The Behaviors of Learning and Teaching Continuum

The Behaviors of Learning and Teaching Continuum describes the progress of students, teachers, and industry and community partners in developing the College and Career Readiness behaviors of learning and teaching that dramatically improve student motivation, empowerment, understanding and achievement.

This continuum is a student and classroom teacher resource, though similar behaviors can be observed in any well-designed pathway learning experience, including adult learning experiences such as professional development.

Behaviors of Learning and Teaching Domains and Resources

In the Behaviors of Learning and Teaching Continuum, each learning behavior can be observed from emerging through developing, to sustaining.  Underneath each learning behavior, there is a description of teaching behaviors that can be observed to support students to move from emerging to developing, and from developing to sustaining, as well as the foundational steps necessary for each learning and teaching behavior.

In collaborative pathways classrooms, students can be seen regularly working with industry and postsecondary partners who serve as learning resources and clients.  Students practice their teamwork skills in a variety of collaborative team configurations and settings.  Students use industry-specific norms, strategies and technology tools to make teamwork more efficient and effective.

Domain Resources: 1-4 Key handouts per domain with the logo and copyright info on them.


In student-directed pathways classrooms, students can be seen designing their interdisciplinary learning experiences and organizing, revising, and self-monitoring their learning plans.  Students learn through inquiry, with their questions, choices, insights, and solutions leading the way.  Students improve their work through feedback reflection, and revision.  They perform and defend their learning.

Domain Resources: 1-4 Key handouts per domain with the logo and copyright info on them.


When learning is organized and supported toward specific outcomes, students create and seek feedback based on common rubrics. Students use feedback to revise their project work and then refine their college and career goals. Students explore how their daily work helps them master project, course, and pathway outcomes. The learning environment is structured to help students persevere when facing learning challenges and complete tasks.

Domain Resources: 1-4 Key handouts per domain with the logo and copyright info on them.

  • Employment:  the much needed ultimate student learning outcome (Forbes)
  • ConnectEd Studios Toolkit resources: Sample pathway outcomes, “Big Six” outcomes springboard tool
  • The College Board’s “My Road” online college and career planning tool (myroad.collegeboard.com/myroad/navigator.jsp)
  • Additional resources online at www.ConnectEdStudios.org
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Students engage with projects of personal interest that are authentic to an industry sector, and that matter to external clients.  Students use state-of-the-art, industry-specific technologies to produce work that reflects workplace standards. This takes place in traditional classroom environments while participating in a developmental sequence of work-based learning experiences.

Domain Resources: 1-4 Key handouts per domain with the logo and copyright info on them.


Students engage in deep, critical thinking using challenging materials, and solve problems using industry-specific tools. They design and publicly defend their ideas and solutions, articulating how they are mastering content and industry standards and other pathway outcomes.

Domain Resources: 1-4 Key handouts per domain with the logo and copyright info on them.


Students use concepts and skills from pathway themed courses in their core academic courses, and vice versa, making intentional connections across academic and career technical subjects.  Theme-based activities and projects, as well as work-based learning experiences, link directly with both core academic and career technical coursework.

Domain Resources: 1-4 Key handouts per domain with the logo and copyright info on them.