“In partnership with our members and allies, we are redesigning the high school transcript so that the interests of students, high schools, and higher education are aligned. The Mastery Transcript values the higher-order skills necessary for success in college and career. It conveys to admissions officers a deeper, more authentic story about a student: who they are, what they have learned, how they have grown, what they love, and who they want to be.” -Stacy Caldwell, CEO, Mastery Transcript Consortium™
Today's KickoffAs we bring the 2022-2023 school year to a close, we're excited to work with our cohort of students to begin the exciting work of creating a personal, dynamic, and powerful statement of strengths and talents by using the Mastery Learning Record (MLR). This is an adventure for our school that will chart a course to the future of learning at Nipmuc. We are looking forward to making this journey with our students and learning about the capacity of the Mastery Learning Record as a tool for telling students' stories of learning.
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This 90 minute workshop will provide participants with the chance to:
- Understand the difference between the MLR and a traditional transcript.
- Gain a developing understanding of the Portrait of a Learner competencies needed to create a Mastery Learning Record.
- Reflect on and identify the personal strengths that are part of their story of learning.
- Understand the power of personal narrative and how it connects to their story of learning.
- Begin identifying the evidence that could be highlighted in the Mastery Learning Record.
Traditional Transcripts:
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Getting to Know the Portrait of a Learner
The Portrait of a Learner is the foundation of the Mastery Learning Record. It articulates the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that all learners - students and adults alike - need for success in the world beyond high school. As we get started in our workshop, let's take a moment to build some shared knowledge about the Portrait of a Learner by answering the prompts below. Feel free to click on the image to the right to view an image of the Nipmuc Portrait of a Learner.
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Portrait of a Learner: Identifying Your "I Can" Statements
Over the course of the year, we've spend time learning about the Portrait of a Learner and how the skills connect with your own strengths. Today, we'll continue this work to help you see where these skills exist in your own personal narrative.
Instructions:
- Take a moment to review the competencies and the "I can" statements. Think of your experiences in school and beyond school connect with the PoL.
- When we prompt you, select an "I can" statement that is personally meaningful to you.
- Next, find a partner and share a one-minute description of why this "I can" statement relates to your life. When you are done, your partner will share their "I can" story with you.
Instructions:
- Take a moment to review the competencies and the "I can" statements. Think of your experiences in school and beyond school connect with the PoL.
- When we prompt you, select an "I can" statement that is personally meaningful to you.
- Next, find a partner and share a one-minute description of why this "I can" statement relates to your life. When you are done, your partner will share their "I can" story with you.
Share your Strengths
The ability to reflect provides us with the potential to uncover the unique mix of strengths that we bring to our homes, school, and community. Take a moment to consider your strengths. Are you a capable problem-solver? A great listener? Someone who is creative or patient or kind?
While some of us may be keenly aware of the strengths we possess and have cultivated, we can also benefit from research-based tools that provide a different perspective on our strengths. Thrively's Strength Assessment is an example of one of these tools. This assessment will help you gain insight into your personal characteristics, develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and identify some of your areas of talent. |
In the past, everyone should have completed this assessment. You can access your personal results by logging into Clever. (see button below) Take a moment to read the report. Identify some of the parts of the assessment that resonate with your personal narrative. Keep in mind that tools like Thrively's Strength Assessment are not perfect. There may be aspects of the report you received that may seem inaccurate. Remember that these reports are not intended to be a statement of fact; instead, they are a tool for reflection. If you can't find parts of the assessment that ring true, write down some of the strengths that you identify about yourself.
What Makes Up Our Personal Narrative?
Our strengths play an important part in our stories. However, strengths only contribute to part of our story. Let’s take a moment to consider what else makes up someone’s story. In the poll below answer the prompt, “What - beyond strengths - is part of someone’s personal story?”
