COHORT PROGRAMS
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Kealaʻula Cohorts use a Research, Design, Reflect and Develop process to Improve Teaching and Learning. Kealaʻula is not just for teachers; participants have included community and ʻāina educators, counselors, curriculum coordinators, and a variety of school leaders from all divisions of education.
Cohort members dive deep to examine and expand on their innovative practices. Armed with research and a disciplined inquiry lens these educators develop expertise and hone their own ability to learn. They also accept the responsibility of sharing their learning with one another, as well as the broader education community. With a smaller group working to support one anotherʻs efforts, educators can test, reiterate, learn, relearn more nimbly upon their practices, thus increasing change and growth. By collecting data directly related to student learning teachers will track the pedagogies that make the biggest difference for our haumāna. Visiting other schools is a big part of the research and development process. Getting a chance to see other educational institutions in operation, speak with teachers, administrators, students, and parents all brings innovative practices we speak and read about to life. Data collection is a large part of school visits and it is used to develop a body of research on the most innovative schools around. To date Cohorts have visited close to 40 different schools and educational institutions. This year the number is set to grow though visits will occur virtually rather than in person. Participation in a Cohort means lifelong membership in the Kealaʻula ʻohana and we work to facilitate opportunities for veteran members throughout the year via individual supports, the annual Kealaʻula Summit, or our speaker series of opportunities featuring thought leaders and innovative education practitioners. With the rapid change in the education space as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic our Cohort program has adapted to the needs of the 2020-21 school year and shifted the focus to digital teaching and learning; specifically online assessments, blended pedagogies, and digital instructional design. |