Self-Study Tools
Principles of Learning Self-Study Tool
The Principles of Learning describe instructional environments and practices that enable all students to achieve high academic standards through sustained and targeted effort. The study tools introduce the Principles to educators who wish to analyze the quality of instruction and opportunities for learning that they offer to students. An extended essay explains where the Principles of Learning come from, what they mean, why they matter, what they look like in practice, and how to bring them to life in classrooms and schools. Linked resources, video excerpts and audio clips are included to maximize your understanding of the Principles.
Accountable Talk® Self-Study Tool
Accountable Talk® is one of nine Principles of Learning—distilled from more than 25 years of research on learning and cognition--describing instructional environments and practices that enable all students to achieve high academic standards through sustained and targeted effort. The online Accountable Talk® Self-Study Tool is designed to help users develop a clear understanding of what Accountable Talk® looks like in practice and how they can make it the norm in their schools and classrooms.
Clear Expections Self-Study Tool
Clear Expectations is one of nine Principles of Learning, distilled from decades of learning research, describing instructional environments and practices that enable all students to achieve high academic standards through sustained and targeted effort.
The Principle of Clear Expectations states: If we expect all students to achieve at high levels, then we need to define explicitly what we expect students to learn. These expectations need to be communicated clearly in ways that get them "into the heads" of school professionals, parents, the community and, above all, students themselves. Descriptive criteria and models of work that meets standards should be publicly displayed, and students should refer to these displays to help them analyze and discuss their work. With visible accomplishment targets to aim toward at each stage of learning, students can participate in evaluating their own work and setting goals for their own effort.
This tool is for teachers, coaches, content-area specialists, and school and district leaders. Its purpose is to help you recognize, understand, and establish Clear Expectations in schools and classrooms. Activities and materials are designed to initiate reflection on key features of the principle and discussion about strategies for establishing a culture of Clear Expectations.