Dear Friends,

Over the past few weeks, we’ve discovered two great resources that paint a picture of what learning could look like if it were unconstrained by the current paradigm.

The first comes from ReSchool Colorado’s newly launched website (link), which was featured in the last issue of Pioneering. If you haven’t checked it out yet, we strongly encourage you to do so. One of the most exciting sections of the site is their exploration of the “learner experience.” You can follow Katrina, a hypothetical ReSchool learner, from her days as a four-year-old music and dance lover to her life as a 27-year-old accomplished doctor. It is powerful to see what a single day in a learner’s life might look like if we truly opened up the how, when, what, where, and with whom of learning.

The second image of the future of learning comes from KnowledgeWorks. They created a fictitious learning ecosystem called Ubique Academy (link) that represents a fully expressed learner-centered community of learning. You can explore Ubique’s website, read their brochure, and even access a presentation to share with families interested in enrolling. Though there isn’t yet a real environment that you can visit, I hope someone will be inspired to make this learning ecosystem a reality. And, if it were in DC, my kids would be the first to enroll!

In addition to these great resources, we have a jam-packed issue of Pioneering to share with you. It is full of stories, insights, reflections, and resources. Dr. Jim Rickabaugh of the Institute for Personalized Learning shares how a teacher in a traditional school can take the first steps toward learner-centered education. You can also read about how Big Thought is turning Dallas, TX into a playground of learning.

We hope you enjoy this issue!

Warm Wishes,

Kelly