Our Evidence-Based Deeper Learning Framework
Our hands-on career-connected deeper learning framework enables students to draw meaningful connections across contexts while building the higher-order thinking skills vital for future work and civic life.
Deeper Learning is the ability to understand complex topics, apply and transfer knowledge to new situations, and develop essential skills needed for success in an ever-changing, global environment. Deeper learning fosters important skills and attributes such as knowledge transfer, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, teamwork, communication, self-directed learning, an academic growth mindset, and more.
Our deeper learning philosophy is supported by 4 pillars: career-connected learning, future-ready skills, performance tasks, and project-based learning. Dive deeper into the 4 pillars below!
Career-Connected Learning
Career-connected learning bridges education and careers through practical industry experience. Career-connected learning:
- Connects classroom content and skills to real-world careers and industries
- Provides authentic career exploration and application through performance tasks
- Develops professional skills through minds-on and hands-on activities and experiences
- Enables students to "test drive" careers
- Builds career awareness, preparation, and readiness
- Provides pathways for internships and work-based learning professionalism
Future-Ready Skills
Future-ready skills develop key competencies like adaptability and teamwork. Future-ready skills:
- Are essential competencies for workplace and life success
- Include collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking
- Develop leadership and problem-solving abilities
- Build adaptability for changing environments
- Promote metacognition and self-management
- Cultivates a growth mindset and professionalism
GRASP Framework
Performance Tasks
Performance tasks provide authentic contexts to apply learning in real-world situations. Performance tasks:
- Present authentic, real-world challenges
- Connect academic content and practices to careers
- Students must transfer their knowledge and skills to new and varied contexts
- Open-ended and typically do not yield a single, correct answer
- Performance tasks can integrate two or more subjects, as well as future-ready skills
- Authentic contexts for performance and product development
At Defined, we utilize UbD's GRASP template to design every performance task from K-12. GRASP ensures each task includes five essential elements: a clear Goal or challenge, a specific Role for students to assume, a defined Audience, an authentic Situation or context, and a meaningful Product to create. This systematic approach transforms abstract learning into concrete, career-connected experiences that mirror real-world problem-solving.
Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning integrates teaching and learning using real-world challenges. Project-based learning:
- Engages students in complex, real-world problems and projects
- Promotes inquiry-driven, hands-on learning
- Results in meaningful public products
- Requires collaboration and project management
- Builds student ownership of learning
- Contributes to intellectual challenge and accomplishment with authentic, real-world contexts
- Easily connects with Place-Based and Problem-Based issues and challenges
High-Quality Project-Based Learning Framework
Read the Research
Research confirms that students who develop cognitive, emotional, and social skills are more likely to succeed in work, in relationships, and as citizens. Deeper learning imparts necessary 21st-century skills while boosting academic achievement.
Check out this playbook for a deeper dive into the 4 pillars of deeper learning — career-connected learning, future-ready skills, performance tasks, and project-based learning — and to learn how K-12 leaders can make deeper learning a reality in all schools and districts.
Partner With Us to Transform Learning Through Our Evidence-Based Approach
To learn how Defined can help you meet your goals and support your school, district, and/or statewide initiatives, click below to schedule a call with your designated parternship representative!
