Learner Positioning Systems: Navigating Learner Variability

Presented by Tom Vander Ark, Author and CEO, Getting Smart; Manjula Raman, Director of Content and Curriculum, ReadWorks; and Vic Vuchic, Chief Innovation Officer, Digital Promise Global
Hosted by Barbara Pape, Communications Director, Learner Positioning Systems, Digital Promise Global
Sponsored by Digital Promise

Watch the Recording

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This edWebinar unveils a powerful and free tool, Learner Positioning Systems (LPS), which links research to practice to enhance opportunities for personalized learning and addresses learner variability. The LPS tool facilitates the connection among researchers, edtech product developers, teachers, and ultimately learners. Product developers can tap into the latest learning sciences research to inform the design of their products in order to effectively reach all learners. Teachers can use LPS to hone in on instructional strategies backed by research to work toward improved outcomes for the diversity of learners in their classrooms. LPS underscores that each learner is unique and provides researched-based factors and strategies to make it easier for teachers and product developers to reach each student in every classroom.

This edWebinar features Tom Vander Ark, a former school superintendent and thought leader in education and innovation, and ReadWorks, an award-winning reading comprehension product and partner with LPS, that is committed to providing high quality, research-based content.

Viewers of this edWebinar will:

• Build an understanding of the importance of research in designing education technology and creating classroom practice to reach each student
• Walk through the LPS tool to gain knowledge about the factors related to learning in reading, writing, and math
• Learn about research-backed strategies teachers and product developers can use to help all students learn to their potential
• Think about ways to personalize with purpose in classrooms and in ed tech products
• Discover ways LPS and product developers like ReadWorks can team up to develop increased research-based supports that address the variability in all learners

PreK through middle school teachers, higher ed instructors, and edtech product developers will benefit from watching thi recorded session. Learn more about how the free Learner Positioning Systems tool can improve edtech development and student learning.

About the Presenters

Tom Vander Ark is a recognized advocate for powerful learning experiences and is CEO of Getting Smart, a learning design firm. He advises school districts and networks, education foundations and funders, and impact organizations on the path forward. Previously he served as the first Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Tom served as a public school superintendent in Washington State and has extensive private sector experience including serving as a senior executive for a national public retail chain. Tom is the author of Better Together, Getting Smart, Smart Cities, and Smart Parents; has published thousands of articles; and writes regularly on his Education Week blog, Vander Ark on Innovation, GettingSmart.com and LinkedIn.

Manjula Raman is the director of content and curriculum at the nonprofit ReadWorks. At ReadWorks, Manjula manages the development and production of content and curriculum that reach millions of learners and educators. She also builds and manages partnerships with museums, cultural institutions, and other organizations. Prior to joining ReadWorks as a lead writer, Manjula was part of the editorial team at the academic publisher Routledge.

Vic Vuchic, Chief Innovation Officer, Digital Promise Global, is a seasoned thought leader in education technology and philanthropy. Vic received his masters in education from Stanford University and is an expert in learning science, innovation, and scaling what works. He has launched game-changing initiatives that have increased access to education and improved learning for tens of millions of learners in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Prior to Digital Promise Global, Vic consulted with a number of foundations and organizations on education technology, innovation, and philanthropy. Prior to consulting, Vic developed strategies and managed over $100 million in technology-focused grants at the Hewlett Foundation to launch and grow the Open Educational Resources movement and create and advance the Deeper Learning strategy.

About the Host

Barbara Pape is the communications director for the Learner Positioning Systems (LPS) at Digital Promise Global (DPG). She has 20 years experience in strategic communications, writing, and policy analysis, primarily in education. Previously, she served as Executive Producer of the award-winning Teaching & Learning conference, sponsored by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, where she developed content and oversaw outreach and communications. As a writer, she has written for numerous publications, including Harvard University, the National Education Goals Panel (U.S. Department of Education) and Parents magazine. Barbara also served as editor and publisher of the first electronically delivered education newsletter, the Daily Report Card. She earned an EdM at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and launched her career as a middle school language arts teacher

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Digital Promise was created with the mission to accelerate innovation in education to improve opportunities to learn.

The fourth installment in Digital Promise Global’s Making Learning Personal For All series, Policies and Practices that Meet Learners Where They Are highlights the promise of personalized learning to meet the needs of the full diversity of learners. It also examines policy actions and investments that district, state, and federal and national levels can take to help each learner master content and a broad range of skills. It makes clear that personalization must consider the whole child, put learner voice and choice front and center, and be built on the learning sciences.