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Innovative Education in VT

A blog exploring innovative, personalized, student-centered school change

  • ABOUT US
    • We stand against systemic racism.
    • Our Communications Diversity Policy
    • The Tarrant Institute
    • Our staff
      • John Downes
      • Emily Hoyler
      • Life LeGeros
      • Rachel Mark
    • Our schools
  • Our book
    • How to use this Educator’s Guide
    • Ch 1: Defining Personalized Learning
      • 1.1 The Three Pillars of Personalized Learning
      • 1.2 The Definition of a PLP
      • 1.3 New Student & Teacher Roles
    • Ch 2: PLPs Aren’t Just For The Teacher
      • 2.1 Knowing Students Well
      • 2.2 Avoid the Pitfalls!
    • Ch 3: Laying The Groundwork for PLPs
      • 3.1 What Are Your Pedagogical Priorities?
      • 3.2 Structures to Support Personalized Learning
    • Ch 4: Starting with the Learner Profile
    • Ch 5: Flexing Your Pathways
      • 5.1 Engaging Pedagogies for All
    • Ch. 6: Scaffolding for Equitable, Deeper Learning
    • Ch 7: PLPs & Proficiency-Based Assessment
    • Ch 8: Student-led PLP conferences
    • Ch 9: Sustaining Innovation
    • Chapter References
  • TOOLKITS
    • Action research
    • Adult Culture
    • Advisory
    • Digital citizenship
    • Community & Culture
    • Essential Skills & Dispositions Toolkit
    • Family & Community Involvement
    • Flexible classrooms
    • Genius Hour
    • Identity
    • Makerspaces
    • Negotiated curriculum
    • Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs)
    • Proficiency-Based Education
      • Learning Goals
      • Formative Assessment
      • Summative Assessment
    • Project-Based Learning
    • Reflection
    • Remote Learning
    • Scheduling
    • Service learning
    • Student-led conferences
  • VIDEOS
    • Middle Grades Conference (MGC)
    • PLP videos
    • Proficiency-Based Learning Videos
    • Student-Led Conference Videos
    • Tech Tips
  • PODCAST
    • #vted Reads Episode List
    • #vted Reads Videos
  • ARCHIVES
  • EVENTS & COURSES
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News

not all rainbows and unicorns
News 

Not all rainbows and unicorns

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 TIIE Staff 0 Comments #vtgrateful

Hello there, educator friends and colleagues! I hope this note finds you in a good moment. Good moments are crucial

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2020 summer reading
News 

2020 Summer Reading with TIIE

July 3, 2020July 3, 2020 TIIE Staff 5 Comments

Emily Hoyler It seems my ‘to-read’ pile is growing faster than I am reading. Luckily it’s summer. These longer days

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relationships and relevance
News 

Relationships and relevance, once again.

June 15, 2020April 12, 2022 Nancy Doda 1 Comment

What has taken shape in the world with COVID 19 has given me pause to wonder what matters most in

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you made it
News 

You made it.

June 12, 2020June 12, 2020 Katy Farber 0 Comments

  Everyone who is watching this? Deserves a high five, a pat on the back or the happy dance of

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News 

Everything is not canceled.

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 TIIE Staff 0 Comments chickens, resilience

I think I speak for many when I share that I have experienced innumerable emotions, moods, and feelings during this

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closure
News 

5 ways to bring closure to this school year

May 26, 2020April 12, 2022 Life LeGeros 0 Comments

Ah, the end of a school year. Always frenetic, and beautiful, and tear-filled and inspiring. Filled with rituals that educators

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how are you
News 

How are you?

May 2, 2020May 4, 2020 TIIE Staff 12 Comments The Joy Project

I mean really, how are you? More than anything I wish I could sit down with you, face to face,

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hello from the new normal: Professor Auggie assists.
News 

Hello from the new normal

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 Life LeGeros 2 Comments

Hello friends. I’m waving hello from my seat on this roller coaster called the “new normal.” We got the message

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being a student
News 

4 things I learned by being a student again

March 9, 2020March 11, 2020 TIIE Staff 0 Comments empathy

Being a student again is harder than I expected, and it’s also been quite revealing Recently, I decided to go

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how do you stay balanced
News 

How do you stay balanced?

