How can I best explain the Modern Classroom model to stakeholders?
What is the Modern Classrooms Project?
What is the Modern Classrooms Project?
The Modern Classrooms Project (MCP) is a nonprofit organization, founded by teachers, that helps educators use technology to meet every student's needs. MCP trains teachers to record their own instructional videos, which students can watch at their own paces in class and at home. This approach helps students achieve true understanding and makes class time more productive for students and educators alike. MCP's work is backed by academic research and has helped to transform thousands of classrooms worldwide.
Additional Resources:
Watch the model in action in Edutopia videos: Elementary + Secondary
Animated short “What is a Modern Classroom?”
How do I explain this model to caregivers or classroom visitors?
How do I explain this model to caregivers or classroom visitors?
Our animated short, “What is a Modern Classroom?” offers the student perspective on experiencing the model and is a great resource to share with caregivers, classroom visitors, and other stakeholders.
Additional Resources:
Christensen Institute's Report on student-centered learning (MCP featured)
How do teachers train in the instructional model?
How do teachers train in the instructional model?
The Modern Classrooms Project offers two professional development options. Educators can take our blended, self-paced Free Course, which takes about 5 hours to complete, or enroll in the more personalized Virtual Mentorship Program (VMP), which takes most learners 25-30 hours to complete. In the VMP, educators are partnered with an Expert Mentor–an educator currently using the model in their practice–who gives personalized feedback on assignments for each of the five learning modules. Educators complete the course having created classroom-ready materials to begin implementing the MCP instructional model.
Does self-pacing conflict with school or district pacing calendars?
Does self-pacing conflict with school or district pacing calendars?
No! MCP units allow for a flexible pace with firm deadlines. This means the unit should have a common start and end date along with a common summative assessment date. Many educators include common mid-unit assessment dates as well. MCP units also allow for planned events, including guest speakers, seminars, and unit celebrations. Therefore, flexible pacing allows students to self-pace within school or district pacing calendars.
Are students just in front of the computer all day in a Modern Classroom?
Are students just in front of the computer all day in a Modern Classroom?
In a Modern Classroom, educators design class time that is intentional and varied. This may include: a cycle of instructional videos/guided practice/mastery checks, station rotations, planned collaboration activities, and whole-class discussions.
Do educators execute whole-class activities when using this model?
Do educators execute whole-class activities when using this model?
Whole-class activities are regular parts of MCP units. This may include: inquiry activities, See-Think-Wonder exercises, Chalk Talks, labs, exploratory exercises, debates or Socratic seminars, labs, and mini-lessons.
Additional Resources:
Is the teacher really teaching if students are watching videos?
Is the teacher really teaching if students are watching videos?
In Modern Classrooms, teachers spend their time working individually and in small groups with students, delivering truly personalized instruction. In a traditional instructional model, the teacher spends the majority of the class period delivering information to the whole group and managing whole-class behavior. In a Modern Classroom, that information is delivered through instructional videos so students can work at their own pace, which allows for more engaged classrooms.
Additional Resource:
How do educators use class time in a Modern Classroom?
How do educators use class time in a Modern Classroom?
Fostering Collaboration
In the most effective Modern Classrooms, educators implement daily opening routines to build collaboration, to nurture goal-setting, and to foster classroom community. A daily closing routine can also round out a Modern Classrooms class period with reflections or other directed prompts or activities. Modern Classrooms educators also lift student expertise by creating peer support structures, TAs, “lesson superstars,” and leveraging strategic, data-based flexible grouping to support further collaboration.
Delivering Individual & Small Group Instruction
In Modern Classrooms, it is common to see educators giving mini-lessons to multiple students, engaging in 1-1 reteaching, and meeting with targeted small groups based on unit data.
Giving Feedback & Assessing
Modern Classrooms educators schedule class time in intentional ways. For example, many educators create a flow that includes a warm-up/SEL check-in and opening routine, designated small group and individual meeting times, designated feedback-giving time, and a closing routine.