In a Quest Academy class, sixth to ninth grade students might choose between watching a video on a school-provided Chromebook, listening to a podcast or reading an article to learn about a new concept. For group project work, they can access a teacher-provided playlist that integrates viewing selections.
The curriculum at the school in West Haven, Utah, is designed to provide students with adaptable, self-paced learning options, which differ by class.
“It isn’t ‘we’re all going to get on this computer program,’” Principal Nicki Slaugh says. “We make sure we provide a variety of ways they can learn. Some are hands-on, and a lot offer a flipped-classroom approach, where our teachers record themselves doing a mini-lesson, versus standing in front of the room. You choose how you learn best.”
The recent prevalence of educational technology in schools has placed information about students’ current and past performance trends at teachers’ fingertips, enabling them to tailor instruction to students’ needs and confirm they’ve mastered specific subjects.
