NESSC School Redesign in Action

In the Big Picture Program at South Burlington High School, students are encouraged to rethink what educational opportunities can help them meet proficiency-based graduation requirements. With the help of a Vermont Flexible Pathways grant, program leaders have collaborated with other area schools to help redefine the spectrum of extended learning opportunities (ELOs), and have developed ELO contracts and other tools to allow our students to take on exciting challenges, such as independent studies, travel abroad, and wilderness trips, on their path towards graduation.

In this session, students will share their ELO experiences, while teachers will share the process of developing ELOs into manageable opportunities that can be assessed through the Vermont Transferable Skills Graduation Proficiencies. Presenters will address the process of designing ELOs, selecting aligned proficiencies, assessing with rubrics, documenting with digital portfolios, and communicating with partners. They will also share ELO contract templates and a web-based platform that our program has successfully incorporated.

Participants will gain an understanding of how to design, document, and assess ELOs that meet proficiency-based learning standards and will leave with strategies for collaborating and communicating with community partners.