Assessing Our Capacity for “Deeper Learning”

I have added an important new arrow to my quiver.  What if you (if you are a school leader) or you and your teaching colleagues (if you are in the classroom most of the day) had a “map” of  your school’s overall affinity for “deeper learning”?

“Deeper learning” is the term that many of us are settling upon to describe a post-industrial, post-assembly line, student or learner-centric model of learning. It is a better term than “21st century” in that these are really timeless hallmarks of great learning.  Previously I had posted my summary list of the key elements of deeper learning gleaned from great work and sharing by many others.

So how might we use this?  I made a survey tool that takes 5-10 minutes for teachers to fill out, allowing them to self-assess where they are on many of these elements of deeper learning. Sure, it is subjective, but it allows us to do two things: each teacher can see where they assess with respect to all others on the team, and it allows us to encourage pairing of colleagues with complimentary strengths and weaknesses.  Right in your own “house” you have collegial resources who can help each other quickly, at virtually no expense, to “get better where I want to improve”.

We have used the survey tool once already, and I am looking forward to using it with other schools with whom I am working on longer-term contracts as we get into the intentional implementation of school change!