Author: Lynn Fuini-Hetten

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In this episode, we are learning with Josh Ecker, middle school teachers involved in the launch of a learner-centered model of education, Project Wonder (a micro-school within Salisbury Middle School) and two learners, Amelia and Josh.  

Josh is in his third year teaching in Salisbury. He is pursuing a doctoral degree in Mind, Brain, and Teaching, and using what he’s learning to inform his learner-centered teaching practices. He’s written several articles for Education Reimagined and enjoys engaging with others in discussions about learner-centered education.

Amelia is a 7th grade musician, athlete, and learner. She enjoys hanging out with her friends, and going on walks with her dogs. She is also the creator of the Project Wonder YouTube channel, which highlights exciting work happening in class. 

Josh is a 7th grade learner in his second year as a member of Project Wonder. He enjoys building things and helping others. This year he combined those interests by partnering with a 6th grader and the STEM teacher to build a bookshelf for class.

Here’s what we’re thinking about:

• What would your learners share about their experiences in your learner-centered learning environment?

Resources

• Project Wonder Youtube channel
• Mastery Dashboard
• Project Wonder Website
• Project Wonder Course Catalog
• Sample Project Wonder Newsletter 
• Josh’s Education Reimagined articles
  • 6 Strategies to Support the Development of Self-Directed Learners
  • 4 Ways to Minimize Growing Pains During Your Learner-Centered Transition 
  • How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Learner-Centered Education
• Josh’s Blog
• Josh on Twitter: @joshecker
• Instructional-design theories and models, Vol. IV: The learner-centered paradigm of education

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In this episode we are learning with Amanda Delaney, a 2018 graduate of a learner-centered learning environment, Urban Assembly Maker Academy. Upon graduating, Amanda earned an advanced Regents diploma and Career-Technical Education distinctions. As a founding student, Amanda acted as a key voice in the school’s design and iteration process. Amanda has worked with Springpoint—a nonprofit that supports innovative school design—as an intern, a writer, and a speaker, sharing her experiences as a student in a Springpoint partner school. Amanda also served as student council president and a student representative, traveling across the city and the country to talk about her experience in a student-centered, innovative school. She attends Hunter College as of fall 2018, majoring in Elementary Education.

As a result of our conversation, here is a question we are thinking about:

• How can you involve students in the design and continuous improvement process at your school or district?

Resources:

• Shift Your Paradigm Episode 52: Springpoint
• Urban Assembly Maker Academy website
• The Keys to Teacher Success at Innovative Schools – article written by Amanda Delaney
• Check out Amanda’s StorySlam story about learning how to take risks and iteration on her work!
• The Five Lessons My Opportunity by Design School Taught Me  – article written by Amanda Delaney
• Designing Advisory Systems: Innovative Approaches from High School – including a case study written by Amanda Delaney
• Springpoint website
• How Students Thrive: Positive Youth Development in Practice