Life on the LearningEdge

The blog, Life on the LearningEdge, shares insights about how schools and districts are using learning science to create lasting improvements.

Our schools juggle competing goals, a million rules, fast-changing leadership, and a chorus of voices. It’s messy, and that’s exactly why we need to talk—and learn—together.

Much of my focus is on those schools that are seeking systemic changes with competency-based education. I aim to include multiple perspectives from educators, policymakers, students, and families—the deepest understandings come when many voices work together.

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Quality Design Principle #13: Invest in Educators as Learners

Chris Sturgis June 13, 2019 No Comments

“Sure, we could make it easier for teachers, but then our students don’t succeed. The other option is to admit that teaching is a complex system, invest in the systems,…

Quality Design Principle #14: Increase Organizational Flexibility

Chris Sturgis June 12, 2019 No Comments

“From day one, I have always shared with our staff that we can approach and reach our mission and vision a thousand different ways, but we can not have a thousand different…

Quality Design Principle #15: Develop Processes for Ongoing Continuous Improvement and Organizational Learning

Chris Sturgis June 11, 2019 No Comments

“We aren’t done innovating until 100 percent of our students are graduating.” – Ty Cesene, Principal, Bronx Arena, New York City Department of Education, NY, 2014 Description Quality systems model…

Quality Design Principle #16: Advance Upon Demonstrated Mastery

Chris Sturgis June 10, 2019 No Comments

“Mastery is about knowing something like the back of your hand. You can use it again and again.” – Student, Cleveland School District Description When students advance upon demonstrated mastery…

Creating a Learner-Driven System in Waukesha (Part 1)

Chris Sturgis June 1, 2019 3 Comments

This article, originally posted at CompetencyWorks is based on site visits in 2017 on personalized, proficiency-based education in Wisconsin. I arrived early at Waukesha’s STEM Academy – Saratoga Campus (WSA).…

EPIC Schools: Putting Young Men of Color in the Center of the Design (Part 1)

Chris Sturgis June 1, 2019 No Comments

This series on Epic North High School, originally published at CompetencyWorks, was based on site visits in 2014 and 2016. See also South Bronx Community High School for another school…

A Deeper Dive into the EPIC North Design (Part 2)

Chris Sturgis June 1, 2019 No Comments

This series on Epic North High School, originally published at CompetencyWorks, was based on site visits in 2014 and 2016. See also South Bronx Community High School for another school…

High Expectations at EPIC North

Chris Sturgis June 1, 2019 No Comments

This series on Epic North High School, originally published at CompetencyWorks, was based on site visits in 2014 and 2016. See also South Bronx Community High School for another school…

Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand: Credentialing Learning

Chris Sturgis April 19, 2019 No Comments

One of the key features of a competency-based system is a transparent framework of learning. Every school making the transition takes the time at some point in their transition process…

A Primer on the NZ Education System

Chris Sturgis April 18, 2019 1 Comment

There are lots of reasons to go to New Zealand. The beauty of the country is well known. Their national effort to create a multi-cultural nation that fully respects and…

UMPI: Eliminating Remediation

Chris Sturgis April 1, 2019 No Comments

This post part of a series on the University of Maine at Presque Isle originally posted at CompetencyWorks in 2016. One of the most fascinating discussions that was woven throughout…

UMPI: Faculty Perspective

Chris Sturgis April 1, 2019 No Comments

This post is part of a series on the University of Maine at Presque Isle originally posted at CompetencyWorks in 2016. During my visit to University of Maine at Presque…

KAPPA International: The Story of Angelica

Chris Sturgis March 24, 2019 No Comments

Story of Angelica Angelica was a model student at KAPPA International. She had a good attitude, did her homework, always went for the extra credit, participated in class, and had…

R5 High School: Abuzz with Learning

Chris Sturgis March 1, 2019 No Comments

This article is part of a series Designing Performance-Based Learning at D51 series originally published at ComepetencyWorks in March 2017. A reminder: D51 uses the phrase performance-based learning or P-BL.…

Wrap-Up on the New Zealand Series

Chris Sturgis December 31, 2018 No Comments

There is so much more to share and so many stories from schools from New Zealand. But my time is up at CompetencyWorks. On to the next venture at LearningEdge!…

How Competency-Based is New Zealand?

Chris Sturgis December 19, 2018 No Comments

This is the final article in the series Baskets of Knowledge from Aotearoa New Zealand, which highlights insights from a totally different education system about what is possible in transforming our…

Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand: Key Competencies

Chris Sturgis December 13, 2018 No Comments

This is the tenth article in the series Baskets of Knowledge from Aotearoa New Zealand, which highlights insights from a totally different education system about what is possible in transforming our education…

Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand: Defining Lifelong Learning

Chris Sturgis December 11, 2018 No Comments

This is the ninth article in the series Baskets of Knowledge from Aotearoa New Zealand, which highlights insights from a totally different education system about what is possible in transforming our education…

Pt. England Primary: The Cherry or the Orchard

Chris Sturgis December 6, 2018 No Comments

This is the eighth article in the series Baskets of Knowledge from Aotearoa New Zealand, which highlights insights from a totally different education system about what is possible in transforming our education…

Pt. England Primary: Gifting Language

Chris Sturgis December 4, 2018 No Comments

This is the seventh article in the series Baskets of Knowledge from Aotearoa New Zealand, which highlights insights from a totally different education system about what is possible in transforming our education…