System-level strategies to build enabling conditions for Powerful Learning¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Drawing on the Water of Systems Change framework (structural, relational, transformative dimensions), the report recommends system leaders build conditions intentionally. Potential examples include "Professional learning designed to foster the same agency, curiosity, and purpose in educators that they are asked to cultivate in learners," assessment systems recognizing skills and dispositions, technology strategies enhancing human connection, and policies providing learner voice and choice.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Creating the conditions for Powerful Learning requires deliberate design at the systems level: decisions about time, professional learning, progress measurement, and leadership values

Constraints¶

• The report notes mental-model shift cannot be mandated; it has to be built with intention and moves at the pace of trust

Target Learners¶

• All learners in a district or school system

Target Learning Goals¶

• Scaling agency, purpose, and curiosity beyond isolated classrooms

Related Strategies¶

• Support deep CI implementation through capacity inventories, gradual-release coaching, structured collaboration opportunities, and student voice
• Districts should build community-shared visions, evaluation infrastructure, and policies for procuring and using AI edtech
• Small school reformers should intentionally build professional community, principal leadership, and teacher influence rather than relying on size reduction
• Design coaching programs as a systemic collective enterprise with shared vision, recruited and developed coaches, and continuous evaluation
• Implement SEL systemically as a public health approach with shared vision, adult SEL, aligned programs, and continuous improvement
• Administrators and teacher educators should enable relational agency through consultation structures and honor teachers' emotions in responsive teaching

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Anton, G., Mills, K., Jacob, S., Chou, N., McNeil, K., & Wegemer, C. (2026, July). Powerful learning: Fostering agency, purpose, and curiosity through connection: Cultivating future-ready knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/307