The Center for Innovation in Education has just published a new concept paper: Leadership for Learning. We hope that the paper will serve as a tool for education communities as they organize to create a better future for learners and will serve as a stimulus for serious conversations about how to improve policy to support local initiatives.…Read More

Welcome new learners! We encourage you to share innovative solutions to problems of practice and everyday challenges that stand in the way of deeper learning!

Spotlight on personalized learning—so many great ways to reach each student!
https://fs24.formsite.com/edweek/images/Spotlight-Personalized-Learning-Sponsored.pdf

Welcome students! So glad to see you in the ARI-UK Next Generation Leadership Academy Holler! We welcome your reflections on your educational experiences, your responses to articles/resources posted, and your ideas for ways to more fully engage students in deeper learning.

How do we achieve equity in the classroom?

As we strive to personalize learning for students we are working to do the same for teachers and leaders. To that end, Mike Rutherford, author of The Artisan Teacher: A Field Guide to Skillful
Teaching, will join us for the ARI Renaissance Academy on September 28 to work with leaders and September 29 to work with teachers. Dr. Rutherford will…Read More

“These mini innovations can be subtle but add up to significant results….http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshlinkner/2016/01/18/how-micro-innovations-can-drive-breakaway-resuts/#33784ef775ae

In addition to all the great research projects emerging across the region, I’m interested in learning more about David Chapman, Tristin Cunniff, and Jill Maynard’s music skills!! Research clearly connects music to math and literacy skills….look forward to meeting you. (Jill you are a musician, right?:)

INQUIRY HOLLER OPENING SOON—STAY TUNED!!!! ARI Inquiry Fellows are collaboratively working together so that students will be able to: thoughtfully problem solve; understand not just recall, connect to relevant information; achieve higher personal goals; take ownership in learning; discover knowledge; learn to question; become independent…Read More

Registration is now open for a two-day workshop with Kathy Swan and colleagues on the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) on June 1 and 2. Teachers will receive a stipend of $100 per day plus travel expenses. Follow this link and scroll down to the second block: http://sites.education.uky.edu/nxgla/nxgl-events/

Many students tell me the AR reading program is about accumulating points for rewards rather than choosing a great book to read. Dawn Mitchell outlines a personalized approach to selecting great books while asking raising this question: “Public libraries don’t limit their readers by levels, why should we?”…Read More

Panel: Ditch Grades Now! Focus on Student Learning. One teacher did just that— “We have something far better than scores when report card time rolls around,” he explained. “We have artifacts and feedback that provide a clear picture of learning. When a teacher reviews the body of work from a student and asks, ‘Where does this fit on a…Read More

In case you are trying to “reinvent the wheel” Gerry Swan’s directions might be helpful.
http://www.uky.edu/~gmswan3/reinventing_the_wheel.pptx

Dr. Kathy Swan and colleagues will join Teacher Leaders in Hazard tomorrow, Feb. 17, at HCTC to present the Inquiry Design Model, a great resource for designing “deeper learning” experiences for students K-12 across all content areas. Hope to see you there.

Have you ever asked, “What is deeper learning?” Or, “How do we teach for deeper learning?”
The National Commission on Teaching & America’s Future (NCTAF) has done a good job in answering these questions. What would you add?
http://nctaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NCTAF-ConsultEd_How-Deeper-Learning-Can-Create-a-New-Vision-for-Teaching.pdf

Have you ever asked, “What is deeper learning?” Or, “How do we teach for deeper learning?”
The National Commission on Teaching & America’s Future (NCTAF) has done a good job in answering these questions. What would you add?
http://nctaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NCTAF-ConsultEd_How-Deeper-Learning-Can-Create-a-New-Vision-for-Teaching.pdf

ARI-UK NxG Leadership Academy scheduled for January has been rescheduled for February 17th for Teacher Leaders and February 24th for Administrators. We will continue to meet at KVEC, 412 Roy Campbell Dr., Hazard. Sessions will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you then!

Additional NxG resources may be found on University of Kentucky’s Next Generation Leadership Academy Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/University-of-Kentucky-Next-Generation-Leadership-Academy-915711391815491/?fref=nf

Looking forward to discussions with ARI Health and Wellness leads, Chuck Fluharty, Rural Policy Research Institute, and UK HealthCare leads on ways in which we can strengthen the UK partnership to support health and wellness in K-12 schools.

