5 surprising results of self-paced learning

Natalie McCutchen, Franklin, KY

We realize that there are still people out there who are on the fence regarding the use of self-paced curriculum.  Rather than suggest more arguments, I’d simply like to recommend a couple of websites which demonstrate actual results. This great ITSE blog offers 5 real-life results of self-paced learning. I’d recommend reading the story, but here the "results" are in summary:
1. Movement
Students were free to leave their seats as many times as they needed to in order to select materials for their learning activities, answer check-in question or gather resources. Who wants to sit in one place for an hour? 
 2. Organization
With clearly labeled the classroom learning stations with instructions, the students learned to grasp the literal motions of self-paced learning.
 3. More time for relevance
An amazing thing happens in a classroom where students select their learning goals. They independently engage with technology and content.  The teacher is free to float from student to student to answer content-related questions.
 4. Quick results
Students actually worked at a quicker pace than previous classroom structure had permitted. Students were able to rethink and revise immediately, with no lapse in time to hinder full understanding of learning goals.
 5. Effective, personalized feedback
When students get individual feedback they know that you are talking about their work specifically. It resonated more deeply. 
 
I also recommend this story on middle school teacher, Natalie McCutchen, in Kentucky.  In it, she answers this common question:  What if some kids can’t handle all that independence? What if they just fool around the whole time?  Natalie’s solution to this problem was simple: Not all students get to do self-paced; some have to work with her in a more traditional teacher-led setup. Self-paced learning is a privilege reserved only for kids who take it seriously and work hard. For more on her experience, see:   https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/self-paced-learning/
​

---