An inside look at a teacher-designed instructional model that combines blended learning, student self-pacing, and mastery-based grading.
DEVISING A NEW TEACHING MODEL
In an effort to redesign my classroom around my students’ diverse needs, I developed a scalable instructional model built around three core principles.
1. Blended instruction: Most blended learning models involve outsourcing the creation of digital content. In the model I developed and then shared with other teachers at my school, students access content through instructional videos and other online resources created by their teacher.
The videos are short, and assignments are collaborative and hands-on. All of this creates space for more tailored instruction, peer collaboration, and student ownership of learning.
2. Self-paced structure: Because this system replaces lectures with teacher-created instructional videos, the educator no longer holds the key to learning at the beginning of each class period. Instead, students take control of their own learning and the pace of that learning.
3. Mastery-based grading: To access more-complex content, students must first master foundational skills. The beauty of a self-paced classroom is that students no longer progress through the course based on the day of the week. Instead, they travel to the next lesson after achieving mastery on their current one.
INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY WHILE RETAINING TEACHER AUTHENTICITY
It’s been confirmed time and time again that teachers are the most important factor in student learning. We also know that technology has the capacity to improve efficiency and scale impact in every industry, and so the goal for me and my colleagues has been to create conditions in which the technology we use amplifies our impact. When education technology is implemented poorly, a teacher’s authenticity can quickly disappear from the classroom. If the educator is truly the key agent of change, they must remain at the center of the planning process.
The beauty of our instructional model is that the teacher is not replaced—they’re multiplied. The educator builds their own instructional videos, which gives them the freedom to use any curriculum or set of standards. School-wide initiatives can be seamlessly woven into an educator’s blended resources, allowing for content to be personal to their own school and classroom. And students still feel that the expert is in the room with them, allowing teachers to build trust and facilitate strong student relationships.
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