I talk a lot about personalized learning in this blog, which I'm not sure I've ever explained. I just talk about it here as if everyone knows what it is. Everyone likely has a basic understanding of it based on the words themselves. It's learning that is personal. Students learn by having their personal needs met and interests considered. Personalized learning by nature accounts for and works around differing abilities and skill levels. 

Some words associated with personalized learning that I often use here include: competency-based learning; autonomy, mastery and purpose; differentiation; student-directed; mastery-based; proficiency-based; interest-driven; project-based; and self-efficacy. 

This article does a really great job of defining these words and explaining why they're important. As a parent I want my children going to school where the meaning of those terms are considered and applied to my child's education. 

What approaches do you take to personalize learning in your classroom? I'd love to hear some ideas. Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Hope, Agency, Mastery and Other Terms Educators are Redefining, by Anya Kamenetz

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Hope you're having a great week. People in Minneapolis are stoked to have our first sunny day in what seems like three weeks. Still cold, but sunny. In November that's a big win!

Ok! Down to business. Most of you know by now that I am currently a stay-at-home-parent, running a TpT store on the side - Experiential Learning Depot - where I post experiential learning products. Some are free and others are for purchase. Check out my updated store front! Experiential learning, if you don't already know, is exactly what it sounds like. It's learning through experience. 

Before I became a teacher I was a field technician on endangered species projects around the world. I got amazing grades in college, passed all my tests, memorized what I was asked to memorize, and yet felt completely clueless about this career that I was about to dive head-first into. I felt completely clueless about life in general to be honest. And I was. 

I got an internship in the field right out of college. I moved to Hawaii to work with USGS on their palila translocation program. Palila's are small, critically endangered song birds on Mauna Kea. I very quickly realized how ill-equipped I was to be working with this group and how little real-life experience I had. I spent so many years with my face buried in textbooks that didn't prepare me for this career I just signed up for. I spent the next four years building a career in endangered species research by putting myself in the thick of it, by doing and experiencing. I learned more about endangered species work in two days on the job than I did over the course of my entire undergraduate experience. I needed to experience it to truly understand it. That is experiential learning. 

Experiential learning is the learning approach I use with my own children, my students, and the with the products I sell and give away in my store. I want to encourage you to explore experiential learning in your own classroom. 

I like to provide a lot of free resources for a few reasons:

1) I think sharing is an important part of the teaching culture. Supporting each other is essential to curtailing teacher burn-out.
2) To give you an idea of what you're paying for if you ever decide to purchase any of my products. It's a difficult decision to spend $50 on a bundle that you haven't seen. Even previews don't always do justice. My "freebies" are snapshots of what you'd be paying for.
3) I want to encourage you to explore experiential learning. It can include travel, community collaboration, hands-on activities, stem, inquiry, problem-based learning, project-based learning. It doesn't have to happen outside of the classroom, although that's better. But there are ways to tap into experiences for your students without leaving the classroom. I'll write about that another day. 

Check out these free resources and reach out if you have any questions. I LOVE to talk about experiential learning! Have a great day filled with experiences! 

•  Project Topic Brainstorming Activity 
• Project-Based Learning: Endangered Species 
• Student-Led Fundraiser Graphic Organizer
• College Exploration Activity
• Business Ideas Graphic Organizer
• School Trip Reflection Guide
• PBL Mini-Project: Travel Brochure
• Starting a Project: PBL Cheat Sheet
• Project-Based Learning: How to Plan a School Travel Experience
• Activities for Building a Strong Advisory Community
• Ecology Scavenger Hunt: Photo Gallery Mini-Project
• Field Trip to the Zoo: Bingo Activity
• Vice News Episode Worksheet and Extension Activities: Indonesian Palm Bomb

Follow Experiential Learning Depot on Pinterest, Instagram and TpT for great experiential learning resources and teacher tips. 

Happy college season! For some, that season is long over, having completed early applications over the summer. Phew! Now all you have to do is wait! For some, you're still trying to get everything figured out. Preparing application materials for deadlines, considering a gap-year. Maybe even wondering if college is for you at all. I get that. I've been there! College is truthfully not for some in my opinion. You do you! 

