Implementation cohorts engage education system leaders and their teams in 12- to 18-month, cohort-based learning experiences around shared challenges, culminating in an international study tour to observe cutting-edge practices around their specific problem of practice.
Since 2014, Digital Promise implementation cohorts have given education system leaders the opportunity to dig deeply into a nuanced challenge they’re facing. Through case studies, expert-led workshops, peer-to-peer learning, and an international study tour, participants work together to collaboratively convert discussion of best practices into tangible policy and practice change.
Learning alongside international leaders, both virtually and in Australia, helped us sharpen our approach to social-emotional learning, student wellness, and community partnership. That experience played a critical role in securing $24.5 million in community schools funding and advancing [Lynwood Unified School District] as a regional leader.
Gudiel Crosthwaite
Superintendent Sunnyvale School District
By participating in implementation cohorts, education system leaders and their teams move from inspiration to action, taking what they discussed with peers, learned from experts, and observed in global education systems and adapting and implementing new approaches in their own systems.
Being able to get outside the U.S. and what we traditionally do to see new traditions really helped [us] rethink many of our approaches and gave me access to international experts who can help us implement new strategies. Following the Helsinki [study tour], we worked with a Finnish expert on playful learning strategies and created a new French exchange program with a fellow attendee from France.
Laura Jacob
Superintendent, California Area School District (U.S.)
Following the study tour on social-emotional learning in Melbourne, I recommended instituting a middle and high school wellness center to the board of education. I am very, very pleased to have secured this funding and to have had the support of our board in recognizing wellness as an important need.
Melissa Moore
Former Superintendent, El Segundo Unified School District (U.S.)
We drew inspiration from Ceibal, a makerspace initiative, during the study tour to Montevideo. Discussions with the Ceibal team helped us to understand the amount of equipment that should be installed to support students’ makerspace activities. Though initially concerned about whether our labs had spaces for something similar, we were inspired to create a movable and foldable board that students could access.
Alena Zachery-Ross
Superintendent, Ypsilanti Community Schools (U.S.)
Education system leaders, school leaders, educators, and community partners across the globe are working to create learning environments where students who are new to their countries can thrive. Portugal has emerged as a leader in this space through its nationwide system of inclusive education, despite the pandemic and political changes.
Our current implementation cohort, Educating Newcomer Students, is engaging leaders around this topic through Digital Promise’s Collaborative Innovation framework.
Cohort participants will travel to Lisbon, Portugal, to observe the country’s leading approaches firsthand.
Supporting Newcomer Students and Communities: A Strengths-Based Approach
Digital Promise’s three-part LinkedIn Live series, Supporting Newcomer Students and Communities: A Strengths-Based Approach, set the stage for this implementation cohort by delving into specific examples from leaders of education systems, schools, and community organizations who are successfully supporting newcomer students.
To date, GCEN has convened leaders for eight implementation cohorts around topics including whole-child development, technology-enabled learning, and more.
Explore the implementation cohort takeaways.
Future of Tech-Enabled Learning
Location: Montevideo, Uruguay Agenda
Implemented jointly by Digital Promise and Ceibal (Uruguay), this cohort focused on leveraging emerging technologies and innovative pedagogical practices to transform global education.The cohort culminated in a study tour to Montevideo, Uruguay. Explore the Takeaways
Whole-Child Development
Location: Helsinki, Finland Agenda
This implementation cohort equipped participants with practical strategies to support learners facing a reduced sense of belonging, limited opportunities for diverse learning needs, and the lasting academic and mental health impacts of the pandemic. The cohort culminated in a study tour to Helsinki, Finland. Explore the Takeaways
Social-Emotional Learning and Learning Differences
Location: Melbourne, Australia Agenda
In this implementation cohort, participants explored various approaches to strengthen social-emotional learning support systems, with a priority for students with learning differences. The cohort culminated in a study tour to Melbourne, Australia. Explore the Takeaways
Equitable Systems Transformation
Location: Melbourne, Australia Agenda
Launched in 2020 after a study tour to the Toronto School District Board, participating systems continued to collaborate on systems change challenges involving equitable learning pathways and teacher cultural development. Each system focused on a context-specific problem of practice with the aim of creating opportunities for diverse youth to thrive. Explore the Takeaways
Developing and Sustaining a High-Quality Teaching Force
Locations: Palo Alto, U.S., and Shanghai, China Agenda
Career and Technical Education
Locations: Zürich, Switzerland, and Melbourne, Australia Agenda (Zurich) Agenda (Melbourne)
Developing 21st-Century Competencies
Location: Shanghai, China Agenda
In this implementation cohort, participants explored various approaches to create strategies aimed at developing 21st-century competencies. The cohort culminated in a study tour to Shanghai, China. Explore the Takeaways
Partner with Us
Build meaningful relationships with leaders across systems, including districts, community and nonprofit organizations, and others positioned to make decisions regarding education tools and platforms, by supporting an upcoming implementation cohort.
District Collaboration and Relationships: Work alongside school district, community, and other system leaders to address a shared challenge and generate solutions.
International Study Tour Participation: Expand your perspective with visits to international sites that are implementing programs relevant to the cohort topic.
Co-Branding on Session Materials: Receive co-branding on member materials including session slides and handouts.
Priority Access to GCEN Symposium: Access priority sponsorship opportunities for the annual GCEN Symposium, hosted in a new international location each fall.
Interested in exploring partnership options?Email Rebecca Banks to learn more
