A Secret Tool For Science-Based Innovation in Learning

Hello NABU Team and Friends,

This week, I’m excited to share a hidden tool that I discovered, which I believe could be a game-changer for you! I am dedicating this week’s newsletter to exploring how we can use this tool to improve our practice, no matter our role on the team.

This this free and easy-to-use tool is created by non-profit Digital Promise, an organization working at the intersection of researchers, educators and entrepreneurs. Their Learning Variability Navigator takes huge amounts of research and the science of learning and provides strategies for you to apply it in a way that’s both practical and impactful.

I have a challenge for you: pick one factor of literacy or child development (e.g. decoding, belonging, adverse experiences) and learn about it using the Learning Variability Navigator. How will you integrate this new knowledge into your practice or workflow? If you don’t know where to start, read on!

What is the Learning Navigator?

The Learning Navigator is a free science-based tool designed to help educators and organizations like ours make decisions rooted in the science of child development. Here’s a look at just a few of the features this tool offers:

• Learner Models: pre-existing holistic models for literacy and math learning that show how factors intersect

• Factor Maps: mapping of factors that influence learning across domains so we can see the intersection of various factors

• Researched based strategies: science translated into practical tools to support the factors involved in learning in different domains

My Insights on Science-Based Practice

Science-based innovation is critical for those of us that are trying to transform opportunities for children. The first step is deepening our knowledge of the factors involved in early childhood development (which you are already doing if you subscribe to this newsletter!). The Learning Variability Navigator gives us the framework to do just that. It digests abstract research into easy-to-understand practical strategies that impact the lives of children.

However, feel free to adapt the strategies listed by the Navigator to your context. Research cannot transform education without the lived experiences of those of us working in the field every day. Tools like the Learning Navigator serve as a roadmap for what others have effectively implemented, and a jumping off point for us to drive new innovations for the children we serve.

By rooting our work in the science of child development, and adapting what we learn to our particular communities, we can create even more effective, impactful, and scalable solutions.

Key Takeaways: Which Roles Can Benefit From Using The Learning Variability Navigator?

Engage with Me

• Schedule a Meeting: Let’s discuss how this tool could benefit your team. Book a time on my calendar here.

• Group Zoom Meetings: Interested in exploring the Learning Navigator together? Let’s organize a group discussion.

• Email Suggestions: Email me with your thoughts on how we can use this tool or with topics you’d like covered in future newsletters.

Join Us on This Journey

The Learning Variability Navigator is just the beginning. It’s an incredible opportunity for us to transform how we work and how we impact children globally. I’m excited to see how this tool will help us continue to innovate and improve. Whether you’re a part of product, pedagogy, or grant writing teams, there’s something here for you.

Let’s continue to grow, learn, and make an impact together.

Best regards,
Tanyella Allison Leta