What is Deeper Learning?

Although the job market in the United States has changed significantly over the past few decades, our K-12 classrooms still operate the same way they did in the industrial era 100 years ago. The students of today need more than basic math and English skills to succeed in the workplace of the future. They need to engage in Deeper Learning.

Deeper Learning describes the higher-order thinking skills, learning dispositions, and collaboration skills needed for students to succeed in twenty-first century work and civic life. Deeper Learning competencies promote the ability to transfer learning and apply learning to new and complex situations in an ever-changing global environment.

Deeper Learning Competencies

Content EXPERTISE

Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.

CRITICAL THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING​

Students consider a variety of innovative deeper learning approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Collaboration

Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.

Self Directed Learning

Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.

Academic Mindset

Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.

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What is the
Deeper Learning Hub?

The Deeper Learning Hub is a strategic response to the question: How do we achieve deeper learning outcomes in an educational system that is largely disconnected and undergoing change? Originally funded by Hewlett Foundation, with the goal of promoting, developing and scaling the practices that result in deeper learning for all students, we focus on connecting the efforts of teachers, school leaders, districts, policymakers, researchers and the field. We seek to spread high leverage practices that support deeper learning in education,  build the collective capacity of districts, schools, and organizations to spread deeper learning practices, and connect scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to each other.  

THE DEEPER LEARNING STORY

WHERE WE'VE BEEN

The original Deeper Learning network was established in 2010 by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation to serve as a source of innovation. The network of ten school networks spans a mix of charter and traditional public schools across 41 states and serves more than 200,000 students. Each school network has a unique approach to delivering deeper learning with a shared purpose to promote better educational outcomes for young people.

WHERE WE ARE

Started in 2013, Deeper Learning Conference is an annual gathering of powerful educators focused on creating more equitable outcomes by engaging students in deeper learning. The event has grown from serving 250 participants to over 1,300 participants in recent years with change leaders coming from a variety of public, charter, and independent schools along with an array of nonprofits and foundations.

WHERE WE'RE HEADED

Deeper Learning is more than a conference. It aims to create a movement that catalyzes educators toward collective action and supports them in transforming their classrooms and communities. With Deeper Learning Global, we will work in partnership with communities to create regional Deeper Learning events. We see these as the gathering places for this diverse community of pedagogical innovators to build momentum and move from aspiration to transformative action.

How Do I Get Involved?

01

Attend the annual Deeper Learning Conference
Register

02

Join the Share Your Learning campaign
Join Now

03

Teach a Project from the DL Course Catalog
Teach

04

Join the What School Could Be Community
connect
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