Anytime/Anywhere Learning
Anytime/Anywhere Learning: A Cornerstone of Competency-based Education and Authentic Learning Experiences
Introduction to Exemplar Resources
Do students STOP learning when they leave the school walls, or is that when learning really STARTS?
Re-imagine Time
An Antiquated System
Time as a construct in the school day was developed in response to and in the image of the industrial revolution's reliance on the factory model. Time in relationship to the school year was built around the agrarian model. Neither the factory model nor the agrarian model are driving the 21st century so it is time (oof) for a new model.
For districts using competency-based pathways, time can be repackaged and re-leveraged in ways never before possible. Learning can literally take place anytime and anywhere--during 4H, while leading a youth group, on a spring break service trip to Honduras, throughout a summer internship, even in the evenings or on weekends curled up with a laptop and an imagination. Learning can be validated anytime and anywhere it happens when learning outcomes are explicit and transparent, and when educators make use of online learning platforms and community partnership agreements. Let's re-imagine time and design the future in spite of it.
Introduction to an Exemplar Resource
On The Learning Accelerator's website, they offer an overview of Blended and Personalized Learning at Work.
In it, they address the power of flexible time:
"Flexible time offers students a chance to work on school assignments, meet with teachers to review content, or choose to attend enrichment offerings. Teachers can assign students to intervention or review work if needed. Otherwise, students can choose an enrichment class to attend, complete homework, or work on class projects. When used for Advisory or Tutorial (a block of time set aside for additional or targeted instruction), flex time periods are typically shorter than a regular class period. While the format might vary from school to school, the purpose remains the same: to give students a chance to follow their own interests and manage their own learning time."
determining-attendance-and-alternatives-to-seat-time.pdfRe-imagine Seat Time
Aurora Institute released guidance for re-imagining two parts of the education system that we often take for granted: seat time and attendance. Included are examples from a variety of states and districts.
Patrick, S., & Chambers, A. (2020). Determining attendance and alternatives to seat-time. Vienna, VA: Aurora Institute. Content in this issue brief is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Flexible Modular Scheduling
reDesign defines flexible modular scheduling this way: "Learning is structured around student needs, interests, and pacing, rather than around the typical 4, 6, or 8 period day found in most high schools. To achieve this, the school day is broken into 10, 15 or 20 minute segments (mods) that can be organized into larger blocks of time very easily: some learning may happen in chunks of 40 or 50 minutes, some may occur in 20-30 minute chunks, others may occur in chunks of several hours or a full day. In a flex-mod time, space and staffing is organized in a customized manner, based on student progress."
Introduction to Exemplar Resources
YouTube hosts many videos about how schools are implementing a Flex-Mod schedule. Start here and then browse for more ideas.
Click this image to see reDesign's bank of resources on Flex-Mod schedules.
Harnessing Time and Space through Tech: Skype in the Classroom
Introduction to an Exemplar Resource
Skype in the Classroom is a free community that offers live transformative educational experiences for students including Virtual Field Trips, talks from Guest Speakers, classroom to classroom connections, and live collaboration projects.
Mystery Skype: "Play a game of Mystery Skype with another class to guess where they are located. It's fun way to learn about other cultures and enhances your students critical thinking and communication skills."