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020 TIIE Staff 0 Comments

Balancing my professional and personal lives is something I am flat out terrible at. I know it’s hard for me and

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winter greetings
News 

Warm winter greetings, friends

February 6, 2020February 25, 2020 Audrey Homan 2 Comments Compassionate Systems Framework, winter

Do you have your own yearly cycle of internal seasons? I think I’m realizing I do: spring is a time

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Learning Wall
News 

A moment of collective efficacy

February 5, 2020February 6, 2020 Scott Thompson 0 Comments Charlotte Central School, Collective Efficacy, School Plans

What would it look like if your school plan was alive and represented in much of your day to day

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reboot
News 

Reboot, not resolutions

January 7, 2020February 25, 2020 Audrey Homan 1 Comment emotional resilience, new year, resolutions

Hello there! Happy New Year! We hope you had a relaxing and restorative break filled with whatever it is that

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News 

Wishing you a relaxing & restorative winter break

December 18, 2019February 25, 2020 Audrey Homan 3 Comments

Much happening this week in our worlds. And equally much to look forward to as we approach not only school

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News 

Winter flavors for 2019

December 16, 2019February 25, 2020 Audrey Homan 1 Comment

Yes yes, usually we do book recommendations for the upcoming winter break. However, let’s try something new: flavors of winter

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Vermont students use codable robots during the #HourofCode
News 

Codable robots for storytelling

December 11, 2019April 29, 2022 Lucie deLaBruere 0 Comments Hour of Code, robotics, Shaftsbury Elementary School

Although digital tutorials and online coding platforms are great tools, adding physical objects to the mix brings a new dimension

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News 

A very happy Thanksgiving

November 27, 2019February 25, 2020 Audrey Homan 0 Comments self-care, Thanksgiving

You made it to break! The longest stretch of the school year with no breaks? That’s *behind* you. And we

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Learning Lab VT News 

Meet Learning Lab VT 2019!

November 6, 2019March 10, 2021 Susan Hennessey 1 Comment

Now that you understand the why of proficiency-based and personalized learning, are you ready to see the how? Learning Lab

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what are you afraid of
News 

Educators, what are you afraid of?

October 29, 2019February 25, 2020 Audrey Homan 2 Comments fearless and flawless

This past weekend started like many others. An early morning trip to the local hardware store with coffee and daughter

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News 

Summertiiiiiiiiiiiiime

July 1, 2019April 29, 2022 TIIE Staff 1 Comment summer reading

And the reading is eeeeeasy. Time to pull out your bicycle, kayak, or barbecue. Or curl up in the hammock,

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Personalized Learning in the Middle Grades: A Guide for Classroom Teachers and School Leaders book cover
News 

Tarrant Institute writes the book on Personalized Learning in the Middle Grades

June 21, 2019October 7, 2019 Audrey Homan 1 Comment

The Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education’s recent book, Personalized Learning in the Middle Grades, published by Harvard Education Press, places

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News 

Building discussion skills through Socratic Seminar

June 17, 2019September 16, 2019 Marisa Kiefaber 0 Comments

Engaged, on-topic…and talking over each other? Here’s a scenario: student book groups.  Everyone’s read their assigned chapters and prepared for

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Battle Physics League
News 

Nevermind the physics: it’s all about collaboration

April 22, 2019April 29, 2022 Jeanie Phillips 0 Comments Green Mountain Union High School, Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School, math, physics, proficiency-based learning, projectile launchers, The Dorset School, transferable skills, trigonometry

Battle Physics hosts first multi-school tournament That is just what Allan Garvin and Becky Bushey did to raise the stakes

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Personalized Learning in the Middle Grades: A Guide for Classroom Teachers and School Leaders
News 

Personalized Learning in the Middle Grades

March 25, 2019April 12, 2022 Audrey Homan 1 Comment Harvard Education Press, our book, personalized learning, Personalized Learning in the Middle Grades, personalized learning plan, personalized learning plans, PLP, PLPs, portfolio, portfolios

How do educators personalize learning to engage, inspire & motivate students?   We’re pleased to share that our new book,

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Life LeGeros with books
News 

2018 TIIE Holiday Reading

December 20, 2018December 23, 2018 TIIE Staff 0 Comments

One of the best things about winter break is the chance to slow down and, for readers, the chance to

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summer mindsets
News 

5 summer mindsets to bring into this year

September 12, 2018September 11, 2018 Katy Farber 1 Comment back-to-school, mindfulness, summer

It’s September. Your feet have probably not stopped moving for a few weeks, with the start of school, the meetings,

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Laura Botte Morning Check-In
News 

What will your #1st5days be like this year?

August 20, 2018December 7, 2018 Audrey Homan 0 Comments #1st5days, #1stfivedays

Welcome back! You’re doing amazing. Oh those heady #1st5days of school. So much shrieking, so much laughter — and students

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Tarrant Institute summer reading 2018
News 

Summer reading 2018

June 22, 2018April 29, 2022 TIIE Staff 0 Comments

Get your red hot summer reads right here! Or your chilling-in-the-AC-far-away-from-sunlight summer reads. We don’t judge. For educators, summer is

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News 

New year? Time for a reset

January 2, 2018January 3, 2018 Emily Hoyler 0 Comments developmental designs

The Developmental Designs remix Ever notice how for some kids Mondays are a lot tougher than Wednesdays? Any time there’s

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News 

Our 2017 Holiday Reading Guide

December 20, 2017December 20, 2017 TIIE Staff 1 Comment

A very happy holidays and good reading for all There’s nothing like relaxing with a good book for the holidays.

