What Is Deeper Learning?

Deeper Learning is defined as grade level work that is relevant, real-world, and interactive. Deeper Learning leads to student demonstration of Mastery, Identity, and Creativity.

• Mastery is evident when all students develop the knowledge or skills outlined in the standards and practices, with the ability to transfer that knowledge across situations.
• Identity is evident when all students become more invested in the discipline by thinking of themselves as active agents who do that kind of work. To support a shift in thinking from "I'm learning about biology" to "I am a biologist", educators affirm students' cultural and racial heritage and leverage their funds of knowledge, experiences and interests.
• Creativity is evident when all students shift from receiving knowledge of a discipline to acting or making something within the discipline. Students engage with tasks that have multiple paths to multiple potential, standards-aligned solutions.

Deeper Learning's focus on mastery, identity and creativity is based on a deep belief in the capacity of all students.

Deeper learning draws directly from research on Culturally Responsive Teaching, which is defined as teaching that leads to academic achievement, cultural competence, and socio-political awareness. Through this link, and the implementation focus in the Deeper Learning Continuum on systems that provide access for all, implementation of Deeper Learning allows schools to provide traditionally underserved students, including students of color, access to more equitable opportunities in education.

To achieve a shift in the student experience the experience of educators in schools must shift as well. This concept is referred to as “organizational symmetry”: the mindset, social awareness, and skills we seek to instill in students must be mirrored in the work required of educators, building administrators and systems leaders.

You can learn more about Deeper Learning on the Deeper Learning Website.

Last Updated: September 29, 2021