Summit Learning Platform and Personalized Learning

At Cristo Rey De La Salle, we are using the Summit Learning Platform as our personalized learning instructional system and model.  The decision to use this system and model was made after extensive conversations between our President and Principal which involved ending the 20th century factory model of high school education.  When I was appointed Assistant Principal, I had a fairly steep learning curve as I had to get acquainted with the platform as soon as I could in order to support our teachers.

Personalized learning has been a buzz phrase for some time in educational circles.  By leveraging the use of technology, it is entirely possible to meet the individualized educational needs of the young people entrusted to our care.  But, it's not entirely about the technology.  The entire system is predicated on positive relationships between teachers and students, or, mentors and mentees.  Through the use of check-ins, teachers are able to support students by coaching and giving feedback in addition to offering scaffolds to ensure student success in meeting their goals.  The whole system, then, highly encourages students to become agents of their own learning and to become self-directed in the process. 

The Summit Learning Platform has four pillars: (1) Cognitive Skills; (2) Content Knowledge; (3) Habits of Success; and, (4) Sense of Purpose.  All four of these areas needs to be developed, but at the top of the pyramid are the development of 36 cognitive skills that are at the apex of so-called 21st century learning.  Content Knowledge is personalized depending upon student interests and aptitudes.  Habits of Success push students to acquire the necessary strategies to become successful in college and in life.  Finally, students acquire a Sense of Purpose which give students an opportunity to become self-efficacious.  These four pillars are research-based, teacher-tested, and student-centered.

We are the first Cristo Rey Network School and Lasallian Institution in North America to adopt the Summit Learning Platform.  Properly deployed, this system and model has the capacity to even the playing field for young people from economically disadvantaged circumstances.  Somehow, I think Saint La Salle smiling upon us from somewhere with a wink and nod of approval.