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News 

Self-care for educators

December 8, 2017December 9, 2019 Audrey Homan 1 Comment #VTed, Storify, twitter chats

4 ways to stay well and focused heading into the holidays It’s that time of the year again: you’re almost

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News 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Tarrant Institute

November 24, 2017November 28, 2017 Audrey Homan 0 Comments

We’re #vtgrateful for you This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the entire #vted community. For everyone working hard in supporting innovative

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News 

#everydaycourage

August 22, 2017November 21, 2018 Rachel Mark 1 Comment #everydaycourage, back-to-school

It’s time we celebrated it in our schools. When we walk into Vermont schools, we see it. It’s there, every time,

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News 

Summer reading time!

July 14, 2017January 7, 2019 Audrey Homan 1 Comment

Summertime, and the reading is easy Or is it? We checked in with a few of the folks here at

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News 

Dynamic Landscapes 2017: the power of authentic #vted student voice

May 24, 2017August 23, 2017 Audrey Homan 0 Comments

Standard 3-part story-driven post: 1) what it is, 2) what it looks like in a school, 3) how to do it in your school

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News 

Profiles in Educator Excellence: Laura Botte

December 10, 2016June 27, 2017 Audrey Homan 0 Comments Edmunds Middle School

Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math & Science Teaching Laura Botte, a 6th grade math educator at

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News 

Innovative VT educators in the news

November 13, 2016April 12, 2022 Audrey Homan 0 Comments

#vted = #vtexcellence A number of Vermont educators have been in the news lately, achieving and being recognized for the

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News 

Middle Grades Institute Reflections

July 13, 2016July 13, 2016 Katy Farber 0 Comments Middle Grades Institute (MGI)

I’ve just returned from the Middle Grades Institute, and honestly, I am still reeling. My brain is finally slowing down

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News 

Education, funny families and international espionage

June 28, 2016 Scott Thompson 0 Comments reflection

My 2016 Summer Reading List There are many thinks to look forward to as summer approaches. As an educator, I

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News 

Summer: sun, sand and systems thinking

June 20, 2016April 22, 2022 Life LeGeros 2 Comments twitter chats

Announcing the 1st annual Tarrant Institute twitter read-along Summer is a great time for camping, sunsets and creemees. A great

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News 

Will we see you at Dynamic Landscapes 2016?

May 22, 2016 Robin Merritt 0 Comments Brattleboro Area Middle School, Crossett Brook Middle School, Dynamic Landscapes, Mill River Union High School, Shelburne Community School

Check out these dynamic educators Are you heading to sunny Burlington, VT this Monday and Tuesday (no really, it will

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News The 21st Century Classroom 

How Vermont middle grades educators are powering up PLPs this summer

April 8, 2016February 26, 2019 Audrey Homan 2 Comments Middle Grades Institute (MGI)

Why the 2016 Middle Grades Institute may be the most important one yet New podcast ep: We visit with educators

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News 

Facilitating community conversations about education

April 6, 2016April 6, 2016 Life LeGeros 5 Comments Harwood Union High School, Washington West Supervisory Union

4 lessons learned A few months back, I wrote about how the Washington West Supervisory Union (WWSU) here in Vermont

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News 

4 reasons to make the #vted twitter chat part of your PLN

February 1, 2016February 1, 2016 Audrey Homan 12 Comments #VTed, PLN, Vermont

Asynchronous, flexible & friendly professional development You’ve read the recaps, seen the hashtag fly by and maybe even dipped a toe

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News 

How online education can find a path forward

January 29, 2016 Mark W. Olofson 7 Comments Khan Academy, online learning

In her excellent memoir Rethinking Normal, Katie Rain Hill describes her experience with online learning: I’d click on one tab,

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News 

How schools can conduct a community conversation

January 22, 2016January 22, 2016 Life LeGeros 13 Comments community communication

A case study in engaging your community I attended an event last week that was of huge personal and professional importance:

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News 

Student depression and anxiety: symptoms of dysfunction in a “traditional” educational system

January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 Mark W. Olofson 5 Comments

From the New York Times: Is the Drive for Success Making our Children Sick? Now, I am never one to

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News 

Defining innovation in Vermont education

December 7, 2015December 7, 2015 Life LeGeros 4 Comments Vermont, Washington West Supervisory Union

What do we mean when we talk about innovation in Vermont education? Recently, the #vted Twitter chat focused on innovation, and

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News The 21st Century Classroom 

Middle schoolers helping locally and globally

November 25, 2015 Scott Thompson 3 Comments Shelburne Community School
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

The Great Shelburne Pencil Drive In which we discover a direct link between Shelburne, Vermont and …Ghana? Last week I

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News 

What does innovation look like in Vermont education?

