PIXEL is the pen name of composer and educator Evan Combs. This playfully academic newsletter offers a behind-the-scenes look at designing and shaping learning experiences and culture. Supported by practical insights and actionable strategies, it’s perfect for teachers, leaders, and anyone curious about the art and science of learning through the lens of music.
Your Invisible Curriculum ⬜
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Hey everyone, Imagine every learner left your classroom with perfect scores and flawless performances. They demonstrated every objective you slapped down. BUT, they still…
Did you succeed? According to "the book," yes! However, it begs a much bigger question: What the heck is education for?! (pause for your passionate response) If you answered, “To learn about XYZ!”
We educate to prepare learners for success beyond the learning experience. That’s where the Invisible Curriculum comes in! Your Invisible Curriculum I once heard an early childhood music educator answer the question, "Why do you enjoy teaching this age so much?" "I feel personally accountable for setting up my learners lifelong connection to music." Dang dude, that’s powerful. Do you have an objective on the board, “Learners will create a lifelong connection to music?” That’s his Invisible Curriculum. When I teach marching band (really any teaching), my Invisible Curriculum is NOT about stick heights, chromatics, or w/e. It’s about:
Those are the outcomes I constantly design toward. Stick heights are the vehicle. Take a moment and think about 2 or 3 outcomes from YOUR Invisible Curriculum. (pause for your profound response) Inspiring Your Invisible Curriculum (see what I did there with “Inspiring?” My Invisible Curriculum at work 😉) You might be thinking, "So... this is basically my teaching philosophy from college?" Not quite. A philosophy describes what you believe. Your Invisible Curriculum describes what you're intentionally helping learners become. Or, to put it a little more bluntly… What will your learners carry with them after they forget your content? I mentioned the 21st century skills in February’s newsletter. These directly inspired this concept, because they are intentionally designed to enhance and latch to your existing objectives. They prepare learners for tomorrow's challenges through the lens of today's content. When you look at your own Invisible Curriculum, which of these skills are you nurturing? Mine definitely spans a bunch. Strategies for Designing Your Invisible Curriculum 🎯 Emphasize the learner, not the standard. With every objective you write, ask yourself: You’re not just identifying phrasing for a section, you’re using creativity to solve problems. Emphasize that. Invisible Curriculum? 📣 Make the invisible visible. (this strategy is in every other issue, just DO IT!!) Communicate clearly what’s going on. 📚Use Strategies That Align Collaborative Project-based Learning literally touches every 21st century skill! Peer Education: SAME! Flipped Classroom: more heavily learning and literacy skills! "What do I hope they'll still do ten years from now? Know what even stick heights look like? NO!" Updates from the Music Room This is literally my 20th year teaching marching band. If you don’t see an August issue, sweaty, non-deodorized, highschool kids were my demise. If you do see an August issue, #2026BandCampSurvivor. What are the outcomes and cornerstones of your Invisible Curriculum? Get Inspired (⬅️ SEE, Invisible Curriculum even in my catchphrase), |
PIXEL
PIXEL is the pen name of composer and educator Evan Combs. This playfully academic newsletter offers a behind-the-scenes look at designing and shaping learning experiences and culture. Supported by practical insights and actionable strategies, it’s perfect for teachers, leaders, and anyone curious about the art and science of learning through the lens of music.
Hey everyone, ⚠️ Warning: This issue leans heavily into music education. BUT, I promise the learning design underneath applies to any educational experience. ⚠️ Musical performances go like this: Lights dim Audience quiets Conductor steps on the podium like they’re summoning ancient magic (Fig. 1A) The learners (our performers) think: If I crack that note, civilization collapses. Figure 1A: Nézet-Séguin summoning demons conducting. All that pressure makes sense. Performances, final exams,...
Hey everyone, I’m celebrating 1 year 🎉 of writing these newsletters by revisiting one of the very first topics I covered: AI in education. A year ago, most conversations sounded like this: “AI is cheating.”“AI will replace teachers.”“AI is a terrible amalgamation of human history and now society is collapsing.” Well, the sky is still here, and AI hasn’t gone anywhere. So, I don’t want to talk about whether AI belongs in education anymore. It’s here. Your learners are using it. The better...
Hey everyone, Pop quiz Which of these are scientifically proven strategies/statements for learning? (Select all that apply… except you can’t really) A) Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic learning stylesB) Teaching to a student’s “dominant intelligence” (multiple intelligence)C) People are left-brained OR right-brainedD) We only use 10% of our brain If you picked none… congrats.If you picked any… you’re not alone! This issue comes a couple weeks after April Fools, but some of the biggest pranks in...