The secular triad is composed of three interdependent forces: Thought, Response, and Meaning. Together, they represent a dynamic system—one that mirrors the complexity of human experience, much like the famed three-body problem in physics, in which three entities in motion continuously affect each other in unpredictable ways.

I asked ChatGPT 4.1: "what is the difference between the capacity of students to respond to teacher-assigned tasks and prompts at each DOK Level 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the capacity of AI to respond to user-assigned tasks and prompts?" I found its response illuminating. My thoughts about this response are below. Here is the ChatGPT 4.1 response (with zero edits).

The deeper point of this quadrant model (and any other Core Values quadrant model) is not to claim that individuals live permanently in one quadrant. Instead, it provides a map of orientations that people may default to, shift between, or consciously choose depending on factors such as the relationship in question, the setting (formal vs. informal, public vs. private), the stakes (high-pressure vs. low-pressure situations), and any relevant cultural expectations.

Community as a Core Value reflects more than just how well people get along. It speaks to the deeper, structural interdependence of individuals within a group. The concept of "community" is to bind individuals into relationships of shared purpose, shared belonging, and shared responsibility.

If schools aspire to nurture lifelong learners who take ownership of their growth, they must go beyond equipping students with individual skills. They must design school cultures and systems that develop agency at all levels—students, educators, and leadership—through structures that reward collective growth, collaboration, and purposeful autonomy.

Integrity is often described as “doing what’s right when nobody is looking.”  In schools, it means staying true to what we believe is...

The Five Foundations turn everyday lessons into launchpads for self-directed growth. Learn how planning, tracking, resourcefulness, collaboration, and flexible mastery make agency teachable—and measurable.

Trust as a Core Value is more than the belief that someone will keep a promise. At its foundation, Trust is built on three core...

A few weeks ago, a veteran teacher stopped me outside her room, eyes wide with frustration. “My eighth-graders are constantly  butting...

In this article, I’m digging into that bigger condition of how our current school model quietly creates the demand for endless tutoring and what we could do instead of always having to run to the store for more band-aids.

I’ve found that a common reaction to the phrase “self-directed”  involves the following presupposition: letting students fend for...

Responsibility as a Core Value is more than checking off tasks. It is the place where accountability (answering for outcomes) intersects with priorities (deciding what matters most). Two perpendicular dimensions can effectively map that intersection.

Instead of marching through a rigid syllabus, learners help decide what they want to achieve, how they’ll get there, and how they’ll prove they’ve arrived–even if it involves obtaining an accredited school diploma. The payoff is a classroom learning environment buzzing with curiosity instead of compliance, where feedback feels less like a scoreboard and more like mile-markers on a long-distance walk students actually care about.

When is it ethical to “move” a principled AI-skeptic toward adopting AI tools? Short answer:   Only if the benefit you’re offering does...

Greg Mullen’s Trailblazing Change model marries the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of change with Motivational Interviewing (MI) to foster...

It is becoming clear to an increasing number of schools around the world that Generative AI is no longer a lab curiosity or a tech...

As I reflect on the state of our country today, I find myself standing at the intersection of frustration and reflection. The growing...

In this article, I reject that shallow dichotomy and argue instead for recognizing three complementary lenses—pedagogy for the dependent novice, andragogy for the self-directed adult, and heutagogy for the autonomous expert. There are very good reasons why pedagogy doesn't always work with adults and why heutagogy isn't just "good pedagogy".

As a classroom teacher, I’ve supported many students in developing their socioemotional skills alongside academic growth. While some...

Who We Are and How We Learn: A Comedy of Education (and Errors) Have you ever sat through the first PD session of a school year with your...