November 20, 2015November 23, 2015 Audrey Homan 0 Comments twitter chats, Vermont

#vted twitter chat, 11/19/15 Two dozen Vermont educators sat down for an hour of their evening to toss around what

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News 

Tailoring the Emergent Project approach for middle school

November 9, 2015November 10, 2015 Rachel Mark 8 Comments Vermont

Emergent Project approach works wonders in middle school An unexpected highlight of my days at the 2015 AMLE Conference in

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News 

Vermont Fest 2015

November 3, 2015April 12, 2022 Robin Merritt 5 Comments Currier Memorial School, Lamoille Union Middle School, PAHS, partner educators, Peoples Academy Middle Level, personalized learning, personalized learning plan, personalized learning plans, PLP, PLPs, portfolio, portfolios, Richmond Elementary School, Vermont Fest, VT Fest

Heading to the slopes for Vermont Fest The lifts are open, but the lure of first tracks is not what

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News The 21st Century Classroom 

What goes into measuring the success of edtech?

October 6, 2015February 26, 2019 Audrey Homan 7 Comments assessment, Vermont
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

What does “quality” mean in assessing statewide digital efforts? The Foundation for Excellence in Education recently released its 2014 Digital

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News 

Student voice as a social justice issue

October 4, 2015 Audrey Homan 3 Comments social justice, student voice

Eminent education researcher speaks at UVM Visiting New Zealand researcher Emily Nelson PhD spoke this past week to Vermont educators

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News 

Summer reading reflection

July 6, 2015July 6, 2015 Audrey Homan 5 Comments reading, reflection, sharkcano

Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be sea monsters It’s summer and along with a lighter posting schedule

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News 

How do educators begin planning for 1:1?

June 27, 2015April 13, 2022 Audrey Homan 3 Comments 1:1

Reflections from Vermont educators embarking on the 1:1 process As the 2015 Middle Grades Institute draws to a close, we

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News 

4 educators reflect on personalized learning

June 24, 2015April 22, 2022 Audrey Homan 8 Comments Christ the King School, Fayston Elementary School, Moretown Elementary School, personalized learning, personalized learning plan, personalized learning plans, PLP, PLPs, portfolio, portfolios, Vermont, Waitsfield Elementary School

Setting goals for summer learning and beyond It’s Day 3 of the 2015 Middle Grades Institute, a gathering of more

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News 

Dynamic Landscapes 2015

May 20, 2015May 21, 2015 Audrey Homan 5 Comments Dynamic Landscapes

Educators from around Vermont share a year’s worth of progress Dynamic Landscapes 2015 is right around the corner, and we’re

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News 

What We’re Reading: iPad management in the classroom

April 23, 2015April 15, 2022 Audrey Homan 8 Comments device management, Google Drive

Tips and tricks from around the edtech world Successful and powerful integration of iPads in the classroom depends in no

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News 

#vted twitter chat, 4/15/15:

April 16, 2015April 16, 2015 Audrey Homan 1 Comment digital citizenship

#digitalcitizenship Moderated by Franklin West Supervisory Union superintendent Ned Kirsch (@betavt), the #vted twitter chat takes place every other Wednesday from

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News 

#vted twitter chat recap: proficiency-based graduation requirements

April 7, 2015September 19, 2018 Audrey Homan 1 Comment grow your PLN, PBGR, personal learning network, PLN, twitter chats

Now with more school board selfies #vted twitter chat takes place every other Wednesday from 8-9pm EST, and is moderated

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Innovative Edtech Classrooms News 

Digital Learning Day 2015: Edmunds Middle School

February 19, 2015February 20, 2015 Robin Merritt 1 Comment 3D printing, Digital Learning Day, Duolingo, Edmunds Middle School, Google Sketch-Up

What does a green screen, solar paneling, Spanish, wood engraving, and 3D printing have in common? These were just some

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News 

Links Round Up: Goal-Setting for Personalized Learning

January 14, 2015April 12, 2022 Robin Merritt 4 Comments goal-setting, personalized learning, personalized learning plan, personalized learning plans, PLP, PLPs, portfolio, portfolios

Give your students ownership over their learning through goal-setting activities Happy New Year! With school back in session and a

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News 

What we’re reading: 3 online games that teach sustainability

December 19, 2014 Robin Merritt 5 Comments critical thinking, electrocity, gaming, mysusthouse, power city, sustainability

Are you looking for a more video game style approach to teaching sustainability? I remember fondly the days of playing

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