Design for Dynamic Learning is a research-informed, field-tested approach to create educational opportunities that fully engage students and lead to meaningful social connections and academic achievement.

Grounded in the belief that students bring unique strengths to the classroom and learn through interaction with others, this model fosters:

  • Capable learning communities where students feel seen, heard, valued, and meaningful learning can occur.

  • Varied dynamics where learning is interactive and students social interests are harnessed and directed toward learning.

  • Future-ready core skills are integrated to prepare students to excel at learning individually and with others.

By designing for dynamic learning we create classrooms where students are successful - academically, emotionally, and socially.


Design for Dynamic Learning

Capable Learning Communities

Empowering students to thrive as innovative, collaborative, and contributing learners begins with a strong sense of identify and belonging. By embedding choice, voice, and agency into learning environments, we foster learning communities where positive relationships and shared purpose drive growth.

READ: Empowering Teachers and Students

Includes:

  • Reflections on what it means to be empowered as a teacher and a student. 

  • Information about how choice, voice, agency, and support are integral to learning design. 

  • Plans for the use of Choice Boards and/or Genius Time. 

  • Tales from the field

  • Activities to ask students reflective questions about their levels of empowerment at school.

Varied dynamics

Learning happens through connection—with ourselves and with others. Throughout students lives they will find themselves learning as individuals, with partners, in groups and communities, and through shared decision-making. Practicing these dynamic endeavors prepares them to navigate complex social dynamics and succeed in families, communities, and the workplace.

READ: Reimagining Relationships in the Classroom

LOOK: Slides for Reimagining Relationships

Includes:

  • A brief introduction to the teaching strategies of social agendas, social goals, and active learning.

  • Specific suggestions for how you can implement social agendas

  • Ideas to implement social goals as a means to support intrapersonal and interpersonal skill development necessary for students to excel as learners. 

  • Examples of active learning strategies that align with various learning dynamics

  • Suggestions for integrating these three strategies. 

Visible and Explict

Plan instruction to include these six primary learning dynamics.

Make them VISIBLE to students through the use of social agendas.

Future-Ready Core Skills

Success in life and learning requires competency in many intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. Engaging in social goal-setting cycles allows students time to identify, practice, and reflect on the critical social and academic skills they need to accelerate learning and develop into contributing members of an every changing, complex world.

Design for Dynamic Learning incorporates elements of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the Collaboration for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), and Transformative SEL.

We build knowledge together - Everyone has something to offer - Ideas are improvable - growth occurs through intentional practice.