Evolving Learner

Shifting From Professional Development to Professional Learning From Kids, Peers, and the World
Evolving Learner
February 2020 | 192 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781544338347
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781544338323
Available from January 0001

Description

Learn from Kids, Peers, and the World to Transform Professional Learning

What can kids teach us about educational practices? It turns out, plenty. PD is evolving into professional learning (PL), where personalized experiences focus on goals and outcomes, rather than seat time. In Evolving Learner, successful PL is framed through three critical sources: learning from kids, from peers, and from the world. Woven throughout the book are tangible connections to cycles of inquiry where a harmonious balance is the ultimate goal when students are engaged in inquiry for deeper learning and teachers are engaged in a parallel process to improve their practice.

  • The authors’ unique framework shifts away from factory model “PD” and transforms it into experiences tailored to kids’ and adult learners’ specific needs. Clear strategies for accomplishing PL are presented through 
  • A framework where both students and teachers are active agents of learning  
  • Cycles of inquiry to empower students to become the owners of learning  
  • Techniques to make thinking visible for teachers and students 
  • Cutting edge coverage of applying technology to professional learning including the use of social media, gamification, and digital badges 

The time is right to reclaim ownership of your professional learning: Evolving Learner is an essential guide for embarking on this journey.

 

Contents

Foreword by Thomas C. Murray

Foreword by Thomas C. Murray

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

  • Introduction
  • CHAPTER 1. LEARNING FROM KIDS
  • Honor the Learner: Kids
  • Leveraging the Most Abundant Resource in Our Schools
  • What Are They Thinking? Making Thinking Transparent to Tailor Instruction and Promote Teacher Inquiry
  • Ownership of Learning for All: Shifting From Students Who Consume Content to Learners Who Create Content
  • Looking Ahead
  • Resources
  • CHAPTER 2. LEARNING FROM PEERS
  • Honor the Learner: Peers
  • Workshops That Work: Renovating the One-Size-Fits-All Model
  • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
  • Coaching Principles and Practices
  • Practices in Action: Feeling Connected, Seen, and Heard
  • Social-Emotional Learning
  • Parents/Families as Peers
  • Tips: Listen, Be Flexible, Care
  • Resources
  • CHAPTER 3. LEARNING FROM THE WORLD
  • Honor the Learner: World
  • Becoming an Edu-Explorer
  • Developing Your Tribe
  • Social Media
  • Tips: Filter, Edit, Focus, Balance
  • Lurk No More
  • Resources

In Closing

In Closing

References and Further Reading

References and Further Reading

Index

Index

Description

Learn from Kids, Peers, and the World to Transform Professional Learning

What can kids teach us about educational practices? It turns out, plenty. PD is evolving into professional learning (PL), where personalized experiences focus on goals and outcomes, rather than seat time. In Evolving Learner, successful PL is framed through three critical sources: learning from kids, from peers, and from the world. Woven throughout the book are tangible connections to cycles of inquiry where a harmonious balance is the ultimate goal when students are engaged in inquiry for deeper learning and teachers are engaged in a parallel process to improve their practice.

  • The authors’ unique framework shifts away from factory model “PD” and transforms it into experiences tailored to kids’ and adult learners’ specific needs. Clear strategies for accomplishing PL are presented through 
  • A framework where both students and teachers are active agents of learning  
  • Cycles of inquiry to empower students to become the owners of learning  
  • Techniques to make thinking visible for teachers and students 
  • Cutting edge coverage of applying technology to professional learning including the use of social media, gamification, and digital badges 

The time is right to reclaim ownership of your professional learning: Evolving Learner is an essential guide for embarking on this journey.

 

Contents

Foreword by Thomas C. Murray

Foreword by Thomas C. Murray

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

  • Introduction
  • CHAPTER 1. LEARNING FROM KIDS
  • Honor the Learner: Kids
  • Leveraging the Most Abundant Resource in Our Schools
  • What Are They Thinking? Making Thinking Transparent to Tailor Instruction and Promote Teacher Inquiry
  • Ownership of Learning for All: Shifting From Students Who Consume Content to Learners Who Create Content
  • Looking Ahead
  • Resources
  • CHAPTER 2. LEARNING FROM PEERS
  • Honor the Learner: Peers
  • Workshops That Work: Renovating the One-Size-Fits-All Model
  • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
  • Coaching Principles and Practices
  • Practices in Action: Feeling Connected, Seen, and Heard
  • Social-Emotional Learning
  • Parents/Families as Peers
  • Tips: Listen, Be Flexible, Care
  • Resources
  • CHAPTER 3. LEARNING FROM THE WORLD
  • Honor the Learner: World
  • Becoming an Edu-Explorer
  • Developing Your Tribe
  • Social Media
  • Tips: Filter, Edit, Focus, Balance
  • Lurk No More
  • Resources

