DESE's Deeper Learning pilot, The Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning, has been working closely with the teachers and leaders of Cohort 1 to develop the tools, such as the Deeper Learning Guidance Tool and Task Adjustment Protocol with Equity Pause, and trainings necessary for the wide-scale implementation of Deeper Learning across Massachusetts.

To that end, Kaleidoscope has developed two new tools for educators to use: the Task Preparation Protocol, a tool to help prepare for facilitation, and Microillustrations, a deep analysis of examples highlighting indicators of the Deeper Learning Guidance Tool. Cohort 1 educators continue to provide Kaleidoscope with feedback on our existing tools and guidance on what new tools, trainings, and supports educators need to bring Deeper Learning to their students.  

Kaleidoscope is proud to announce the formal launch of Cohort 2! This partnership with Boston Public Schools (BPS) is the beginning of a three-year collaboration with 15 schools located in BPS Region One (East Boston, Charlestown, and the North End).

Kaleidoscope has already begun to engage with leaders and teachers from the 15 Cohort 2 schools through a series of Educator Engagement Sessions and Focus Groups, which we used to share information and solicit questions, feedback, and ideas as we begin our work to bring Deeper Learning to Boston. 

Kaleidoscope’s guiding principle continues to be equity. For Deeper Learning, equity means creating the conditions that allow all students to master grade-level standards and practices in a way that affirms their identity and sense of who they want to be in the world, and supports their creativity and development into independent learners.

Kaleidoscope recently held a focus group for high school seniors on the topic of equity in education, which we recorded and shared at our March 2021 convening for Cohort 1. As one participant noted, “Students' opinions matter, and incorporating more [student perspective] makes this work so much more meaningful.”  
  

• Engaging Students as Complex Thinkers:
  • Key question: How can we engage students as complex thinkers in remote learning? 
• Designing for Equity:  
  • Key question: How can we examine our curricular tasks for bias and blind spots?