Challenging every learner intellectually is not just a goal—it’s a design principle that can reshape learning experiences for the better. In a new Getting Smart Blog, Carri Schneider explores how fostering intellectual challenge can lead to deeper engagement, critical thinking, and equitable learning opportunities for all students. Discover practical strategies for creating rigorous and inclusive learning environments that inspire curiosity and growth. Let’s ensure no student is left unchallenged: https://lnkd.in/g6mBY6YD #GettingSmart #GettingSmartBlog #DesignPrinciples #IntellectualChallenge #DeeperLearning #EquityInEducation
Getting Smart
Education
Getting Smart supports innovations in learning, education & technology.
About us
Getting Smart® is a learning design firm passionate about advocating on behalf of, accelerating and amplifying innovations in learning. Our Advisory team provides coaching, implementation support, strategy and design solutions for a network of impact-oriented partners that help people and organizations learn, grow and innovate. Getting Smart Collective, uses GettingSmart.com and additional Getting Smart platforms to advocate and amplify innovations in learning across the country as well as the work we do with partners emphasizing storytelling, scale and landscape views of what’s next in K-12, early, post-secondary education and lifelong learning. With experience as educators, school administrators, business executives and nonprofit leaders, our team has extensive expertise in teaching and learning, education leadership, organization management, communication, marketing and sales. This unique combination of experience, passion, knowledge and relationships drives our work and allows us to design personalized engagements and stories for each of our partners.
- Website
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http://gettingsmart.com/
External link for Getting Smart
- Industry
- Education
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Type
- Partnership
- Founded
- 2008
- Specialties
- consulting, business strategy, strategic planning, market research, content creation, Storytelling, Podcasts, Advocacy, facilitation, and keynoting and speaking
Employees at Getting Smart
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Carri Schneider
Mission-Driven Multimedia Storyteller | Former XQ Institute - Emerson Collective
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Jean Liu
Experienced senior leader and passionate advocate for K12 education transformation
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Caroline Vander Ark
CEO of Getting Smart Collective a non-profit focused on innovations in learning
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Nate McClennen
Vice President of Strategy and Innovation, Getting Smart
Updates
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As 2024 wraps up, we're reflecting on a year of innovation and growth in education. Mason Pashia's latest Getting Smart Blog captures the best moments of the year, highlighting top blogs, podcasts, and initiatives that have shaped the learning landscape. From breakthroughs in AI integration to strategies for learner-centered design, these stories spotlight the incredible progress made this year. Explore Mason's take on the most impactful ideas of 2024 and get inspired to make 2025 even better: https://lnkd.in/g-sTKy5v #GettingSmart #GettingSmartBlog #EdInnovation #FutureOfLearning #EducationMatters #EdLeadership #LearningRedesign #2024Recap #EducationTrends #EdTech #EducationInspiration #AIinEducation #LearningForward #EdChat
Getting Smart's Best of 2024
https://www.gettingsmart.com
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Educators play a vital role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow, and their growth is essential for creating thriving learning ecosystems. In a new Getting Smart Blog by Josh Schachter and Melinda Englert, we explore how CommunityShare is transforming education by fostering educator leadership and building connections between schools and their communities. Through powerful stories, explore how community-engaged learning can empower educators to expand their roles and create thriving learning ecosystems where learners, educators, and communities collaborate. By connecting educators with community mentors, students gain hands-on experiences that make future career paths tangible and achievable. Discover how this approach strengthens educator well-being, builds social capital, and creates pathways for meaningful learning that extend beyond the classroom: https://lnkd.in/gRecQ24P LearnerStudio | Incubate Learning | Sujata Bhatt | Antonia Rudenstine | reDesign | Mike Duncan, Ed.D. | Battelle for Kids | Katie Martin | Devin Vodicka | Learner-Centered Collaborative | Building 21 | Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) | Inkwire | Playlab AI | Kathleen Osta, LCSW, SEP | LaShawn Routé Chatmon | Tom Malarkey | National Equity Project | Chris Unger | Northeastern College of Professional Studies | Emily Liebtag | Education Reimagined | Laurie Gagnon | Virgel Hammonds | Aurora Institute | Mike Flanagan | Mastery Transcript Consortium® (MTC) #GettingSmart #HorizonThree #H3 #H3Learning #LearningEcosystems #FutureOfEducation #EducationRevolution #CommunityShare #CommunityEngagedLearning #Community
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2025 is shaping up to be a year of hyperchange—one that brings unparalleled opportunities and unprecedented challenges. Rapid advancements in AI promise breakthroughs in education, workforce development, and mental health, yet they also come with risks ranging from autonomous weapons to economic displacement. In a new Getting Smart Blog, Tom Vander Ark and Mason Pashia explore the profound implications of AI-driven change for education and leadership. From equipping learners with AI literacy to fostering civic education that addresses shared risks, 2025 demands a new approach to preparing students for life with co-intelligence. They also highlight the critical role of work-based learning, credentialing, and public leadership in navigating this transition. How can we embrace hyperchange while creating environments alive with possibility and safe from harm? Explore actionable insights and strategies for the year ahead: https://lnkd.in/ggp3gy3R #GettingSmart #GettingSmartBlog #FutureOfLearning #AIinEducation #LeadershipInAI #Hyperchange
