What is NTN Deeper Learning Practices?

Who is it for?  

Groups engaging in NTN Deeper Learning Practices can vary: a small group of teachers; a department; a grade level; a PLC; even an entire staff. 

What is it?  

New Tech Network Deeper Learning Practices (DLP) is a workshop designed for teaching and fostering Deeper Learning skills at a school, through the use of three key components: (1) New Tech Learning Outcome Rubrics, (2) Student-centered teaching practices aligned to the outcomes, and (3) Faculty Collaboration.  In the classroom, students use learning outcome rubrics to set goals, and the teacher facilitates interactive, student-centered lessons that allow for observation of student performance in the learning outcomes.   Students also reflect upon their own performance at the end of each lesson.  These are called “Bookend Lessons”, because the lesson is bookended by student reflection of the learning outcome rubrics.  Outside of the classroom, DLP involves teachers using collaboration protocols to share and refine their lesson plans.

Why engage in this kind of work?  

Some districts see DLP simply as a way to help teachers teach directly to the Learning Outcomes.  Others see it as a pathway to Project Based Learning.   From our work around whole-school transformation, we know that any kind of whole-school change rests on a solid foundation of a positive faculty culture; we know that the practice of Project Based Learning rests on a foundation of learning outcomes.   The work of this workshop, then, lays the foundation for deeper transformation of a school.

What are the desired outcomes?

By the end of the workshop, teachers will have designed a bookend lesson and developed a plan for implementing the lesson. After using Bookend Lessons several times in the classroom,  students will have awareness of and show more focus on collaboration, communication and agency learning outcomes.  

Program Service Description:

NTN Deeper Learning Practices training can occur any time in the year allowing time for implementation (at least 2 months recommended).

Services include:

1. For a school new to engaging in NTN: a 2-day training in (a) Use of Rubrics (b) Student Centered Teaching Methods (c) Use of collaborative protocols for faculty and (d) assessment practices.
2. For a school already in the NTN network:  a 1-day training in (a) Use of Rubrics (b) Student Centered Teaching Methods and (c) assessment practices.
3. Access to learner-centered practices, the bookend lesson design framework, and all resources listed on the website used for facilitation.