack)  Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to Target Areas of Growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Get the 12 Shifts Book for More Strategies/Ideas/Stories: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher (Use WT30 at checkout for 30% discount)  Andrew's Bio:  Andrew believe in the potential for education to be transformative for all students. His expertise is in facilitating learning environments where all participants, both young people and adults, experience empowerment and liberation. He developed and led international and U.S. education programs and taught students from 10 different countries in person, virtually, and in a hybrid format. Across these experiences, Andrew found that progressive, learner-centered, and Montessori education is a catalyst for a transformational change within each learner. Andrew works at the intersection of supporting human development and driving a social revolution leading to a more equitable, interdependent world.

If I walked into your classroom, would I find students seated neatly in rows facing the front, or in small interdependent table teams?  One of the best ways to shift from a teacher-led to a student-centered environments is to re-arrange your furniture.  In this short bonus episode, I unpack simple ideas for creating this kind of collaborative environment, strategies for developing interdependent student teams, and the implications it will have for your classroom in the new school year.  Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to Identify Areas for Growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard Get the 12 Shifts Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher RSVP for the 12 Shifts Launch Party: www.transformschool.com/booklaunch  

In a world with advancing AI, personalized chatbots, and ready made content at student's fingerprints, how do we engage them in work that they find personally meaningful? This short episode helps unpack the conditions necessary to engage students in this kind of work, irregardless of age or school subject. From podcasts, to state of the art green spaces, discover how to have students create professional, beautiful work. Shift #5/6: From worksheets - - - - > High-Quality, Real World Work Take the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Pre-Order the 12 Shifts Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher  Attend the Launch Party: www.transformschool.com/booklaunch  Discover 50+ Alternatives to Worksheets/Exams: Real World Work Alternative List

What happens when we allow learning to move outside the siloes of our classrooms?  In this episode, through a real case study, we learn how to design empowering, trans-disciplinary experiences with teachers across mutiple subjects. And all it takes is a few shifts in how we approach learning design.  Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: https://transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard/  Pre-Order the 12 Shifts Book: https://transformschool.com/whereistheteacher/  Attend the Launch Party to Connect to Global Practitioners: https://transformschool.com/booklaunch/ 

What happens when we lead learning with big questions, rather than mandated curriculum content?  Four year 7 teachers across 3 different subjects wanted to find out.  Over a seven week unit, they devised activities, lessons, and hands-on learning that helped students dive deeper into big questions around developing future societies.  As a result...agency, empowerment and engagement went through the roof! Learn more about the story of how they organized the learning and how you too can shift from content-led experiences, to inquiry-based experiences in the 2024-2025 school year. (Shift #2 for Student-Centered Environments)  How to Write Essential Inquiry Questions: https://transformschool.com/2020/01/26/how-to-write-an-essential-question-that-invites-wonder-and-curiosity-from-your-learners/  Take the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Pre-Order the 12 Shifts Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher Attend the 12 Shifts Launch Party to Connect to Global Practitioners: www.transformschool.com/booklaunch     

Fifth grade teacher Linda Amici's most 'dreaded standards' became her favorite after making one simple shift.... She turned them over to her students.  With this new agency, students worked harder than they ever had before.   Learn about Linda's story of co-design, and simple strategies for co-designing learning experiences with your own learners in the 2024-2025 school year.   Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: https://transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard/  Pre-Order the 12 Shifts Book: https://transformschool.com/whereistheteacher/  Attend the Launch Party to Connect to Global Practitioners: https://transformschool.com/booklaunch/ 

