Creating Significant Learning Environments (CSLE) 

CSLE is the broader goal of designing learning experiences that produce lasting change in the learner. ChaChang brings CSLE to life by grounding our curriculum design in three proven instructional methods: 

Backward Design

We start with the end in mind, defining the outcomes learners need before building the lessons that get them there (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005).

Fink's Taxonomy of Significant Learning

We design for learning that goes beyond knowledge recall to include application, integration, and caring about what's being learned (Fink, 2003). 

Bloom's Taxonomy 

We scaffold lessons so that learners move from understanding core concepts to analyzing, evaluating, and applying them to real-world decisions (Valiathan, 2024).

Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic Experiences (COVA)

COVA is a learning approach developed by Dr. Dwayne Harapnuik and Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux (2023). 

In practice, COVA means: 

Choice 

Learners help shape how they engage with the material. 

Ownership 

Lessons are designed for learners to make the knowledge their own. 

Voice 

Learners are invited to share, question, and contribute, not just absorb. 

Authentic Experiences 

Every concept is tied to real situations learners face today. 

Together, CSLE + COVA give learners the freedom and structure to internalize what they're learning — and apply it to their own lives. 

This is why CSLE + COVA is the right foundation for Career Preparation and Financial Literacy. These aren't subjects to memorize — they're life skills learners need to own, question, and apply. The framework ensures students don't just learn about money and careers; they build the agency to navigate both. 

ChaChang's founder, Rebecca Chang, M.Ed., earned her Master of Education in Applied Digital Learning from Lamar University — a program built on the CSLE + COVA framework. She studied directly under Dr. Harapnuik and faculty who actively practice the framework. 

More About ChaChang

· Meet Our Founder

· Our EPIC Culture

References

Fink, L. D. (2003). A self-directed guide to designing courses for significant learning. Jossey-Bass.

Harapnuik, D. (n.d.). CSLE+COVA. It’s About Learning. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6988

Harapnuik, D., & Thibodeaux, T. (2023). COVA: Inspire learning through choice, ownership, voice, and authentic experiences (2nd ed.). Learner’s Mindset Publishing.

Valiathan, P. (2024). Bloom’s Taxonomy. In Foundations of learning and instructional design technology: Historical roots & current trends (pp. 211–223). EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/foundations_of_learn/blooms_taxonomy

Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design (2nd ed.). Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.