A few years ago, I had a high school senior, let’s call him Marco. Marco was a virtual learner with multiple disabilities, including both cognitive and physical challenges. Despite these barriers, he had a clear passion: art. He dreamed of becoming an artist and using his creativity to tell stories. As an educator, I saw this as a beautiful opportunity to craft an experience rooted in what truly mattered to him.
Marco needed a final elective credit to graduate, so I decided to build a personalized course around his love of art. This wasn’t just a box-checking activity—it was an authentic, student-driven learning experience. And looking back, it’s clear how the ISTE + ASCD Transformational Learning Principles: Nurture, Guide, and Empower, were deeply embedded throughout the journey.
Nurture: Cultivate Belonging, Connect Learning to the Learner, Ensure Equity
From the start, the course was designed around Marco’s identity and interests. Instead of placing him in a traditional, pre-set class, we centered the experience on his dream of becoming an artist. This intentional design reflects the principle of Connect Learning to the Learner, his passions, preferences, and goals shaped everything.
At the same time, Marco was learning in a virtual environment, often a space where students with disabilities may feel isolated or overlooked. But by engaging him in one-on-one mentorship with a professional artist and providing regular opportunities for check-ins, we cultivated belonging. He wasn’t completing an assignment alone; he was part of a meaningful relationship and learning community that recognized his potential.
The entire project was also grounded in ensuring equity. Marco’s disabilities didn’t limit the scope of what he could learn or create. Instead, we designed the learning experience in a way that made his success possible, equitable not by lowering expectations but by removing unnecessary barriers and honoring his strengths.
Guide: Spark Curiosity, Develop Expertise, Elevate Reflection
When generative AI tools like DALL·E and ChatGPT launched, Marco and I were both curious. What could these tools do? How could they contribute to the creative process? That initial curiosity sparked a new layer of exploration in his art project. Together, we wondered how AI could interpret artistic descriptions and whether it could ever replicate the emotion and intention behind a human artist’s work. This embodies the principle to spark curiosity, we followed a genuine question and let that drive deeper inquiry.
Marco didn’t just play around with the tools, he developed expertise. He worked through a process of experimentation, iteration, and refinement. He learned how to prompt effectively, evaluate results critically, and compare AI-generated visuals with his hand-created art. This wasn’t surface-level use of tech, it was thoughtful, reflective, and skill-building.
Throughout the project, we also made time to elevate reflection. Marco considered what each image, digital or physical, was saying, how it communicated story, and what it meant to him personally. That reflection added depth and authenticity to the final product and helped Marco internalize the connections between technology, creativity, and self-expression.
Empower: Prioritize Authentic Experiences, Ignite Agency
This experience wasn’t hypothetical or disconnected from the real world. It was a deeply authentic experience, Marco created original artwork, collaborated with a professional, used emerging technologies, and presented his process and product publicly. He wasn’t preparing for “someday”, he was living the learning now.
And perhaps the most memorable part? When Marco presented his final project. Usually quiet and reserved, he shared with a sense of pride and even humor. He walked us through his physical and digital artwork, explained the choices he made, and highlighted what he learned along the way. That moment was a clear display of agency, Marco owned the work, the voice, and the story.
The Lasting Impact
Marco’s project reminds me why transformational learning matters. It’s not about adding trendy tools or creating flashy presentations. It’s about creating the conditions for students to be seen, heard, and empowered.
The ISTE + ASCD Transformational Learning Principles help educators reimagine what learning can be, grounded in relationships, sparked by curiosity, and anchored in purpose. Marco’s story is just one example, but it reflects what’s possible when we Nurture, Guide, and Empower every learner.
Paula Johnson Tech 
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