How do you design learning in your classroom/school?  Imagine inviting student input on everything from the way the timetable is organized, to the design of learning experiences, even to how they are assessed and evaluated.  That's the kind of voice and choice The Green School Bali provides its learners. And their learners are empowered as a result.  In this illuminating podcast episode, Head of the Upper School/Learning Dialogist/Writer/Podcaster Dr. Benjamin Freud and I unpack: Practical methods for inviting student voice/choice into the design of learning How to include more community voices, including parents, local community stakeholders and the bio-collective  How to organize curriculum around students' interests, sustainability, and other topics and projects they hope to explore    The kind of mindset required to welcome continual feedback, iteration, and collective co-design and ways to adopt it    Connect with Dr. Benjamin Freud: LinkedIN, Twitter/X Learn more about Coconut Thinking (Ben's Podcast): https://coconut-thinking.com/benjamin-freud/  Learn more about the Green School, Bali: https://www.greenschool.org/ Take the Free 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Pre-Order the 12 Shifts Book (coming in August): www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher  Dr. Benjamin Freud's Bio: Dr. Benjamin Freud is an educator, learning dialogist, writer, and podcaster. He is the co-founder of Coconut Thinking, an advisory that helps and supports educators nurture learning ecosystems grounded in relationships that contribute to the thriving of the bio-collective—any living thing that has an interest in the healthfulness of the planet. He designs learning experiences that de-center the human, moving us toward a more ecological civilization. He is also the Head of Upper School at The Green School Bali.  Before Green School, Benjamin was the Whole School Director of Learning at Prem Tinsulanonda International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He focused on the “lived” curriculum. He considered ways to develop a culture of active learning, where disciplinary boundaries start to disappear, and learners engage in meaningful projects that have an impact on themselves, others, and the world…all of this preferably taking place outside. He was responsible for teacher professional development, introducing innovative pedagogical practices, and taught classes from G4 to G12. Before Prem, Benjamin was at Misk Schools, the most prestigious and high profile school in Saudi Arabia. Along with being responsible for all day-to-day operations and leadership in the Boys’ School, Benjamin developed a unique curriculum to nurture and develop creativity, competencies, and entrepreneurial spirit in learners. He was responsible for designing authentic and Problem-Based Learning experiences across the school and for developing and implementing Personal Learning Pathways for each learner, to understand their academic and personal needs so that they can best thrive.  

What is deep learning?  Is it students engrossed in semester long units or learning experiences? Inquiring, probing, investigating, and making meaning of their learning.  Perhaps. But most of us don't have that kind of time, or freedom with our curriculum. What if deeper learning didn’t mean re-organizing everything we had, but simply making a few tweaks to what's already there.. Gathering students around a kitchen table we brought in for more balanced discussion Extending time of activities by a few minutes to allow for reflection Letting students rearrange the classroom to align to how they learn best  These are all ways Elementary Principal Jenn Fisher is helping teachers grow Deeper Learning Classrooms at her school. The response from teachers and students…"We can never go back!" Learn more about her transformation story and how deeper learning practices in your own context can transform once passive students into active, empowered learners.  Connect with Jenn: LinkedIn, Twitter (@stmartinschoole) Pre-Order the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher  Target Areas of Growth for Student-Centered Enviromnents: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Jenn's Bio:  Jenn Fisher is a dedicated educator whose passion lies in fostering healthier and more engaged students through outdoor experiences, play, and amplifying student voice. With over 12 years of experience as a principal, Jenn has consistently championed innovative approaches to education that prioritize student empowerment and holistic learning. Throughout her career, Jenn has firmly believed in the power of experiential learning and has actively incorporated outdoor activities and play into the curriculum. She understands that when students are actively engaged in their learning environment, they not only absorb information more effectively but also develop crucial life skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and resilience. As a Principal, Jenn has been instrumental in creating a school culture that values student input and encourages them to take ownership of their learning journey. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, empathy, and a deep understanding of the diverse needs of students.In her newest professional development venture in Deep Learning, Jenn is exploring how educational change can engage and empower students to take control of their education. She is passionate about creating learning environments that not only cater to students' academic needs but also nurture their passions and interests. By focusing on how, where, and what students learn, Jenn aims to create transformative educational experiences that prepare students for success in an ever-changing world.Jenn Fisher's commitment to student-centered education, coupled with her innovative approach to teaching and learning, makes her a highly respected leader in the field of education. Her work continues to inspire educators and students alike to strive for excellence and embrace change as a catalyst for growth and empowerment.