The Modern Classrooms Project empowers educators with their innovative instructional model to ensure all students are appropriately challenged and supported every day. The instructional model has three components: blended instruction, self-pacing, and mastery-based learning. Implementation of the model fosters strong student–teacher relationships, builds critical learning strategies that underpin self-direction, increases confidence and love of learning, and increases content mastery. The model also leverages technology and is best implemented in contexts where educators have support to innovate and reimagine instruction.
The Modern Classrooms Project has reached over 53,000 educators in 169 countries. In order to support implementation, they offer resource toolkits, professional development, one-on-one coaching and consulting, and cohort learning communities, to equip educators with the skills, resources, and community required to sustain and improve upon this customized instructional approach.
What Makes this Model Innovative?
High Expectations with Unlimited Opportunities For All
Customization
Anytime, Anywhere Learning
Related Models
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Teach to One 360
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Summit Learning
Summit Learning is a comprehensive program offered by educator-led nonprofit Gradient Learning. In Summit Learning classrooms, teachers deliver dynamic lessons to the whole class, small groups, or one-on-one. Recognizing that each child is unique, educators teach in ways that ensure each student gains knowledge and develops lifelong learning skills on the timeline and in the ways that they learn best, from small group support, to group projects, to mentoring. This comprehensive model includes a platform through which students can access hands-on, real-world tasks and activities, take assessments, monitor feedback, and track their learning progress. The model is grounded in learning science and is adaptable for grades 4 through 12 across all core disciplines.
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Goals
The Modern Classrooms Project focuses on improving teacher practices in order to better students’ learning experiences.
Content Mastery
Students progress through units at flexible paces based on their mastery of content.
Learning Strategies
Students reflect and build skills to become self-directed, metacognitive learners.
Foster a Love of Learning
Students feel like they enjoy learning when they better understand lessons and content.
Confidence
Students believe that they are capable of learning anything and finding the resources they need to learn new content.
Strong Student–Teacher Relationships
Students feel appropriately challenged, seen, and supported by their teacher.
Experience
The Modern Classroom Project’s instructional model rests on the appropriate interaction of blended instruction, self-paced learning, and mastery-based learning.
Modern Classrooms teachers implement various components of blended learning models that empower students to own their learning. This model allows students to access curriculum from anywhere at any time, increase student-centered learning in classrooms, and free up teacher time to work with students in small groups and 1:1. Additionally:
- Students learn at their own pace by watching teacher-created videos and completing practice activities geared toward their learning level
- Students experience flexible learning structures in the class
- Every student accesses content the way that best suits their needs
- Teachers spend time in class supporting students based on their live levels of mastery.
Self-paced structures allow students to work at a speed that is customized to their level of mastery and keep learning continuous by creating student access to content from anywhere. Students in Modern Classrooms build self-confidence and self-regulation skills by deciding the pace of their learning within a unit of study:
- Students learn at their own pace by watching or rewatching teacher-created videos
- Students have the time they need to learn
- Students set and monitor their pace and goals using student-facing and public trackers
- Students progress to more advanced material only when they are ready.
Research-backed best practices for mastery-based learning ensure that students demonstrate proficiency before moving on to the next objective. Students progress through lessons based on their proficiency with each lesson’s content knowledge or skill. This means that exit tickets, quizzes, and other formative assessments are regularly evaluated, and students receive timely feedback on their level of mastery:
- Students internalize that progress is contingent on mastery, not completion
- Students can redo tasks, rewatch videos, practice more, and/or revise assessments until they show mastery
- Students are not penalized for wrong answers while learning, but instead have the opportunity to continue learning until they master the content.
Supporting Structures
The Modern Classrooms Project ensures students can master learning at their own pace with the support of blended modalities. Though the model can be implemented across various learning environments, certain school supports—such as curriculum, instruction, adult learning and more— will support the implementation of this model.
This instructional model can leverage curriculum for all grade levels and across any content area.
This is possible because the Modern Classrooms Project does not provide set curricula, instructional materials, or assessments and instead builds educators’ capacity to leverage existing curriculum to create original instructional videos. Building a Great Screencast Blog For example, an instructional coach in Lynn, MA, used the Modern Classroom model to create a series of PD modules on blended learning: Blended Learning PD Modules Additional resources to support implementation including exemplar units and webinars can be found on MCP’s website. Resource Bank
The Modern Classrooms Project helps educators maximize their capacity in the classroom and offers training and mentorship.
It empowers teachers to shift to a more student-centered teaching and learning approach. Doing this well requires teachers to create instructional materials and systems that support students’ self-paced learning, as well as build strong small group and one-on-one facilitation skills. How to Set Up Mastery Based Grading How to Create a Self-Paced Classroom
Educators learn these new skills through opt-in professional development experiences and training programs. The Modern Classrooms Project offers mentorship from teachers implementing the model, an online professional learning community of active members, and regular webinars and opportunities for learning. Virtual Mentorship ProgramThis model is the best fit for teachers who deeply desire meaningful change and innovation in their classrooms and have the learning and planning time needed to understand and implement the Modern Classroom approach. Sample Feedback Journal Hear from a Modern Classrooms Mentor Teacher Welcome from Mentors Modern Classrooms Resource Bank
This model can be implemented in learning blocks of any length of time.
Just keep in mind that students must have an adequate amount of time to watch videos and work on content during class time, and educators must have flexibility with their scope and sequence to account for students who need more or less time to master skills.
