The Elements of Exceptional Learning

The Elements of Exceptional Learning guide educators to design experiences that engage students, spark deep thinking and help them apply skills and knowledge with confidence.

The Coherent Framework for Future Ready Teaching

The Elements of Exceptional Learning provide a clear, practical way to design learning that is student centered, future ready and rooted in strong pedagogy.

Moving beyond simple curriculum “coverage,” the Elements of Exceptional Learning create experiences where students are known, challenged, supported and fully engaged in their growth.
This approach provides a holistic lens that brings everything together: from how we center students and design experiences to how we build skills and assess growth.

Use a shared framework for powerful learning

The Elements of Exceptional Learning are four connected pillars that guide how your school designs, delivers and reflects on learning.

Together, these elements help educators design experiences where students don’t just complete schoolwork—they explore ideas, apply skills in authentic ways and see themselves growing over time.

Student Centered Approaches

Student Centered Approaches

Learning that is inclusive, individualized and strengths based.
Intentional Experience Design

Intentional Experience Design

Learning that is engaging, dynamic and inquiry driven.
Competency, Skill & Character

Competency, Skill & Character

Learning that develops transferable skills and resilience.
Journey Based Assessment

Journey Based Assessment

Assessment that is continuous, reflective and measures what truly matters.

Strategic Impact:

Elevating Your Curriculum

The Elements of Exceptional Learning help schools:

  • Make learning relevant and connected to students’ lives and communities.
  • Support a wide range of learners through inclusive, flexible design.
  • Build transferable skills, not just short term performance.
  • Encourage inquiry, critical questioning and reflection.
  • Align daily classroom practice with a future ready Portrait of a Graduate.
This framework doesn’t replace your curriculum. It elevates how that curriculum is experienced.

Turn Principles into Everyday Practice

When the Elements are in place, learning looks and feels different across every classroom:

Student Centered Approaches

Students see themselves reflected in resources, routines and expectations. They gain voice, choice and ownership over how they learn and show mastery. Learning strategies and strengths are made visible and used deliberately to move learning forward.

Intentional Experience Design

Units are built around big ideas, authentic problems and real audiences. Experiences are dynamic, collaborative and engaging. Students build understanding through doing, not just listening or completing passive worksheets.

Competency, Skill & Character

Skills like curiosity, resourcefulness, collaboration and stewardship are named, practiced and reflected on. Students see how these skills show up in their work and in the world and they have structured chances to transfer them to new situations.

Journey Based Assessment

Assessment cycles are ongoing and responsive. Evidence comes from conversations, observations and products, gathered across time. Students engage in feedback, reflection and goal setting as core routines in their learning. Learn more about Journey Based Assessment >>

Leaders Gain a Visionary and Actionable Framework

Adopting the Elements of Exceptional Learning gives schools:

  • A shared language for “what great learning looks like here.”
  • A practical tool for aligning classroom practice with strategic priorities.
  • A way to connect innovation efforts (PBL, inquiry, portfolios, assessment) under one umbrella.
  • Structures for faculty reflection, calibration and continuous improvement.
  • A clearer throughline from Portrait of a Graduate to day-to-day learning.

Teachers Gain Coherence and Flexibility

The result is not more work for teachers, but more coherence and support for the work they are already trying to do.

For teachers, the Elements become an anchor for planning, reflection and growth leading to:

  • Concrete considerations for designing student centered, inclusive learning.
  • Structures for making experiences more engaging, experiential and interdisciplinary.
  • Guidance for embedding skill and character development in any subject.
  • A model for Journey Based Assessment that fits alongside existing grading and reporting.
  • Tools for reflection that highlight strengths and identify next steps in practice.

PROGRAM PATHWAYS:

Choose the Starting Point That Drives Your Vision

We engage educators in professional development programs that meet their school or district’s unique needs, offering flexible professional learning pathways available both virtually and in person.

Build shared understanding of the four Elements and how they connect to your Portrait of a Graduate and existing initiatives.

Design Exceptional Learning, Lesson by Lesson.

When the Elements are in place, learning feels different:

  • Students see themselves in the work, take ownership of their growth and connect learning to their futures.
  • Teachers plan with clarity, teach with flexibility and feel supported in continuous improvement.
  • Schools build a living bridge between their Portrait of a Graduate and what happens in classrooms every day.

Connect with our team today.

Let’s design exceptional learning — together.