Modern Classroom

I recently moved to a new school this year that specializes in STEM. The campus has all one-to-one laptops for learning and has a commonly used LMS that all of the grade levels are using. Recently, one of the teachers next door has adopted the model of the modern classroom where students work self-paced based on clear deadlines and expectations. The teacher has moved away from the gradual release model and moved to a model where the students can exercise more autonomy in their learning. One of the things that really impressed me was how the teacher created a color coded spreadsheet. It listed assignments as “in progress”, “revised”, and “completed”. This spreadsheet was shared with the class without their names and allowed them to see which assignments were missing. This idea really resonated with me since I have adopted the growth mindset in my class and reminded me of the power of “yet”: the idea that with meaningful and intentional feedback, a student can improve. After talking to the teacher I felt motivated to act. So later that day, I signed up for an online course on the modern classroom.