In 2024, Huddle Up Founder and CEO Derek Luebbe sat down with Aryeh Eisenberg,  the host of the EduTogether podcast. As educators and entrepreneurs, both shared an interesting discussion on how to innovate the structure and the goals of the educational experiences we offer to students and adults.  We've outlined a few of the key topics covered below - and some of Derek's favorite quotes -  if you wish to jump to a section of the podcast that most interests you. Huddle Up Founder Derek Luebbe on the EduTogether podcast 0:00-12:02:   Introduction and Derek's background as an international educator 12:02 - 15:00:  An introduction to Huddle Up Learning  "Learning should be collaborative. And it should be about generating new ideas and ... learning from each other." 15:00 - 16:47:   How Huddle Up helps organizations implement learning initiatives with shared accountability.  "Huddle Up provides an asynchronous space so that we have the time ...

Once an organization has developed a strategic plan, the next hurdle is to make it actionable. However, even well-thought-out plans often face significant obstacles during implementation. Plans tend to “gather dust,” remaining largely invisible to the wider organization and failing to adapt when conditions change. Huddle Up aims to solve that problem with a new way to make strategic plans dynamic, transparent experiences where evidence and feedback build shared accountability from all constituents.  See how Huddle Up changes strategic planning   In our  previous post , we explored the challenges organizations face when developing a strategic plan. While the development phase presents hurdles in goal setting, stakeholder engagement, and planning efficiency, the real test begins when it’s time to put that plan into action. Even the best-crafted strategic plans can fall flat during the implementation phase, leading to poor execution, missed deadlines, and disengaged teams. H...

Ever been in one of those planning meetings that drag on forever, with everyone talking, but nothing really moving forward?  We’ve all been there. Strategic planning is a critical part of any organization—whether it’s a school, a nonprofit, or a business—but it doesn’t have to feel like a never-ending marathon of meetings. We like to think of strategic planning in two phases, each with its challenges for organizations. Planning the plan Implementing the plan ( Go to this post. ) In this blog (the first of a two-part series), we’ll highlight innovative strategies to help organizations streamline the most crucial phase of planning—“ planning the plan. ” This phase is often the most time-consuming and challenging, but it doesn’t have to be.  Let’s dive into how organizations can rethink their approach to strategic planning. The Challenges of Strategic Planning: Planning the Plan Strategic planning can often feel like trying to plan a road trip with a car full of backseat dri...

The Challenge of Midterm Accreditation Reports School accreditation is a challenging, important process that requires ongoing documentation and reflection. One crucial component of this journey is the midterm review, which takes place three years after a school's Action Plan has been put into place. During this phase, schools assess their progress toward goals that were agreed upon at the start of the accreditation cycle. Unlike the initial accreditation, which involves input from a broad array of stakeholders and an in-depth, often 100-page Self-Study, the midterm review is a streamlined progress update.  Yet, it brings its own unique challenges: Scope and Content: Schools often struggle with knowing how much to report. The midterm report isn’t about re-evaluating goals but documenting progress and lessons learned. How detailed should this report be, and how should evidence from the past three years be gathered? Resource Use and Time: Schools must decide who to involve in the m...

  Shaking Up Teacher Training: Let's Learn Together! Alright, so picture this: in the old days of teacher training, it was all about comprehension with attempts at application. So, let’s picture quizzes, summaries of learning theories, and the eventual sharing of lesson plans. Sounds familiar, right? But here's the thing - the sharing process lacked the organization and engagement that professor Ben Boche of Valparaiso University wanted. And the feedback? Well, it was either shared verbally or in a jumbled set of comments buried in separate documents - not exactly the most organized way to make sense of the interactions. Hear from Professor Ben Boche Ben made plans to raise the stake. He wanted to set up environments where students could learn from each other. Instead of putting students through isolated sequences of learning, he envisioned equipping them in environments where they could answer: How did <my peer> solve this problem?   What did my peers think of my ...

How Lynn Sawyer and Lindsay Prendergast Are Changing the Goal of the Typical Workshop We’ve all been there. You attend a workshop, the kind that sparks fresh ideas and opens doors to new possibilities. The excitement in the room is palpable, educators are inspired, and strategies that could change the way students learn are shared. We leave energized and return back to the classroom.   But then something happens. Life back at school gets in the way. The day-to-day routines, meetings, and endless to-do lists begin to pile up, and the excitement slowly fades. "Both supervisors and teachers want the supervisory process to result in positive interactions and continuous growth in practice." - Lynn Sawyer Whether you're an educator or a consultant, this is a challenge we all strive to overcome. We see it time and time again: workshops that ignite enthusiasm but don’t always translate into lasting action. It’s not for lack of trying. Educators are passionate, committed, and eag...

(This post has been modified since it's original posting.) The pandemic has made everyone far more knowledgeable about online learning platforms than they were 24 months ago. We each know (and feel) the strengths and the limitations of more than a few platforms.  We each have a long and growing list of features we want to see in the next evolution of online learning.  So, it seems a rather good time to step back and explore the evolution of online learning - to see how far we've come, and where we might be heading. One of the best resources out there is a simple progression chart shared in this intriguing article by Tiago Forte. The Future of Education is Community: The Rise of Cohort-Based Courses The evolution of online learning: What's next? We love big-picture reflections like this. While we are all aware of the current disconnect that still exists between the reality of our online learning platforms and the skills and knowledge we want to transfer to learners, we can a...