Instructional Approach One

View of learning: Memorization of facts and skills, and veridical decision making.
Instruction: Largely focused on teacher presentations followed by repetition and practice.
Academic goals: Completion of assigned work, high grades based on teacher judgment and standards.
Assessment: Standardized tests.

Instructional Approach Two

View of Learning: Intellectual understanding supplemented by memorization, with some opportunities for adaptive decision making.
Instruction: Teacher led experiences orchestrated around concepts and meaning. Includes student choices and input on assignments, class rules and assessment (eg. rubrics).
Academic Goals: Mastering curriculum and standards.
Assessment: Authentic assessment supplements standardized tests.

Instructional Approach Three

View of Learning: Understanding in order to make sense of experience with strong emphasis on adaptive decision making and development of executive functions.
Instruction: Real world projects with curriculum embedded driven by student choices and interests.
Academic goals: Going beyond academic school standards through ongoing, authentic questioning, investigation and documentation based on experts in the field.
Assessment: Authentic performance of all kinds.