Browse instructional videos, self-paced structures, and other artifacts from actual Modern Classrooms: Modern Classrooms at a Glance
The Modern Classroom Project’s approach works best when each student has a device such as a laptop or tablet (1:1) as well as access to reliable internet, but it can be implemented with little digital content as well.
Students should have access to the same software, although teachers can determine how much supplemental learning software is needed, as well as which programs. It’s important to note that educators can still support different learners by making materials accessible in a variety of non-digital formats.
The MCP model also works with little access to technology in class and at home; however, having access to a learning management system supports accurate tracking and monitoring of student progress.
This instructional model can leverage curriculum for all grade levels and across any content area.
This is possible because the Modern Classrooms Project does not provide set curricula, instructional materials, or assessments and instead builds educators’ capacity to leverage existing curriculum to create original instructional videos. Building a Great Screencast Blog For example, an instructional coach in Lynn, MA, used the Modern Classroom model to create a series of PD modules on blended learning: Blended Learning PD Modules Additional resources to support implementation including exemplar units and webinars can be found on MCP’s website. Resource Bank
The Modern Classrooms Project helps educators maximize their capacity in the classroom and offers training and mentorship.
It empowers teachers to shift to a more student-centered teaching and learning approach. Doing this well requires teachers to create instructional materials and systems that support students’ self-paced learning, as well as build strong small group and one-on-one facilitation skills. How to Set Up Mastery Based Grading How to Create a Self-Paced Classroom
Educators learn these new skills through opt-in professional development experiences and training programs. The Modern Classrooms Project offers mentorship from teachers implementing the model, an online professional learning community of active members, and regular webinars and opportunities for learning. Virtual Mentorship ProgramThis model is the best fit for teachers who deeply desire meaningful change and innovation in their classrooms and have the learning and planning time needed to understand and implement the Modern Classroom approach. Sample Feedback Journal Hear from a Modern Classrooms Mentor Teacher Welcome from Mentors Modern Classrooms Resource Bank
This model can be implemented in learning blocks of any length of time.
Just keep in mind that students must have an adequate amount of time to watch videos and work on content during class time, and educators must have flexibility with their scope and sequence to account for students who need more or less time to master skills.
Browse instructional videos, self-paced structures, and other artifacts from actual Modern Classrooms: Modern Classrooms at a Glance
The Modern Classroom Project’s approach works best when each student has a device such as a laptop or tablet (1:1) as well as access to reliable internet, but it can be implemented with little digital content as well.
Students should have access to the same software, although teachers can determine how much supplemental learning software is needed, as well as which programs. It’s important to note that educators can still support different learners by making materials accessible in a variety of non-digital formats.
The MCP model also works with little access to technology in class and at home; however, having access to a learning management system supports accurate tracking and monitoring of student progress.
Supports Offered
The Modern Classrooms Project is an educational non-profit committed to re-shaping teaching and learning, and there is no paywall to implement or learn the model. Additional supports like mentorship, feedback on instructional materials, direct coaching, and credentials are available for a fee.
Free Online Course
Members receive open and anytime enrollment into a free, self-paced Free Online Course, where they can:
- Access exemplar content and resources
- Connect with an online cohort of educators
- Access online webinars
- Learn to implement the MCP in their classrooms
Virtual Mentorship
Members receive:
- Virtual, one-to-one coaching
- Access to all content and tutorials
- Feedback on instructional materials
- Monthly cohort meetings of educators worldwide
- Self-paced programming (3 months during the school year and a 5-week Virtual Summer Institute)
- Certified credentials
Contact the Partnerships Team (contact below) to learn more about additional levels of support.
School & District Partnerships
School and district partnerships are customizable and vary based on needs. Offerings usually consist of:
- Programming and tracking for large cohorts of educators designed to support school or district priorities
- Implementation support including on-site visits, virtual implementer discussions, and coaching from Modern Classroom staff
- Partnership with a Modern Classroom staff member to monitor progress and feedback
Reach
Impact
Numerous studies provide evidence of positive outcomes for students and teachers who participate in the Modern Classroom model. For more information, check out the following reports: Impact One-Pager John Hopkins University Report, 2021 John Hopkins University Report, 2020 John Hopkins University Report, 2019 Modern Classrooms Project Impact
Compared to their non-MCP peers, Modern Classroom students felt more capable of teaching themselves new content (John Hopkins University, 2021; John Hopkins University 2020), and they believed they had stronger relationships with their teachers (John Hopkins University, 2021).
Teachers who implement the MCP model show significant growth in their competency around key parts of the instructional model and feel they can set clearer visions for technology use as well as better serve all students.
- Compared to their non-MCP peers, MCP teachers felt significantly more capable of helping absent students catch up, more confident in serving students at all levels of learning, and believed they could work closely with students during class time (John Hopkins University 2020; John Hopkins University, 2021).
- Teachers in the Virtual Mentorship Program and Free Online Course show significant growth in competency related to blended instruction, self-pacing structures, and mastery-based learning (John Hopkins University 2020; John Hopkins University, 2021).
- Teachers also articulate clear visions for how they will use technology to help their students learn (John Hopkins University, 2021).
Contact
Samantha du Preez
Events
View All EventsModern Classrooms: Summer Institute
The Modern Classrooms Project’s Summer Institute prepares educators to return in the fall and launch Modern Classrooms of their own. This intensive session of our Virtual Mentorship Program includes one-on-one coaching, interactive workshops, and an engaged community. You’ll walk away with clear plans for implementing blended, self-paced, mastery-based instruction in their classrooms in the fall, as well as three complete lessons’ worth of instructional materials.
Session 1: May 22 – June 25, 2023
Session 2: June 26 – July 30, 2023