Learning Story Software
Learning Stories make it personal,
heart-led assessments that inform teaching and become family keepsakes.
Learning Stories have three parts: (1) a story about a child or children, (2) reflections on learning, and (3) a response to learning – next steps. Read more here
Educa is Learning Story software, with customizable templates and frameworks built in. Educa is an approved DRDP© assessment vendor.
Make assessment personal
Learning Stories are written to the child. They are subjective, personal with a focus on celebrating success – the child is the hero.
What are Learning Stories?
Document FOR learning
Learning Stories are an approach to teaching - a reflective (the writing) and collaborative (the sharing) approach to understanding each child . It's authentic assessment FOR learning, not OF learning.
Stories become keepsakes
Unlike most observation snippets, your Learning Stories are not discarded at year end. To the contrary, they are gifts to families that are kept and valued.
Print, read to children
Most stories in Educa are printed for child folios or to put on a wall. Educa's smart editor supports beautiful stories. The ritual of reading stories helps children see themselves as learners.
All in one motion
Learning Stories are assessment evidence and family reporting. Link to plans and frameworks (including the DRDP, ELOF, state ELG's or your own), share with families and save to a child portfolio – in one motion.
Engage families as partners
Describing the child's learning and perhaps your teaching in a Learning Story opens the door to meaningful contributions from your families.
Learning Stories in Educa - Examples
These stories demonstrate the Learning Story format.
Laura gets back to teaching!
The Story
Laura (teacher in the US), I love the passion you bring to your job, helping young children develop the tools and dispositions they need to be school-ready.
I admire how carefully you observe and interact with children, working hard to understand what makes each one unique. And then using that understanding to create play experiences to extend that learning.
I have noticed lately though, that you have become a little frustrated about how much of your precious non-contact time has to be be spent on data collection, checklists. I think you are frustrated because filling out checklists does not help you as a teacher, and it pulls your mind off-track, away from thinking about ideas to help your children.
What does this tell us?
For sure Laura, you have had to become a great time manager and multi-tasker. You have so many things pulling you away from your core role and function, understanding your children and planning ways to help them grow as learners. I think you need help.
Plans. What’s next?
Laura, did you know there is a way to record your thoughts and ideas for each child that includes data collection in the process.
It’s Educa Learning Story software.
You can create fancy stories your families and children will love, add to a child’s portfolio and share with family – all in one click. It’s authentic assessment that helps you think through your plans for each child, fitting your workflow. This can only help your children.
Jayne connects to families!
The Story
Jayne, I enjoy the Learning Stories and observations you create on paper using Word or Publisher (or other) for your families and children. So much love and effort goes into making each story.
I was not surprised though to hear you complain yesterday about how few of your stories are being even noticed or read by families. Meaning they don’t lead to as much family feedback and involvement in their child’s education as you’d like.
And as I told you, talking to families I hear a different problem. They only get to see stories on parent nights, and by then the learning moment has passed.
What learning is happening here?
Jayne, you have had to learn to understand and plan for each child with minimal feedback from families. You see that this is a lost opportunity. After all, families are the world’s expert on their child, and have so much to offer – including continuing the learning at home.
What’s Next?
Jayne, we are going to try Educa, an online Learning Story software platform at the centre. Then you can share your stories for feedback in real-time. They go directly to the parent phone via Educa’s family app, where you know they will be seen! And read!
And don’t worry about the stories not being fancy enough. Educa has added formatting options so they print beautifully. You can add background colors, borders and all kinds of layouts for your photos or videos.
Your hard work as a teacher and the learning is more visible and so appreciated in a Learning Story format – and it helps get everybody on to the same page. You are going to love having a closer relationship with families that comes from the more frequent sharing in Educa.
Start real conversations with families
Educa families average 20 interactions a month!
Create beautiful stories
Use images, videos and countless font options to create your story. Educa has smart image sizing and other tools to make your stories visually compelling – online and in print.
Link to frameworks
Make families part of your process
This is the magic of learning stories. Heartfelt learning stories written by teachers will be read, your teaching and the learning have a better chance of being understood.
And that creates a foundation for two-way conversations with parents, in a private channel in Educa.
