Category Archives: Uncategorized

By iThrive Games “Promising.”  “Progressive.” “Unique.” “Revitalizing.” “Relief.” When Moiz, Tanisha, Ibad, Jaiden, and Samirah were asked to describe in one word the workshop they took part in with designers and museum educators from Educating for American Democracy’s civic learning community earlier this month, the students from Thomas A. Edison CTE High School shared these, capturing howContinue reading “Making Civic Learning Meaningful With And For Young People”

By: Sabba Quidwai, EdD and Stefan Bauschard The brief departure and return of Sam Altman as CEO of OpenAI underscored the need for stable, trust-based leadership in the rapidly evolving AI sector. This episode, not rooted in technological or financial challenges, highlighted how the absence of a strong, value-aligned culture can destabilize even a leadingContinue reading “Innovating with Integrity: Building Trust in an AI-Driven World”

Over the last few months, we’ve been fortunate to accompany school leaders to some outstanding Colorado schools. Many of them we’ve written about before (St. Vrain, Eagle Rock, and Cherry Creek), but these most recent trips have highlighted new learning models from Commerce City to Boulder.  The STEAD School In Commerce City, Colorado, a newContinue reading “Agency and Co-Authoring Thriving in Colorado Schools”

The dining room is a learning lab, the living room is a classroom, and the backyard is a playground. Amy’s Anthem home is also a school. High Point Academy serves 11 students aged 6-14 and features “a hands on project-based learning approach that fosters real world problem solving and critical thinking.”   Amy provides a safeContinue reading “Home Schools Grow With New Funding Streams”

Microschools, rooted in a tradition of cooperative and small-scale learning, are envisioned to become diverse, sustainable, and impactful alternatives within the educational landscape. To better amplify, evaluate and develop these learning models, Getting Smart Collective ran the Big Push for Small Schools grant opportunity earlier this year and we’re thrilled to announce that ten dynamicContinue reading “Ten Innovative Educational Programs Awarded Grants to Transform Learning”

By: TheNotifeye team from Westlake HIgh School in Austin, Texas.  It’s crazy to think that the five of us barely knew each other at this time last year. Our journey with Notifeye, our innovative road safety product we created as part of our high school’s entrepreneurship program, has been incredible. Today, we want to shareContinue reading “You’ve Been Notifeyed: How High School Students are Paving the Way to Driver Safety”

A recent Gallup poll shared that students give their schools a lower rating around generating excitement for learning, mental health support, career preparation, and personalization. In fact, over 20% of students rated their schools a D or below. This means that at least one in five students feels deeply dissatisfied with their place of learning.Continue reading “The Students Are Talking, It’s Time We Listen”

By: Semanthe Bright There are few things more rewarding, as an educator, than seeing young people spontaneously make real world connections to what they learn in the classroom.   When 36 students joined a trip to the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City, school staff overheard them reflecting on World History I content whileContinue reading “Why Focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals in School Is Good for Students, Staff, Families, and the Broader Community”

At first, it’s disconcerting. As well-crafted sentences appear on the screen, we can almost hear the keys clacking. But no one is typing; the words simply appear. And the pace is furious. No human could write this fast. For the two of us—educators born almost 60 years apart—it’s a marvel to see what generative artificialContinue reading “What Educators and Families Should Prioritize in the Age of AI”

In a move to foster both personal and community development, the state of California has launched the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program. This initiative promises to bring a wave of positive change not just to the students who participate, but also to the communities they serve. At its core, the College Corps program is a first-of-its-kindContinue reading “Connecting College to Communities: California’s New Service Agenda”