The AppLe a Day Initiative
A learning continuity framework for keeping learning going when instruction stops.
Small, consistent opportunities to revisit and apply what students have learned—helping them stay connected to foundational skills and concepts and prepare for what comes next.
For educators, institutions, and program leaders interested in supporting learning beyond the classroom.
When Instruction Stops, Learning Can Lose Momentum
Scheduled breaks · Time off · Unexpected disruptions
Learning doesn't always follow a predictable schedule. When instruction stops, students may lose opportunities to practice and reinforce what they've learned.
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And, without opportunities to revisit foundational knowledge, students may find it harder to recall and apply skills and concepts when instruction resumes. These challenges can be particularly consequential when new learning builds on what came before.
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The challenge isn't simply filling the time between periods of instruction. It's helping students stay connected to what they've learned so they're better prepared for what comes next.
A Framework for Sustained Readiness
The AppLe framework (Apply + Learn) offers a practical approach to keeping learning active when formal instruction stops. Rather than attempting to replace formal instruction, it guides the design of brief, meaningful learning experiences that help students revisit foundational skills and concepts and prepare for what comes next.
At its core, the framework brings together the following complementary design features:
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Retrieval Practice — Revisiting previously learned skills and concepts to strengthen retention and the ability to apply them.
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Structured Choice — Giving learners meaningful choices about their practice and engagement.
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Confidence Calibration — Encouraging learners to reflect on what they know and how certain they are.
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Growth-Oriented Feedback — Framing mistakes as opportunities to learn and encouraging continued effort and improvement.
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Recognition of Learning Behaviors — Acknowledging initiative, effort, persistence, and continued practice—not simply speed or accuracy.
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Scalable Digital Delivery — Using accessible technologies to provide learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
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Together, these features create opportunities for students to apply what they've learned, receive support when they need it, and have their efforts recognized as they continue engaging with foundational skills and concepts—even when formal instruction isn't happening.
From Framework to Practice
What does learning continuity look like in action?
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The Keep in School Shape (KiSS) Program brings many of the AppLe framework's design principles to life through brief, voluntary mathematics review activities. Developed in 2016, KiSS helped inspire the broader AppLe approach and continues to inform its development through research and implementation.
Presentations and Workshops
Interested in bringing learning continuity to your own educational setting?
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Through presentations, interactive workshops, and collaborative discussions, the AppLe a Day Initiative invites educators to explore how its design principles can be adapted across subjects, grade levels, and learning environments.
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Opportunities include:
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Conference presentations and workshops — Exploring the framework and its potential applications.
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Institutional collaborations — Considering how AppLe might fit existing programs and educational needs.
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Design and implementation support — Translating learning-continuity principles into practical activities and plans.
About the founder
The AppLe a Day Initiative was developed by Carla van de Sande, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at Arizona State University and creator of the Keep in School Shape (KiSS) Program. The AppLe framework extends the design principles first developed through the KiSS Program.
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Her research focuses on designing accessible, scalable learning opportunities that help students maintain foundational skills and concepts during gaps in formal instruction. Her work emphasizes student agency, meaningful engagement, and learning continuity through practical, technology-supported approaches.
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Learn more:
Arizona State University profile
Keep in School Shape website