1. Proficiency or Competency-Based Teaching and Learning At the Fall Kick-Off, I spoke about the emergence of Proficiency-Based Teaching and Learning (often called Competency-Based Teaching and Learning). It is being adopted at the college level; public schools, districts and states are adopting this approach and getting very good results, and creating a very competitive approach that is challenging private schools across the country. I wrote an article about this approach for AdvancEd’s Source online publication titled A New Paradigm - Putting All Students in the Driver's Seat http://www.advanc-ed.org/source/new-paradigm-putting-all-students-drivers-seat It begins “Today’s students are more connected, more aware and more in touch than any earlier generation. They’re connected to technologies that personalize and empower independent learning. Developing skills to navigate the wealth of knowledge and resources available to them today; they often become their own best teacher. They learn to love learning again. We see this every day at the Delphian School; other proficiency-based programs report similar results. Students want schools that put them in the driver’s seat of their own educational journey. “From this perspective, schools must change from an early 20th century factory-model, group-batch approach (where time is the constant and learning is the variable) to a proficiency-based, independent-student model where learning is the constant and time is the variable. A proficiency-based educational program ensures success for all students by knowing that each student needs a different amount of time to learn and understand a subject. Proficiency-based programs let students progress through their academic studies at the pace that’s right for them, giving them time to fully understand what they’re studying before moving on. “Timed-based schools using a letter-grade system prevent students from restudying and mastering what they missed on exams. Ready or not, students must move on to new topics so that teachers can “cover it all.”  This creates many educational gaps and what Sal Khan calls a Swiss-cheese education–i.e., full of holes. The National Education Commission on Time and Learning’s “Prisoners of Time” report acknowledges that one major flaw in the system is the rule: “Learn what you can in the time we make available.” The report notes that “students are caught in a time trap–processed on an assembly line scheduled to the minute. Our usage of time virtually assures the failure of many students."

If you want more information:

1. The single best book I recommend to everyone is Inevitable: Mass Customized Learning: Learning in the Age of Empowerment (New Edition) Paperback – May 30, 2012 by Charles Schwahn and Beatrice McGarvey. They have good site with additional information about Proficiency Education, and their newer book (to be read after Inevitable - Inevitable Too!: The Total Leader Embraces Mass Customized Learning.

2. The best site to rapidly learn about this topic is Competency Works - http://www.competencyworks.org/

3. I have extensive blogs on this subject at http://www.delphian.org/page.cfm?p=400

4. I compiled a short list of proficiency-education resources at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IrgFD4Cx5WgUP68j11VYmRIdKIcA7RUe06Vs6xjxGPY/edit?pli=1

5. At the Delphian School we have educators from around the world come to see our program in operation, and all Oregon private schools educators are welcome to schedule a visit by contacting me at marks@delphian.org

The 2016-2017 OFIS Membership year began July 1.  Start planning now to join OFIS or renew your OFIS Membership - download the membership application at ofisweb.org.  Dues are not deductible as Charitable Contributions for Income Tax Purposes.  Dues may be considered ordinary and necessary deductible business expenses.