As more districts become curious about competency education, they want to see what it looks like in the classroom. Of course, competency education doesn’t look one way — it varies based on the degree schools are using blended learning, how they are personalizing education, how student-centered, how project-based the school is, and the design and culture of the school. However, you can certainly get a feel for what is possible by watching videos, listening to students and teachers reflect upon their experiences. So we’ve pulled together a few — most of these schools emphasize student-centeredness or personalization.  You can find other videos and blog posts about competency education In the Classroom on the wiki.

New Resources (need to categorize them)

Personalized PBL (Design Tech High is example)

Overview

• Mrs. Ford Explains Her Student-Centered High School Science Class – Education Achievement Authority and Matchbook Learning 
  
• Student Ownership, Voice and Choice – RSU 16 – Elm Street School – Maine Center for Best Practices
• At Their Own Pace: Student Voice and Choice, James H. Bean Elementary School, Sidney – Maine Center for Best Practices
• Owning Their Own Reading: Learner-Centered Literacy, Elm Street School – Maine Center for Best Practices

• Whose Classroom Is This? The Importance of Students’ Voice in Creating a Writer’s Workshop - Kaili Phillips

• Engagement – Designing for Learning in a Personal Mastery System - Dan Joseph
  

Individual Learning Plan

• How to Create a Schedule - Mass Customized Learning Video

Unpacking the Standards and Learning Targets

• Students Unpack a Learning Target and Discuss Academic Vocabulary - from Expeditionary Learning
• Students Unpack a Learning Target (4th and 5th Graders) – From Expeditionary Learning
• Students Discuss the Power of Learning Targets – From Expeditionary Learning
• Unpacking the Standards: A Teacher’s Perspective, Williams Elementary School, Oakland – Maine Center for Best Practices

Student-Led Conferences

• Kindergarten Student-Led Conference – Expeditionary Learning
• Middle School Student-Led Conference – Expeditionary Learning
• High School Student-Led Conference - Expeditionary Learning
• Principal Describes Student-Led Conferencing – Expeditionary Learning
• Student-Led Conference (video, Pittsfield School District, NH, 2014)

Students Tracking Their Progress

• Students Own Their Progress – Using Data with Students – Expeditionary Learning
• Strategies for Monitoring Progress – Checking for Understanding - Expeditionary Learning
• Finding Your Way:The Learner-Centered Dashboard, Hall-Dale Middle School – Maine Center for Best Practices

Students Supporting Each Other

• Students Inspired by the Work of Other Students Expeditionary Learning
• Peer Assessment: Reflections From Students and Teachers - Students at the Center
• Self-Assessment: Reflections From Students and Teachers - Students at the Center
• Assessing Their Own Work: Students as Active Participants, Massabesic Middle School, Waterboro – Maine Center for Best Practices
• Dr. Heidi Andrade Reflects on Self and Peer Assessment – Students at the Center

Developing Student Voice - through leadership and inquiry

• Leadership
• Center for Secondary School Reform helps schools to change the relationships of youth and adults by engaging students in governance

• Inquiry
• Educating an Original Thinker (Atlantic Monthly article Feb 2016)

Other Resources

• Students at the Center offers summaries of the research behind student-centered learning as well as many resources and links.

• Rubric for Assessing Student Competency in Managing their Education:  Diane Smith from Business Education Compact shared a rubric to assess student effectiveness in guiding their own learning. 

• Learner Sketch Tool helps people discover and understand their own unique learning profile. Developed by Q.E.D. Foundation

• What Kids Can Do highlights the power of what young people can accomplish when given the opportunities and supports they need and what they can contribute when we take their voices and ideas seriously.

• Tips for teachers - Rebecca Alba, Edutopia

Blogs

• What I'm learning about study agency (Dec 2015)
• DIY and Student Agency

• Listening to Our Critics: Offering Multiple Assessments on the Path to Proficiency

• Reflections on Competency-Based and Blended Learning

• New Year’s Resolution: Student Directed Individualized Learning for All

• Whose Classroom Is This? The Importance of Students’ Voice in Creating a Writer’s Workshop

• Finland Offers Lessons for building student, teacher agency -- Michael Horn 8/15