In Closing

In Closing

References and Further Reading

References and Further Reading

Index

Index

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Evolving Learner

Shifting From Professional Development to Professional Learning From Kids, Peers, and the World


February 2020 | 192 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781544338323 $37.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781544338347 $35.00

Learn from Kids, Peers, and the World to Transform Professional Learning

What can kids teach us about educational practices? It turns out, plenty. PD is evolving into professional learning (PL), where personalized experiences focus on goals and outcomes, rather than seat time. In Evolving Learner, successful PL is framed through three critical sources: learning from kids, from peers, and from the world. Woven throughout the book are tangible connections to cycles of inquiry where a harmonious balance is the ultimate goal when students are engaged in inquiry for deeper learning and teachers are engaged in a parallel process to improve their practice.

  • The authors’ unique framework shifts away from factory model “PD” and transforms it into experiences tailored to kids’ and adult learners’ specific needs. Clear strategies for accomplishing PL are presented through 
  • A framework where both students and teachers are active agents of learning  
  • Cycles of inquiry to empower students to become the owners of learning  
  • Techniques to make thinking visible for teachers and students 
  • Cutting edge coverage of applying technology to professional learning including the use of social media, gamification, and digital badges 

The time is right to reclaim ownership of your professional learning: Evolving Learner is an essential guide for embarking on this journey.

 


Table Of Contents:

  • Foreword by Thomas C. Murray
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Authors
  • Introduction
  • CHAPTER 1. LEARNING FROM KIDS
  • Honor the Learner: Kids
  • Leveraging the Most Abundant Resource in Our Schools
  • What Are They Thinking? Making Thinking Transparent to Tailor Instruction and Promote Teacher Inquiry
  • Ownership of Learning for All: Shifting From Students Who Consume Content to Learners Who Create Content
  • Looking Ahead
  • Resources
  • CHAPTER 2. LEARNING FROM PEERS
  • Honor the Learner: Peers
  • Workshops That Work: Renovating the One-Size-Fits-All Model
  • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
  • Coaching Principles and Practices
  • Practices in Action: Feeling Connected, Seen, and Heard
  • Social-Emotional Learning
  • Parents/Families as Peers
  • Tips: Listen, Be Flexible, Care
  • Resources
  • CHAPTER 3. LEARNING FROM THE WORLD
  • Honor the Learner: World
  • Becoming an Edu-Explorer
  • Developing Your Tribe
  • Social Media
  • Tips: Filter, Edit, Focus, Balance
  • Lurk No More
  • Resources
  • In Closing
  • References and Further Reading
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"Evolving Learner is a unique balance of incredible creativity, knowledge of innovative professional learning practices, with a deep appreciation for the emotional side of change. This trio of authors has done a remarkable job of making research based techniques of empowering the learner come alive. Filled with practical stories from classrooms around the world, this book will super charge educators to more deeply understand the needs of students to help them expand their own boundaries of learning. Of particular note, are the strategies to help students own their learning and educators to build collaborative classrooms. This book honors the role of the teacher as the head learner. The knowledge and wisdom within these pages is the reference and guide that we need to build healthy classrooms for students and teachers."
Alan November, Founder, November Learning
Evolving Learner is a fast and easy read but is jammed pack with ideas that can be implemented tomorrow whether you are in the classroom, supporting teachers in the classroom, or supporting your organization as whole. As a school leader myself, it provides meaningful and relevant strategies to reframe professional development for your organization.
Dr. Sammie Cervantez, Shell Beach Elementary
"Evolving Learner meets the needs of three important groups, teachers, coaches, teacher leaders and down in the trenches classroom teachers. This book is timely and encompasses all facets of sharing, developing and letting teachers know there is not one single answer to questions about professional development."
Cheryl Steele Oakes Med, Wells Ogunquit CSD
"Districts and schools need to look at personalizing the learning for the teacher. Evolving Learner is a well written book that conveys and gives great examples of how this can be done."
Stephanie L. Turner, Bradley Academy An Arts Integrated School
"Evolving Learner offers a compelling message of hope for educators across all disciplines in moving from an idea to implementation. It is an easy read and a great time saving topic for busy administrators offering a practical solution to facilitating the process of change from professional development to professional learning experiences. This is the one tool needed by all that is a research based process to enhance the growth and development model of one’s organization."
Debra Paradowski, Arrowhead Union High School

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