What is a Portrait of a Graduate?

In this article, John Larmer delves into what a Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) is along with its key components. Learn about the challenges and solutions when implementing a PoG and the different ways in which schools and districts are helping […]

How PBL Builds Portrait of a Graduate Competencies Part 4: Communication, Collaboration, Citizenship

This is Part 4 of a four-part series on “Portrait of a Graduate” goals that have been set by many schools and districts. My first post argued that project-based learning is one of the most effective ways to build the student competencies commonly […]

How Competency-Based Learning Builds 21st-Century Skills

Competencies, future-ready skills, and 21st-century skills all involve students doing something. For the students, these ideas represent the “how” to do something or the skills needed to navigate a situation. For the teacher, these ideas represent […]

Building Future Ready Skills through Defined Careers

We continue to hear there is a skill deficiency for young adults coming out of high school and college. Yet, what specific skills are needed and how can learners build those skills in a meaningful way that will help them find their purpose and […]

The Need for Durable Skills Beyond School

In today’s world, technical skills are advancing faster than ever before. Yet there is a set of very important skills that will last a lifetime. These skills are now deemed “Durable Skills.” These skills “include a combination of how you use what […]

Three Ways to Get Students Excited About Creating Their Own Career Paths

In today's ever-changing job market, we need to help students develop a variety of skills that will enable them to be flexible with the changes we are seeing in the world of work. It is also important that students have opportunities to consider […]

Incorporating Career Relevance in the Classroom

For almost a decade I’ve started the school year by asking my urban elementary students to draw a picture of what they think a scientist does at work all day. When I walk around the room, I often see pictures of white-haired men dressed in lab coats […]

How PBL Builds Portrait of a Graduate Competencies Part 3: Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Innovation & Creativity

In my first post in this series, “Why PBL is Key to Meeting Portrait of a Graduate Goals” I argued that project-based learning is one of the most effective ways to build the student competencies commonly listed on graduate portraits. In the second […]

How PBL Builds Portrait of a Graduate Competencies Part 2: Academic Knowledge & Skills and Career Readiness

In my last post, “Why PBL is Key to Meeting Portrait of a Graduate Goals” I made the case for using project-based learning to build the student competencies commonly listed on graduate portraits created by schools and districts. In this and two […]

3 Ideas for Promoting Collaboration in the Classroom

Collaboration is being open to each other's ideas and benefiting from each other's perspectives in an open way”. - Alan Menken 

Preparing our students for the future means that we need to continue to learn more about the types of jobs that are in […]