“‘Why do we need to learn this?’ That was always my question. But (in the Linked Learning academy), they’re showing us that we’re actually going to need these skills when we get to the real world. Now I see I’ve always liked learning. I see there’s a future for me, so I actually apply myself.”
Construction Tech Academy, San Diego
Building Capacity
In order to build the capacity of schools, districts, and community colleges to successfully expand access for California’s young people to Linked Learning, the following resources must continue to be developed and assessed:
Curriculum
Teacher Preparation Programs
Professional Development Services
Curriculum
The curriculum used in the Linked Learning approach varies from that used in a traditional school program. Lessons are designed around real-world industry themes, giving students access to education that is both rigorous and relevant. Students are engaged through both academic and technical instruction, with academic curriculum addressing technical content and technical curriculum purposefully incorporating academic standards. For example, students in a building and engineering pathway might learn about geometry and algebra while designing and building a structure. Those in an arts, media, and entertainment pathway might learn persuasive writing skills while developing business plans, or creative writing skills while drafting scripts.
While any school can be theme-based, a significant difference with the Linked Learning approach is that the academic course content is coordinated with and reinforces technical course content and vice versa. Teams including both academic and technical instructors work together to plan and implement these integrated project-based units throughout the year. For example, the science teacher learns from the technical teacher what students did not understand in class and then can review those theories. Likewise, the technical instructor learns what theories to put in practice in the next hands-on technical class. This coordination helps students gain a greater depth of knowledge by seeing and comprehending the connection between academic theories and real-world applications.
Click here to view the curriculum and course sequence for Sacramento’s Health Professions High School, a member of the Linked Learning Alliance and ConnectEd’s Network of Schools.
The Linked Learning Alliance supports the efforts of its members to develop high-quality, integrated instructional resources for various industry themes. ConnectEd has compiled some of these resources which may be useful for implementing the Linked Learning approach.
Teacher Preparation Programs
Teachers engaging in the Linked Learning approach require key skills and proficiencies, including:
- Using inter- and intra-disciplinary collaboration in curriculum design and delivery;
- Developing lessons using problem- and project-based learning;
- Creating industry and postsecondary education partnerships; and
- Developing learning experiences that integrate career-technical standards, academic standards, and work-based learning experiences.
An increasing number of universities have begun developing teacher preparation programs that incorporate a Linked Learning perspective in the state-approved Single Subject Credential Program. These programs are developing 1) replicable models for Single Subject Credential Programs that will prepare new teachers to participate as professional educators in Linked Learning pathways and schools; and 2) a network of teacher preparation institutions throughout the state that are implementing these models. Student teaching occurs in collaboration with and at Linked Learning sites so that credential candidates learn about the Linked Learning approach in their coursework, but also directly experience and fully engage with it as student teachers.
The following universities offer teacher preparation programs for Linked Learning:
Claremont Graduate University
CSU East Bay
CSU Fresno
CSU Long Beach
CSU Sacramento
CSU San Bernardino
CSU San Diego
UCLA
Click here for more information on teacher preparation programs for Linked Learning.
Professional Development Services
Linked Learning is not a program but rather an approach that requires systematic change in how California’s educational system prepares young people for college and career. Administrators and teachers new to Linked Learning will benefit from professional development services such as leadership series and workshops to acclimatize to this approach.
Click here for more information on the professional development services offered by ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career.
