Deeper learning is a term being used more and more across the country, and state education leaders are being asked to create and implement aligned policies.
A new report from Education Commission of the States serves as a primer for state policymakers seeking to modify instruction and assessment policies to better engage today’s students. The primer defines deeper learning, explains how it overlaps with other active learning strategies and describes how it can be, and is being, accomplished at the state policy level. Resources that examine deeper learning in further detail are also available.
“To address the needs of 21st century learners, deeper learning advocates recommend that states pass a comprehensive set of deeper learning policies,” says Stephanie Aragon, a researcher for Education Commission of the States. “This report provides policymakers with more comprehensive information and resources on this important topic.”
Some important takeaways from the report include the following:
- Deeper learning strategies facilitate the development of students’ collaboration, critical thinking, creative problem-solving and civic skills that are not typically addressed through traditional instructional practices.
- Although standards in most states now call for some level of deeper learning, instruction is still working to catch up. As a result, deeper learning has yet to dramatically alter the way curricula are delivered to most students.
- Proponents of deeper learning advocate for states to pass a comprehensive set of deeper learning policies. No single policy on its own is likely to produce the changes that advocates seek.
To access the full report, please visit: http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/01/21/08/12108.pdf
