• 8 queries which help get at deeper thinking and learning
  • Podcast – Moving out of digital substitution to deeper learning

    • B. Authentic Work

    So far the 4 Shifts Protocol is proving to be a nice match to SAMR, TPACK, Triple E, PBL, UbD, and other instructional frameworks. And many teachers are using these smaller shifts in existing lessons and units to create the capacity of themselves and their pupils to do more complicated project- and – inquiry-based work. The protocol is free and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike International copyright permit , so use and change it as desired!

    • Real or Fake. Is student work authentic and reflective of this done by experts outside of school?  Are students asked to carry on an authentic social role as part of the learning? Are students utilizing authentic, discipline-specific practices and processes? [Engaging from the real practices and processes which are used by people in that discipline; for instance, doing what historians, scientists, writers, artists, business professionals, etc. do, not some artificial or classroom edition of the work]
      • Yes / No / Somewhat
    • Domain Name Technologies. Are pupils utilizing authentic, discipline-specific tools and technologies? [Using the actual tools and technologies that are utilized by people in that field; for instance, employing the actual tools that historians, scientists, authors, artists, business professionals, etc. usage, not some artificial or classroom versions of these tools]
      • Yes / No – Somewhat
    • Research and Information Literacy Plans. Are pupils utilizing authentic, discipline-specific research, inquiry, and information literacy plans? Are students creating real-world performances or products for authentic audiences? If yes, does student work make a contribution to an audience beyond the classroom walls into the outside world?
      • Yes / No / Somewhat
  • Assessment Technology. Are digital technologies used in authentic methods to ease the assessment process?
    • Yes / No / Somewhat

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      The 4 Shifts Protocol is a fairly new resource that helps teachers, principals, and educational / technology coaches change pupil experiences toward deeper learning, larger student agency, more real work, and rich technology extract. The protocol provides some pretty concrete’look fors’ and’believe abouts’ and may be used as both a diagnostic and a redesign tool. For best results, focus on claims and proof . That is, when we say something is there (e.g., real world products or performances for real audiences)we should have the ability to point to it and say,’Yes, it’s right there and it’s wonderful!’ 

    1. Why we neglect ’t advocate using the 4 Shifts Protocol as a classroom monitoring tool

      2. Allow me to know what questions you have. Hope the protocol is useful to you!

  • Podcast – How to take our direction and teaching into new levels

    • If your aim to get a lesson, unit, or other instructional action would be to move toward more real, real world work, think about these 8 questions from Section B of the 4 Shifts Protocol. If you would like your answers, amazing! Keep doing this! If you’re not where you want to be however, pick a few questions and select your desired answers rather (e.g., Yes rather than No or Somewhat). Then do a redesign pivot: How can you redesign the student learning experience for your desired answers? Brainstorm with a few colleagues or a mentor about how to shift the 2 questions you picked toward more authentic work. Go do this to get nearer to your objective!

  • Our new publication, Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning, was released today!