Speeding Up Instruction

PSI classrooms utilize SMART Boards and SMART Responders to accelerate learning.  PSI units are written in SMART Notebook which embeds both direct instruction and formative assessment. Students receive copies of these Notebooks which eliminates the need for students to copy off the board.  Instead, students annotate these printed notes adding in only what they need to personally understand the topic.  These Notebooks also eliminate the need for teachers to spend most of their time writing on the board.  Finally, the embedded, live formative assessment, allows teachers to know if all students are ready to move on or need additional help.

Allowing for Continuous Improvment & Collaboration

Because the PSI curriculum is shared freely online, teachers from any school can contribute to the development of these units, leading to a cycle of continuous improvement.  These units also allow teachers within the same school or different schools to collaborate on instruction.  Furthermore, used as a common curriculum, teachers can coordinate their pace which lets all students within the same school help each other regardless of which teacher they have.  It also means they can get help from any other teacher in the school.  The effect of this is a large community of learners working towards the same goal together.

Round Tables

(Yes, this is technology!) Round tables enable social constructivism by reshaping the learning environment so that students face each other.  This encourages students to talk to each other and solve problems as a group.