Full Description
How to base learning on mastery instead of time
What if you could remove time and space pressures from the process of teaching and learning? The authors of Off the Clock not only suggest this, but they have implemented it in New Hampshire. Due in part to their work, the New England Consortium won the 2011 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation through the Education Commission of the States. This book's core idea is that student achievement should be based on mastering competencies instead of "seat time." In addition, learning does not need to be restricted to a school building or traditional school calendar. Fred Bramante and Rose Colby describe a uniquely 21st century learning environment in which:
Every student is engaged
Parents and students have more control over learning
Dropouts are all but eliminated
Curriculum becomes virtually limitless, project-based, and interdisciplinary
This text for educators, policymakers, parents, and community members provides a comprehensive approach to implementing a large-scale competency-based reform initiative. Wherever this model is applied, public education will be vastly improved, more efficient, and, quite possibly, less expensive. The ultimate beneficiaries will be our nation's children.
Contents
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction: Imagine School Without Clocks
Part I. Leverage: The Perfect Storm
1. Setting the Table for Transformation
2. Reform: Getting Better at Things That Don't Work
Part II. The New Hampshire Story: Mandating Flexibility: Why Leadership From the Top Matters
3. Fred's Story
4. Rose's Story
5. New Hampshire Present and Future
Part III. The New Model for Learning: 20th Century Versus 21st Century
6. Time Versus Mastery
7. Competency-Based Learning
8. Learning in the 21st Century
9. Dropouts Versus Engaged Learners
10. Teacher Versus Educator
11. Teacher Compensation
Part IV. Selling the Concept: A Conscious Effort to Create Public Demand
12. Selling to Students and Parents
13. Selling to Business, Nonprofits, and Communities
14. Selling to the Education Community and Professional Organizations
15. Selling the Concept and the Politics to Legislators
Part V. Imagine the Possibilities
16. Moving Education From Time to Competency
Appendix
Bibliography
Index
