The document discusses lessons learned from the pandemic and strategies for education recovery and improvement. It argues that true change is possible, one size does not fit all, and focus is important. The pandemic exposed inadequacies but also opportunities to make education more equitable through personalized, flexible models that meet students' varied needs. Moving forward, reflection on disruptions and lessons learned can inform priorities and action planning to ensure all students achieve at higher levels.

1. The Pandemic Is Over…
(almost) Now What?
Jonathan P. Costa, Sr.
Winter/Spring, 2021
costa@edadvance.org
Jonathan P. Costa

2. Our Mission
To prepare
EVERY student
for learning, life,
and work
beyond school.

3. The Recovery Process
Recovery &
Healing
Reflection
& Analysis
Planning
for Action
1 2 3

4. Maslow Beats Bloom
every time…
Until we know that our
constituents feel safe and
secure in their homes and
health, any discussion of
educational improvement
strategies is pointless.

5. Differentiated
Personal Impact
Consider how the level
of disruption in
individual lives has
accumulated over the
last year and what will
be required for their
recovery.
10
Diminished options,
restricted pathways,
some dislocation.
Loss of jobs, loss of
life, significant
dislocations.
Inconvenience, no
loss of resources, no
loss of life.
1

6. Celebrate what was learned rather than bemoaning what was not.

7. Recovery
& Healing
Reflection
& Analysis
Planning
for
Action
A. Reflect on
the Disruption
B. Analyze
Lessons
Learned
C. Prioritize
and Identify
Key Outcomes
The Recovery Process

8. Endemic Systems
Inadequacies
Unprecedented
Pressure &
Circumstances
A Changed
Educational
Reality

9. Three Lessons Learned:
1. Real change is possible.
2. One size does not fit all.
3. Focus, focus, FOCUS.

10. Failure of educational change processes
are not caused by a lack of capacity…
We Have a
Problem
Let’s Try
Something
Is It
Working?
Adjust &
Adapt
Repeat As
Needed

11. Everything we
need to do to
meet this
moment we
can do.

12. Who benefits
from more of
this…
…and less of
that.
Every swing makes
somebody happy…

13. Fair
does
not
mean
equal.

14. Round Pegs and Square Holes
Equality Factory Model Equity Personalized Model
In a one-process-fits all environment, those with talents and skills
aligned with the process moved to the right of the learning curve. In a personalized
environment, you differentiate the learning strategy so that the whole learning curve
can move to the right.
Standardized
Processes
LEAD
TO
Variable Achievement
Variable Processes
LEAD
TO
Equitable
Higher
Achievement

15. What
does
that
look
like?
• Differentiated technology resources.
• Differentiated materials.
• Increased student agency.
• Differentiated assessment/
demonstration of mastery.
• Increased flexibility of course
selection and credit obtainment.
• Increased flexibility regarding
attendance and hours.

16. The Data Clearly Shows That Less Is More
I realized that these
things mattered a
lot more than I
thought…
…while these
things really did not
matter at all.

19. From John Hattie’s Visible Learning

20. Align Your Systems With Your Goals for Learning
Type of
Assessment
Required
Subject Area (Department)
Responsibilities
Everyone’s
Responsibility
Content
(Declarative)
Facts
Content Skills
(Procedural)
Discrete Skills
High Leverage Goals
(Contextual)
Portrait of the Graduate
Type of
Knowledge
Desired
Type of
Instruction
Required
Lecture, video,
films, assigned
readings and
memory activities.
Classroom or textbook
problems, experiments,
discussions, practice and
repetition.
Complex projects,
real time explorations,
authentic and relevant
skill applications.
Amount of
Time
Required
Discrete units,
spiraled and
predictable.
Ongoing, systemic and
without a finite
or predictable end.
Discrete units,
spiraled and
predictable.
Recall & recognition
based quizzes, tests,
and activities. Multiple
choice, matching, etc.
(SAT/AP/Exams)
Checklists,
analytic rubrics,
or other agreed upon
skill standards
(AP/SB/CAPT/Exams)
Holistic and,
analytic rubrics,
or other agreed upon
standards of rigor
(Portfolios, Exhibitions, SB)

21. Contact Information
Jonathan P. Costa, Sr.
Assistant Executive Director
EdAdvance
costa@edadvance.org
860-567-0863
To view slides:
www.slideshare.net/jpcostasr
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