Getting Started

Required technology

• Internet access

• Web-enabled device (tablet or laptop preferred)

• Access and ability to have virtual, phone, or face-to-face discussions with other educators including your learning partner

• Access and ability to use collaborative documents

• Access and ability to use an online chat or discussion tool with your learning partner

If you are reading this, you likely have what you need to use the LIFT Framework and complete the required work. As an Open Educational Resource, there is no cost associated with your use of this version of the LIFT Framework. All materials and resources included in the framework and learning path are also free to use for educational purposes. While there is some use of video and interactive tools, the framework is designed to be functional on multiple devices and with low-bandwidth internet connectivity. Collaborative documents shared between you and your learning partner are required for completing activities and tasks.

Additional tools

Many activities will recommend use of additional digital learning tools to complete activities, document your work, or engage in professional reflection. Use of these tools can build your skills and fluency while helping you understand their potential application in student instruction. You are not required to use these tools, but it is strongly encouraged.

Recognizing the productive challenge of blended, collaborative, and asynchronous learning, the LIFT Framework and learning path is designed to be completed concurrently with another colleague or small team. You can only complete this learning path with a learning partner who serves several functions:

1. Thought partner for discussions and reflection

2. Promotes completion of activities and accountability

3. Collaborator on shared activities

4. Peer review and verification to your documentation of work and assignments

While each person is expected to document and complete their own tasks to complete the course, some activities require collaboration and collective work. More importantly, peer review is used to document completion of tasks, evaluate artifacts, and progress through the framework and learning path.

Before you get started, identify a learning partner who will complete the learning path concurrently with you. While there are some benefits and efficiencies to choosing someone from your own school and/or district, this is not a requirement and you can effectively complete the requirements with another educator in a different school, district, or location. Because any educator can use the framework and complete the learning path, you could partner with either a job-alike or someone in a different position. Teachers, para-educators and administrators are welcome to use this framework for their professional learning. Additionally, there is no requirement that your learning partner have the same type of position as you. Choosing a learning partner who teaches a different subject/grade and/or is in a different educational role may provide a different perspective for your own professional learning.

While the framework and learning path are designed for a peer-to-peer partnership, a small team could collaboratively and concurrently complete the work together. This creates the opportunity for a professional learning cohort or community of practice. However, you must identify a designated peer as a learning partner to review your work and certify completion of tasks in order for you to earn badges and progress through the learning path.

LIFT structure and design

The framework is designed as an asynchronous, self-paced learning path comprised of four sequenced modules.

• Reflective Educational Leadership

• Instructional Collaboration and Partnership

• Innovative Learning Design

• Digital Learning and Teaching

Each module has four sections. You should move through the modules and sections in order, completing all tasks before moving on. Within each module you will have the following activities.

• Read or view learning resources

• Discuss resources and topics with your learning partner

• Reflect and respond to specific questions in your LIFT Portfolio

• Optional use of digital learning tools for responses or artifacts

• Complete special activities or tasks in your LIFT Portfolio

LIFT Portfolio

The LIFT Portfolio complements and supports the framework by providing an ongoing journal and repository for your reflection, learning, and work. In addition to including all questions and activities in the framework, it offers you a place to collect links, ideas, and artifacts as you work through the learning path. Each module has a dedicated portfolio. As you complete each module, your learning partner will check for and certify your completion of activities. When you complete the framework, it will be a rich documentation of your work and provide you with curated resources and ideas that you can use as you translate your learning into innovative practice.

Shared work

Discussion - You will also have questions to discuss with your learning partner. You can use one or more of the following:

• face-to-face conversation

• phone conversation

• video conferencing or FaceTime chats

• use of an chat or discussion tool (texting, Slack, etc.)

• email exchanges

• use of chat functions in collaborative documents

Collaborative assignments - There are a number of collaborative assignments which you will complete with you learning partner. Each educator should include a link or copy of those resources in their own respective LIFT Framework and/or LIFT Folder.

Completion and advancement

By design, the LIFT Framework is designed to be flexible as a professional learning path. Upon completion of the learning path, you have choices in the ways in which you demonstrate competency and document your learning and application of practice.

Peer review and documentation

The LIFT Framework and learning path use peer review and certification to document completion of assignments, discussion, and activities for each module. As you move through the LIFT Framework, you will complete activities and collect artifacts in your LIFT Portfolio. When you complete a module, you and your learning partner will review each others work and document the completion to move on in the framework. The LIFT Portfolio includes activities for this end-of-module review and documentation.

Other documentation or recognition options may be available when using this framework as a course or when completing the optional micro-credential.

Culminating SMART goal

After completing all modules, you will create a SMART goal which serves as an application of your learning and give you a plan for initial implementation in your school or district.

Washington State Professional Growth Plan

The LIFT Framework is designed to be compatible with Washington State educator continuing certification and the PGP (Professional Growth Plan) permitting up to 25 credit hours toward certificate renewal.

Clock hours

Clock hours may optionally be offered either through a statewide issuing agency or by other educational organizations.

LIFT Micro-credential

Future adaptation of the LIFT Framework will offer an optional externally-assessed micro-credential that includes competency-based applications of your professional learning. (Winter 21-22)

Adaptation

As an OER resource, the LIFT Framework and learning path can be adapted by schools or organizations for their own use and application. These organizations can identify and define additional activities and assessments to meet local needs.

Each module will require 4-6 hours of work which includes reading, research, writing, collaboration, and practical applications of your learning. In most cases, the work associated with this framework will take 25-30 total hours to complete. Depending on your choice of summative activity, you may need additional hours to complete or document your learning.

As an asynchronous self-paced learning path, you can take as long as you want to complete the work. Because most of the work and tasks are focused on discussion and work with your learning partner, practical activities, and the application of your learning with peers, the time you spend on these tasks will vary widely.

Keep in mind that since you will be working with a learning partner and/or a team of other educators, your progress through the activities and modules may be dependent on others' schedules, timelines, and pace of learning.

1. Identify a learning partner with whom you will work through the LIFT Framework. Make sure both of you have reviewed this information and are committed to the work and effort.

2. Identify which summative option(s) you will use to document and validate your professional learning. These can be found in Module 5. If necessary, plan for necessary approvals or documentation with your school or district.

3. Open the LIFT Folder to Copy and make copies of all documents in this folder for your use.

4. Locate the LIFT Portfolio Module 1 document for your work in the first module. Share this document with your learning partner. Ensure each person has access preferences set to "Comment."

5. Open your LIFT Portfolio Module 1 and review the information included in this document. The LIFT Portfolios contain all discussion and response prompts from the LIFT Framework as well as additional activities.

6. While not required, it is strongly recommended that you inform your supervisor or boss of your intention to use the LIFT Framework and learning path for your professional growth.