BOULDER, CO (October 18, 2022)—In response to unsafe conditions and school closures, families across the U.S. experimented early in the COVID-19 pandemic with new educational models. Two recent publications from the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) describe two related strategies that exemplify such experimentation: microschools and learning pods. However, a review recommends that neither report should be used to guide policy and practice.
Professor Bryan Mann of the University of Kansas reviewed (a) Use of Personalized Learning Platforms in One Pandemic-Era Microschool: A Case Study; and (b) “The Most Professionally Satisfied I’ve Been.” How Could the Best Aspects of Learning Pod Staffing Be Scaled Up? Professor Mann’s past research has examined digital schooling and other alternative school models. He found in both reports methodological and analytical shortcomings that limit their utility for policymakers.
The first report, on learning platforms, analyzes engagement patterns and success rates of a digital platform used at one microschool in Nevada. Despite calling itself a case study, the report lacks the research and qualitative analysis to be classified as such, according to Professor Mann’s review.
The second report, on staffing, praises learning pods’ staffing features and argues that these approaches might be adopted in traditional schools. Moreover, although the report overstates its conclusions and presents inadequate evidence, the author uses it to promote school models developed by his company. (The report’s suggestions are from examples of so-called Opportunity Culture designs and multi-classroom leader models created by the author’s company, Public Impact.)
Though both reports paint the new strategies in a positive light, Professor Mann found little evidence in support of the strategies’ overall benefits.
Find the review, by Bryan Mann, at:
https://nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/models
Find Use of Personalized Learning Platforms in One Pandemic-Era Microschool: A Case Study, written by Christopher Doss and Elizabeth Steiner and published by CRPE, at:
https://crpe.org/wp-content/uploads/final-SNUMA-report.pdf
Find “The Most Professionally Satisfied I’ve Been.” How Could the Best Aspects of Learning Pod Staffing Be Scaled Up?, written by Bryan C. Hassel and published by CRPE, at:
https://crpe.org/wp-content/uploads/final-Staffing-learning-pods-working-paper.pdf