Perry Middle School is committed to providing our students with Authentic Learning Experiences. We believe that when students are exposed to real-world problems they engage more fully in their learning. As such, we have committed to providing families several options for their students to engage in authentic learning. Connected & Authentic Learning) CAL classes are part of the Ohio Personalized Learning Network and have created learning environments where students fully connect with learning standards and life skills through authentic issues and experiences to learn content, collaboration with teachers and peers, and engagement with the greater community in order to develop self-directed learning habits and a growth mindset.
Core principles include the following:
- Make learners the focus. This involves helping students become lifelong learners and develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st century.
- Help students make the connection between their own interests and their academic studies and also connect with inspiring mentors and peers to improve student engagement. Learning is continuous. Continuous learning involves linking learning to school, home and the community, so it can happen in any setting.
- Help learners become makers and producers by teaching them to experiment, create, design and showcase their work.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING:
Several years ago, we began to study around the best practices of Authentic, Problem Based, and Project Based Learning. The culmination of this was the development of ur Connected-Authentic Learning (CAL) teams. Our work has grown organically over the years to include teachers from all grades and subjects. SWALES (School-Wide Authentic Learning Experiences) occur now in all grade levels across subject areas and allow students the opportunity to connect and collaborate on real-world (authentic) challenges where students uncover and demonstrate academic content and critical skills.
*In addition, Special Education, Intervention, and Gifted environments are available as needed for students.
