Office of Digital Learning

Free webinar series on "deeper learning" from the Alliance for Excellent Education

To succeed in college and career, today's students need the ability to understand content deeply and use that knowledge to think critically and solve problems. They also need to communicate effectively in a variety of media, collaborate with others, and be a lifelong learner through the ability to direct their own learning.

During the month of September, the Alliance for Excellent Education will hold a series of three webinars focused on these "deeper learning" competencies. For additional information on each, or to RSVP for a webinar, click on a link below or scroll down.

• Thursday, September 14: Advancing Positive Learning Mindsets Through Deeper Learning
• Monday, September 18: How States and School District Leaders Can Assess Deeper Learning
• Wednesday, September 27: Using Title I to Promote Deeper Learning

Advancing Positive Learning Mindsets Through Deeper Learning

Thursday, September 14, 2017 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. (EDT) | Register

Learning mindsets are attitudes and beliefs about one's self in relation to learning and the environment in which one learns; they are referred to as "academic mindsets" and "student mindsets." While research shows that a mindset is malleable, a learning mindset significantly depends on conditions within a student's learning environment and messages students receive about their learning ability.

When educators nurture positive learning mindsets among their students, students are far better able to view new challenges as a natural part of the learning process. These positive mindsets, in turn, encourage students to develop better habits and skills that ultimately boost their classroom performance.

This webinar will focus on how educators can nurture positive learning mindsets among their students so they develop better habits and skills that lead to deeper learning outcomes. This event is based on a paper cowritten by two of the panelists—Learning Mindsets and Skills in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The webinar will explore opportunities in ESSA to use funds to advance positive learning mindsets and deeper learning skills.

While there are many approaches to creating learning mindsets and skills, this webinar will focus on (1) research/practice partnerships to create and expand promising programs, (2) use of interventions to support learning mindsets as tools for school improvement, and (3) the role of teacher preparation in developing learning mindsets.

Panelists

• Perpetual Baffour, Former Research Associate, Center for American Progress
• Ulrich Boser, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
• Rebecca Snyder, Chair of English Department, Greater Latrobe Senior High School (PA); Pennsylvania State Teacher of the Year 2009
• Winsome Waite, PhD, Vice President of Policy to Practice, Alliance for Excellent Education

How States and School District Leaders Can Assess Deeper Learning

Monday, September 18, 2017 | 3:30–4:30 p.m. (EDT) | Register

In this webinar, Gene Wilhoit will discuss an opportunity in ESSA to move the deeper learning agenda in assessment. The webinar also will examine New Hampshire's Performance Assessment of Competency Education (PACE), an accountability assessment strategy that combines reduced standardized testing with locally developed common performance assessments. These are designed to support deeper learning through competency-based education, all integrated within the students' day-to-day work. New Hampshire's approach to assessment advances deeper learning and promotes student agency.

Panelists

• Ellen Hume-Howard, Curriculum Director, Sanborn Regional (NH) School District
• Paul Leather, Deputy Commissioner, New Hampshire State Department of Education
• Winsome Waite, PhD, Vice President, Policy to Practice, Alliance for Excellent Education
• Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director, Center for Innovation and Education

Using Title I to Promote Deeper Learning

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 | 3:30–4:00 p.m. (EDT)| Register

This webinar will address how states can use resources provided by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to implement deeper learning practices in schools and school districts. As states prepare to implement ESSA, state and local policymakers and district and school leaders can use deeper learning as the framework from which to design their plans to meet the ESSA requirements. The requirements and resources provided by three sources of funding within the law are particularly salient: Title I, Title II, and Title IV.

Panelists

• Noah Bookman, Chief Strategy Officer, California Office to Reform Education (CORE)
• Rick Miller, Executive Director, CORE
• Samantha Patel, Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress
• Winsome Waite, PhD, Vice President of Policy to Practice, Alliance for Excellent Education