There is a lot to consider when choosing your path. If the path you have chosen is to go to college, your job isn't over yet. You still need to find a great fit. There are a lot of variables to consider, such as tuition, financial aid and scholarships, location, academic programs, and acceptance rates. If you're interested in exploring college options, check out this FREE college search activity that helps you determine what you are looking for in a college experience, and which schools will best provide that experience. 

And if weighing those basic options wasn't challenging enough, colleges also differ in how they're grading student work. In fact, some colleges are not grading at all. No A-F grading system, no failing, no GPA. Some schools do this to mitigate the pressure of grades; to measure learning based on student-performance, quality of work, and growth; and/or to provide detailed feedback on student work to foster the desire to improve. 

This post isn't about which assessment method is better. It is about providing information and alternatives. It is up to you to determine which method is the best for you. Consider your learning style, interests, past experience, and goals moving forward. 

I've compiled a list of colleges and universities in the United States that offer alternatives to the traditional A-F grading system. Check them out, and who knows, maybe this is just what you need? 

Note: this list is not exhaustive. I'm sure there are others. Do your research. If you have a particular school in mind, but wonder about their assessment approach, find out!

Narrative Reports - a narrative report is a detailed, written evaluation by the professor on student work and progress. It often times is the entirety of the student's transcript. The purpose of this is to provide important feedback and opportunity for growth. Some schools provide grades with the narrative, but is typically the choice of the student. The following colleges provide narratives on transcripts. 

1. Hampshire College, MA - narrative
2. Antioch University, CA, OH, NH, WA - narrative
3. Antioch College, OH - narrative AND grades
4. Sarah Lawrence College, NY - narrative and grades optional
5. Alverno College, WI - narrative
6. Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, WA - narrative 
7. Prescott College, AZ - narrative, grades optional
8. Evergreen State College, WA - narrative
9. Reed College, OR - narrative, grades optional
10. New College of Florida, FL - narrative
11. Bennington College, VT -  narrative, grades optional
12. California Institute of Integral Studies, CA - narrative, grades optional
13. College of the Atlantic, ME - narrative, grades optional 
14. Evergreen State College, WA - narrative. ESC goes as far as having on-on-one evaluation meetings between each student and their professors. 
15. Fairhaven College and Western Washington University - narratives (and self-evaluations)
16. Goddard College, VT - narrative
17. Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, CA - narrative
18. St. Johns College (Annapolis and Santa Fe) - narrative, grades optional
19. Yale Law School, CT - narrative
20. Northeastern University School of Law, MA - narrative

ePortfolios - many colleges and universities have turned to ePortfolios rather than letter grades. ePortfolios are online portfolios where students submit evidence of learning. The portfolio can then be shared online.

1. Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis, IN - ePortfolios for some classes
2. Virginia Tech, VA - implement the ePortfolio Initiative, some courses
3. Laguardia Community College, NY - known for their success with ePortfolios 

No fail grading systems - some schools have eliminated failing grades entirely along with GPA's. Transcripts usually include alternatives to the A-F grading system along with narratives.

1. Brown University, RI - A, B and C only, no failing grades, no GPA, no deans list. Course Performance Report is a requested narrative by the student for more detailed feedback.
2. University of California, Santa Cruz - students can elect pass/fail for 25% of classes.
3. Harvey Mudd College, CA - pass/fail for first year students. 
4. Harvard Law School, MA - not a traditional A-F grading scale, but can technically still "fail". They're grading policy is "honors", "pass", "low pass", and "fail". 

What's interesting about this is that there is a huge range. It's not just super-progressive schools that have taken on new methods of student grading. It's private and public, ivy-league and community colleges, traditional and progressive.  They're all great schools trying to do what is best for the students. So don't think you can't consider a school that doesn't offer a failing grade. There are no rules! Do what is right for you. To figure that out you may have to do some soul-searching. Happy hunting, and good luck!! ​