1 . It can be leveraged to offer unique opportunities and provide experiences the core day can ’ t . But most importantly , it can be used to build the life-changing relationships that transform students into lifelong learners .
Practical next steps
The following are some guiding points and questions for your team intended to find out where you are in terms of Expanded Learning . These points should give you an idea as to whether or not you are taking full advantage of the opportunities that can be created . The progression follows a framework called “ Design Thinking ,” which is a human-centered approach to creating programs , products or experiences . Although the steps are not totally outlined , the gist is here . If you ’ re interested in how to use Design Thinking to build better programs , here ’ s a link to another article that covers this topic more thoroughly : https :// goo . gl / pfim8w .
Gather information
• Identify what services your school or
The fact is , the return on investment with the relationship builders in Expanded Learning is worth an examination . Explore the possibilities .
district currently is providing that would fit into the Expanded Learning spaces . How are these services being funded ?
• Does your school or school district receive After School Education and Safety ( ASES ) or After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens ( ASSETs ) or 21st Century Community Learning Centers ( 21st CLCC ) dollars ? If so , how much money are
you getting , and how many students do you need to serve a year ? Each of these grants have specific requirements and expectations . Are you and your team familiar with these requirements ?
• Identify who is staffing these services . Are they certificated personnel , classified , or agency staff contracted to work with your students ?
• Identify what your students are doing , or want to be doing , before and after school and during summer or intersessions . This entails more than just creating surveys . Really dive deep into what students and parents are looking for , what needs are not being met ?
Ideate
• Play the “ wouldn ’ t it be cool if ...” game . Grab a stack of post-it notes and jot down as many activity ideas as possible . Pie in the sky and all , just go for volume . Then take an inventory of what teachers are passionate about at your school .
Take a test drive
• Match staff passions with student needs . Offer classes for two week sprints until you feel comfortable running longer activities . Pay attention to what works ( i . e . makes for an amazing experience for students and instructors ). Document and re-evaluate the offerings .
It ’ s hard , I ’ m not going to lie . But if we go back to the reasons why we became educators , and why we work with youth , the hard work is what ’ s worth it . The opportunity to change someone ’ s life can ’ t be passed up . With the effective use of Expanded Learning , every school can become the light our communities look for . But it will only happen if we make that journey to where there is no light .
For more information on the benefits of Expanded Learning and how Expanded Learning can help the core day , check out www . expandingstudentsuccess . com .
Rodrigo Arancibia is a teacher in San Diego , an after-school programs lead and Expanded Learning consultant .
16 Leadership