Field test example for schools: Tracking and Reflecting on Learning for Growth
Meet John
John Myer, a quiet and thoughtful 15-year-old boy, divides his time between his mom’s home on the Navajo Nation reservation and his dad’s apartment in LA. His educational experiences have been varied—sometimes attending tribal-run schools, other times being homeschooled by his mom, and occasionally spending time with his dad where he has little structure. Now, he’s back at a tribally-controlled grant school, where he receives TalentPass to start tracking and reflecting on his learning experiences.
Dialogue:
Ms. Yazzie: “John, this app will help you track everything—schoolwork, projects, and even things you do with your mom and dad. It’s all part of your learning.”
John: “Even the summer projects I did at home?”
Ms. Yazzie: “Absolutely! Every bit counts.”
Discovering His Achievements
John opens the TalentPass app and uploads a variety of projects: a beadwork piece he made with his mom, photos from a solar energy workshop at school, and a written essay on Navajo traditions. Ms. Yazzie shows him how to organize and reflect on these experiences to set personal growth goals.
Dialogue:
Ms. Yazzie: “These projects show creativity and critical thinking, John. Let’s set some goals for the semester.”
John: “Like what?”
Ms. Yazzie: “Maybe we can reflect on what you’ve learned from each project—and where you want to go next.”
Setting a Personal Growth Plan
John and Ms. Yazzie create a simple personal growth plan. They decide he will upload at least one new project each month, write a short reflection, and set personal goals like improving his storytelling skills. John feels more in control of his education and sees how his scattered learning experiences come together through the app.
Dialogue:
Ms. Yazzie: “This will help you see how much you’re learning—even when things feel all over the place.”
John: “I like that. It’s hard to keep track of everything otherwise.”
Reflecting and Expanding
A month later, John is back at his mom’s house on the reservation, sitting at the kitchen table. He uploads a new project to TalentPass—a photo of the clay sculpture he made with his uncle. He types out a reflection on the experience, realizing how much it connects to what he learned in his solar energy workshop. For the first time, John feels like all these experiences are part of the same journey.
Dialogue:
John (thinking): “It all fits together. I didn’t realize how much I’ve learned.”
Empowering Self-Directed Learning through Reflection
This story demonstrates how TalentPass supports students with non-traditional educational journeys by giving them a tool to track, reflect on, and align their learning experiences. Through John’s story, we see how the platform fosters self-confidence and growth, helping students make sense of diverse learning opportunities.
Optional Add-Ons for Future Expansion:
- Family Collaboration Module: Allow parents to view and comment on student progress.
- Cross-School Integration: Sync profiles across multiple schools for seamless tracking.
- AI-Powered Learning Suggestions: Provide real-time project ideas or skill recommendations based on achievements logged in TalentPass.
