{"id":16519,"date":"2023-01-25T12:00:33","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T17:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/?post_type=cw_post&p=16519"},"modified":"2023-01-25T11:44:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T16:44:09","slug":"diving-into-a-deep-bluegrass-sea-of-innovation-part-two-early-lessons-learned-when-implementing-multi-district-deeper-learning-in-kentucky","status":"publish","type":"cw_post","link":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/cw_post\/diving-into-a-deep-bluegrass-sea-of-innovation-part-two-early-lessons-learned-when-implementing-multi-district-deeper-learning-in-kentucky\/","title":{"rendered":"Diving into a Deep Blue(grass) Sea of Innovation, Part Two: Early Lessons Learned When Implementing Multi-District Deeper Learning in Kentucky"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Part One<\/a>, I discussed how I joined a Kentucky educational cooperative\u2019s newly launched Deeper Learning Team in the summer of 2022 \u2013 one of eight such Teams created throughout the state. Deeper Learning Teams help make what stakeholders across the state want for education a reality, which is represented by the \u201cThree Big Ideas\u201d of the United We Learn Kentucky fall 2021 report: more vibrant learning experiences, innovation in general but especially in assessment, and better community collaboration. In Part Two below, I reflect on the journey so far at the midpoint of the Team\u2019s first year of deployment.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

As we now enter the second half of the current school year, it is an appropriate time for reflection. What have been the challenges of implementing deeper learning, and what are encouraging signs of early success? While I can speak only from my personal experience as part of Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC)\u2019s <\/span>Deeper Learning Team<\/span><\/a>, I can offer my observations on some of the challenges of implementing deeper learning, alongside some recommended approaches to meet them. These are based on our team\u2019s philosophy of systems change as well as actual supports we have provided.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard work\u2026but it\u2019s the right thing to do. <\/span><\/h2>\n

Change can be difficult, but we have to realize that the traditional system no longer serves all students well. In truth, it never has. Five years after high school graduation, what happens to our so-called \u201ccollege-ready\u201d students who have dropped out with nothing to show for their efforts but debt? More fundamentally, how has the memorization of facts and ACT test-taking strategies helped high school graduates achieve success in the modern workplace, regardless of their path to a career? Students need more authentic, deeper learning experiences and more opportunities to apply durable skills (often articulated in a district\u2019s Profile of a Graduate). When you can Google basic facts and industries are rapidly automating their labor, schools need to cultivate students who are critical thinkers, collaborators, and communicators.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Owen
Owen County students, parents, community leaders and educators met in January 2023 for their first stakeholder session (facilitated by the OVEC Deeper Learning Team) to create a new Profile of a Graduate. Submitted photo by Adam Watson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Teachers don\u2019t need \u201cone more thing\u201d on their plate\u2026so change the perspective and the platter.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Deeper learning cannot be seen as an additional initiative, jockeying for room in an already crowded learning space. There are multiple ways we can address this:<\/span><\/p>\n