If you are interested in re-thinking assessment, the opportunity is here!
“The Center for Innovation in Education and NGLC invite applications to the Assessment for Learning Project. The grants will support educators to fundamentally rethink the core role(s) that assessment can play to support student attainment of deeper learning. Nearly $2…Read More

Ron Wolk, founding editor of Education Week and Teacher Magazine, discusses his vision for the future of U.S. Schools. Interestingly, this vision is shared by many. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/top_performers/2015/10/ron_wolks_vision_for_us_schools.html

Imagine a high school with 27 fully developed career pathways ranging from Biomedical Sciences and Informational Technology to Business and Marketing and Pre-Law/Criminal Justice. You don’t have to travel to California, Wisconsin, or Texas—simply visit Johnson Central High School! And, when you visit be sure to zoom in on the culture and…Read More

It was great to see redesigned classroom spaces at Sebastian Middle and LBJ Elementary in Breathitt County! Students were balancing on Yoga balls while working with laptops, reading while reclining in bean bags, moving comfortably from station to station and so engaged in learning they seemed unaware that a very excited visitor was watching…Read More

Welcome, Mrytle and Angie! I look forward to seeing you next week at the Promising Practices Summit.

Welcome new members! As you continue to work on important design challenges, we are standing by to assist you. John Nash has been sending emails with tips to help you work through the process and he always invites questions! To that end, we have a few questions for you: )
1) Are you getting the email (maybe it’s going to junk)?
2) What would m…Read More

2nd Annual Promising Practices Summit
Join Appalachian Renaissance Initiative for the Second Annual Promising Practices Summit. Participants will leave the Summit equipped with the knowledge and network connections to advance bold innovations. The Summit serves as a catalyst for energizing and accelerating strategies to improve the quality of…Read More

Welcome new members to the ARI-UK NxG Holler! If you are interested in attending the Live 2 Learn leadership conference it is scheduled for – BSCTC Prestonsburg – October 9th, 2015 (9am) L2L – and University of Pikeville October 23rd, 2015.

WELCOME to all new members—I have a question for you! Are you interested in viewing Most Likely to Succeed in it’s entirety? Do you have a school or district group who would be interested as well?
I’m reading Tony Wagner and Ted Dintersmith’s book, Most Likely to Succeed, and it is filled with provocative insights that beg for deeper…Read More

John Nash has provided more tips for Discovering Student Voices! This is the fun part of Design Thinking—gaining insights from students. “There’s no better way to understand the hopes, desires, and aspirations of (students) than by talking with them directly.” IDEO Design Kit

Special thanks to Greg Napier, Shelby Valley High School; Rhonda Jarrell, Dorton Elementary; and James Tackett, Valley Elementary, for sharing the great things happening in your schools. I really enjoyed meeting students and teachers and learning more about their achievements as well as challenges for which you are searching for solutions.…Read More

District assignments for the September ARI-UK NxG Leadership Academy are:
September 23: Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Owsley, Wolfe, Paintsville Independent, Pike, Pikeville Independent .

September 24: Floyd, Breathitt, Hazard Independent, Jackson Independent, Jenkins Independent , Letcher, Magoffin, Middlesboro Independent.

John Nash has provided tips to keep you on track during design thinking’s Discovery phase. In case you missed his email you may access information here: http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u=d33c5a538d3073f87ff7b5d2f&id=9b3215aaf6&e=332e5fd235

Abbie Combs and I had a great day visiting Feds Creek Elementary, Millard School, Elkhorn City Elementary School, and East Ridge High School. Special thanks to Geary Walton, Mike Potter, James Mercer, Alma Lockheart, and Kevin Justin for creating such welcoming learning enviroments and for sharing both legacy and next generation practices at work…Read More

Welcome to the ARI-UK NxG Holler, a great place to share resources, pose questions, and, more importantly, support the great work you are leading.

Thanks for posting the charts from the Rural Ed meeting which reflect great thinking. I’m especially interested in the low-aspirations discussion and hope to link this to our future-ready conversations next week. Also, Russ Quaglia’s survey on student aspirations is a good one but we may be able to create one that is free! If anyone is…Read More

As you welcome students to a new school year, I encourage you to read and share Dr. Tom Guskey’s article “Starting the School Year Right”. “We soon will experience the most important time in the school year for all children — the first two weeks. What happens during this critical period pretty much determines how the rest of the year will go.”…Read More

With the growing interest in year-round gardens, I wonder if there might be interest in finding grants and community partnerships to support a hydroponic/ aquaponic program at the high school level. I know teachers, students, and leaders at The Providence School in Jessamine County would be happy to share lessons learned in implementing a highly…Read More