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Discover how Tacoma Public Schools is redefining education to prepare students for success in an ever-changing world. In the latest episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark connects with Adam Kulaas, Director of Innovative Learning, to explore the district’s groundbreaking approach to college and career readiness. By prioritizing hands-on, meaningful learning, they’re equipping students with the skills, credentials, and experiences needed to thrive today and in the future. Programs like Jobs 253 and dual-credit opportunities are transforming education in Tacoma, creating personalized pathways to high-wage careers and lifelong learning. With an asset-based model that leverages existing resources, the district is setting a new standard for empowering students and communities. Learn how intentional pathways are revolutionizing education: https://lnkd.in/gH6YYf6B #GettingSmart #GettingSmartPodcast #GSPodcast #NewPathways #TacomaPublicSchools #CollegeReadiness #CareerReadiness #LifeReadiness #FutureReady
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How can schools better support students in navigating their postsecondary options? Originally published by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), Getting Smart is happy to share a piece by Andrew Schmitz and Bill DeBaun that highlights five key findings on how schools advise students about their future pathways. Drawing from NCAN’s Postsecondary Advising Challenge, this blog explores critical insights into advising practices, the gaps between student needs and school efforts, and actionable strategies for improvement. As schools work to prepare students for postsecondary success, these findings illuminate how advising can make a lasting impact. Learn more about these findings and how schools can improve their advising efforts: https://lnkd.in/g3u_m7Sk #GettingSmart #NCAN #OneGoal #NewPathways #CollegeAccess #PostsecondaryAdvising #EducationInnovation
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How can we prepare students for the real world while fostering curiosity, connection, and purpose? In a new Getting Smart Blog, Nate McClennen explores how integrating place-, project-, and profession-based learning can create a comprehensive framework for K-12 education that meets students where they are developmentally and equips them with skills for lifelong success. Educators can design pathways that support college, career, and life readiness by connecting learning to students' local communities through place-based education, fostering collaboration and critical thinking with project-based learning, and offering real-world experiences via profession-based learning. These approaches engage students, build essential skills, and nurture curiosity and purpose. Learn how this sequence of learning can create a meaningful and transformative education experience: https://lnkd.in/gn-PnujS #GettingSmart #GettingSmartBlog #NewPathways #RealWorldLearning #PlaceBasedLearning #ProjectBasedLearning #ProfessionBasedLearning #EducationInnovation
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Explore the future of AI in education at the 2025 AI K12 Deeper Learning Summit! Taking place Feb. 27–March 1, 2025, in Anaheim, CA, this event brings together educators, AI experts, and policymakers to shape innovative and responsible AI practices in schools. Attendees will discover best practices, advocate for tech justice, and network with global leaders. Don’t miss the chance to reimagine learning and student engagement. Register today using code AIK12DL for early bird access: https://lnkd.in/ebHNyQZk Digital Promise | UCI School of Education | Anaheim Union High School Dst | aiEDU #AIK12Summit #AIinEducation #EdTech #TechJustice
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The future of education is accelerating—are you prepared for the changes ahead? Join us on January 16 at noon PT for What’s Next in Learning 2025, our annual Getting Smart Town Hall. Together, we’ll explore the trends, technologies, and shifts shaping the future of learning. From cutting-edge innovations to the revitalization of urban centers and new leadership approaches, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to lead in 2025. Stay ahead of the curve and inspire meaningful change in education: https://lnkd.in/gU4ng7WZ #GettingSmart #GettingSmartTownHall #GSTownHall #WhatsNextInLearning #FutureOfLearning #EdLeadership #EducationInnovation
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Imagine a classroom where students are not just participants but active drivers of their educational journey. In their insightful Getting Smart Blog, Dr. Jacqueline Z. and Dr. Kathryn Kennedy, in collaboration with KnowledgeWorks, explore the transformative power of learner-driven classrooms observed in Ohio schools. These classrooms foster learner agency, enabling students to set their own learning objectives and make choices about their educational paths, resulting in heightened engagement and motivation. The blog highlights practical strategies such as goal setting and learner profiles. Ohio educators have seen firsthand how these approaches empower students to take ownership of their learning. For instance, students work with color-coded folders to track their progress in mathematics, analyze their mistakes, and refine their goals. These methods build resilience and enhance students' ability to navigate challenges. Discover how you can start creating a learner-centered environment that truly engages and motivates students: https://lnkd.in/g2zB8pZy #GettingSmart #GettingSmartBlog #LearnerCentered #LearnerCenteredClassrooms #LearnerDriven #LearnerAgency #PersonalizedLearning #EducationInnovation