Foreword by Joseph DiMartino
Preface
Why This Book?
Who Might Read This Book?
What¿s in the Book?
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Introduction: All Learning Is Personal
Meeting Standards/Avoiding Standardization
Celebrating Diversity
Personalized Learning
Designing Personal Pathways to Graduation
An Enriched Context for Learning
1. Engagement in Learning
Overview
Organizing Curriculum Around Personal Competencies
Real Questions/Real Meaning
Building on Strengths
Artificial Challenges
Meaningful Challenges
Designing Pathways by Increasing Challenge
Personalization and Student Achievement
Accepting Ambiguity
Nagging Questions About Personal Engagement
2. Patterns of Growth
Overview
Personalized Learning at Mount Abraham
Patterns of Growth in Personalized Learning
Learning Through Relationships
Nagging Questions About Student Growth
3. Shaping the Process of Inquiry
Overview
Keeping the Target Steady
Seven Phases of Project Development in a Semester
The Process Is the Learning
Nagging Questions About Structure and Freedom
4. Scaffolding Personal Learning
Overview
Focusing on Competency
"The Space": A Website Organizing Learning
Designing Processes and Products
Learning to Learn Independently
Learning Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: An Illustration
Problem Solving With Hands
Using the Tools in Advising
Leaving the Scaffold Behind
Nagging Questions About Structure
5. Integrating School and Community
Overview
Why Leave Campus?
Riding With the Wizard
Connecting With a Community Mentor
Fitting in at Fifteen: Austin and Gabe at the Fish Hatchery
Making Room for Mentoring
Moving From Simple to Complex Tasks
The Cost in Time and Energy
Making Global Connections
The Action Is Not the Learning
Nagging Questions About Community Engagement
6. Assessing Readiness for College and Work
Overview
What Tests Don¿t Tell
Documenting Applicable Competency
Measuring What Matters
Face Validity
Focusing Questions for Assessing Evidence of Learning
Tracking the Accumulation of Evidence
Student-Led Conferences
Exhibitions: Taking It Public
Celebrating "Best-Work" Portfolios
Reporting Achievement
Nagging Questions About Assessment
7. Transforming High School Learning
Overview
School Transformation Through Mutual Learning
Growth Through Interaction
Removing Barriers: Armando Vilaseca, Vermont Secretary of Education
Shaping a Shared Vision: Evelyn Howard, District Superintendent of the Addison Northeast K-12 School District
Linking Personalization to Existing Models: Nancy Cornell, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Continuous Adaptation Through Engaged Leadership
Organizing Teams and Structures: Leon Wheeler, Mount Abraham Coprincipal
Unifying Personalized Learning: Caroline Camara and Maureen Deppman, Cochairs of Personalized Learning Department
Expanding Roles for Teachers: Caroline Camara, Department Cochair
Advising While Redesigning: Russell Comstock, Academic Advisor
Mutual Renewal
Nagging Questions About High School Transformation
Conclusion: From Knowledge to Power
Sort and Select or Empower to Grow?
Bibliography
Index