The ideas shared above help us to recognize the parts of a personal narrative however, there's more to a personal narrative than a series of events or stories. Personal narrative is the story we tell ourselves about our own lives. Everyone’s personal narrative is unique. For instance, in simple terms - an artist may have a personal narrative that says, “I am a creative person who is able to find interesting ways to make sense of the world and share messages through my creative expression.” A student leader may have a personal narrative that says, “I have the ability to build meaningful relationships with people from different backgrounds and experiences. By listening to others, I can help to lead our community in a way that supports everyone.”
Personal narratives are unique; no two stories are the same. Let’s take a moment to listen to how filmmaker J. Christian Jensen defines narrative. Feel free to listen to the entire TED Talk; however, we will spotlight a few moments from the opening of the video where J. Christian Jensen shares the impact of telling personal and family stories.
The entire TED Talk is worth watching however, we're going to watch approximately three minutes from 4:50 - 7:48 of the video.
Personal narratives are unique; no two stories are the same. Let’s take a moment to listen to how filmmaker J. Christian Jensen defines narrative. Feel free to listen to the entire TED Talk; however, we will spotlight a few moments from the opening of the video where J. Christian Jensen shares the impact of telling personal and family stories.
The entire TED Talk is worth watching however, we're going to watch approximately three minutes from 4:50 - 7:48 of the video.
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Let's take a moment to process this video together. What resonates with you from the video clip? What are your thoughts about Jensen's quote? Do you believe that personal narrative has the potential to create the impact he speaks about?
As we listened to the speaker, we could tell that he has a strong personal narrative as someone who is curious, asks questions, and enjoys seeking answers to those questions. Several questions came to mind for us as we watched including:
As we listened to the speaker, we could tell that he has a strong personal narrative as someone who is curious, asks questions, and enjoys seeking answers to those questions. Several questions came to mind for us as we watched including:
- ~ What if the grandfather never told (and retold) the story about his curiosity and questioning? Would his personal narrative be the same?
- ~ How much do the stories that others tell about us impact our personal narrative?
- ~ When should we listen to what others have to say about us vs when should be ignore what others are saying?
- ~ How can people with similar life experiences develop such different personal narratives?
The Power of a Personal Narrative
Let’s refocus our attention on Jensen’s quote from the TED Talk: “When you discover your personal narrative, it will not only guide you to find your life’s mission, but it will also serve as a lifelong source of strength and motivation to help you accomplish that mission."
This is an exciting concept! It suggests that when we tap into a personal narrative - the story we tell ourselves about our own lives - we have the potential to achieve our dreams. We think it's important to recognize, however, that not all personal narratives are powerful and positive. In some cases, people may have weak personal narratives that limit their ability to be successful. We hold the power to create our personal narrative. It is important to focus on our strengths to build a narrative that makes us proud and helps us accomplish our goals.
This is an exciting concept! It suggests that when we tap into a personal narrative - the story we tell ourselves about our own lives - we have the potential to achieve our dreams. We think it's important to recognize, however, that not all personal narratives are powerful and positive. In some cases, people may have weak personal narratives that limit their ability to be successful. We hold the power to create our personal narrative. It is important to focus on our strengths to build a narrative that makes us proud and helps us accomplish our goals.
Understanding Your Personal Narrative
Your life has marked you in unique ways, and these marks, whether you know it or not, will determine how you live your life, what quests you pursue, and what you are qualified to say with passion and authority. ~Michael Rabiger
Take a minute to begin to capture the moments, experiences, and elements that have helped to define each of our personal narratives. Use the individual Google Doc located at the button below to begin to put your thoughts down on paper. Brainstorm your ideas for each of the prompts below. ~ Words I would use to describe myself ~ What others say about me (that adds value to my narrative) ~ Strengths that I currently possess (think PoL and Thrively) ~ Life events & experiences that have helped to shape my personal narrative |
Planning Your MLR
In just a short time, we've covered a lot of ground! Throughout our session we've explored the Portrait of a Learner, connected with the "I can" statements, identified our strengths, considered the other elements of our story, and tapped into our personal narratives... PHEW!!! As we get read to wrap up, let's take a look at our next steps in building an actual Mastery Learning Record.