Module 1: What is Acceleration? Why is it Needed?
Image from: naesp.org
What is Acceleration?
Acceleration is an educationally- and cost-effective option for meeting academically advanced students’ needs. It involves moving students through an educational program at rates faster or at ages younger than convention.
By the end of this module, you should be able to…
- Understand and explain why acceleration is a useful approach, with specific focus on the classroom challenges and student learning needs that can be addressed through acceleration.
- Identify the two major types of acceleration (grade-based acceleration and subject-based acceleration) and their key features.
- Understand and explain research findings on acceleration related to achievement and social-emotional outcomes.
- Access and use high-quality resources on acceleration, including www.accelerationinstitute.org, A Nation Deceived, and A Nation Empowered.
Module Overview
In this module, you will be able to explore why acceleration is needed, how it supports opportunities for learning and growth for students, and the evidence that it works. The resources in Module 1 will provide background on the classroom circumstances that make acceleration important and the types of acceleration that are most relevant at the elementary level. Module 1 will also outline some of the major questions and concerns that tend to emerge around acceleration and the research evidence showing why and how acceleration works.
Image from: avepoint.com
In each of the three sections of Module 1, you will find several components:
- A set of questions to guide your thinking as you work, including questions about the specific module content and reflective questions
- One or more quotes to consider as you review the resources included in the section
- A list of linked resources that you are asked to read/watch/explore — these include some readings, some brief videos, and a few additional sources
- A list of linked “go deeper” resources that you may review if you wish to learn more — these are *optional* and not an expectation of your participation with the study
- A brief “check-up” with questions to check your understanding of the content of that section
Your TOTAL time on Module 1 should not take more than about 50 minutes to complete, as outlined in the table below. Again, the “go deeper” resources are optional and are not included in the time estimate. You can go in and out of Module 1 as you like — you do not need to complete it all in one sitting — but we recommend completing the three sections in the order presented.
If you believe you already have considerable background knowledge of the content of any section, you are welcome to consider checking your understanding by starting with the “check-up” for the section as a pre-assessment. If the check-up confirms your understanding, you may skip the remaining content of that section if you wish.
| Section | Approximate Time Required | Learning Objective/Activity |
|
Section 1.1
(about 18 min total)
|
2 min | Read section overview and quotes to think about |
| 14 min |
Read/View/Explore
|
|
| 2 min |
Complete Section 1.1 Check-Up
|
|
|
Section 1.2
(about 21 min total)
|
2 min | Read section overview and quotes |
| 17 min |
Read/View/Explore
|
|
| 2 min |
Complete Section 1.2 Check-Up
|
|
|
Section 1.3
(about 10 min total) |
2 min | Read section overview and quotes to think about |
| 5 min |
Read/View/Explore
|
|
| 1 min |
Wrap-Up and Looking Ahead – watch this brief slide show looking back and looking ahead (see attachment in the section below)
|
|
| 2 min |
Complete Section 1.3 Check-Up
|
Image from ProjectLine Solutions
Resources to Know
Throughout Module 1, we will be inviting you to read selections from three sources that provide considerable background information on acceleration.
- One is the website for the Acceleration Institute at the University of Iowa: https://www.accelerationinstitute.org/.
- The others are two reports about acceleration: A Nation Deceived (2004) and A Nation Empowered (2015). Both resources are linked below:
- A Nation Deceived, vol. 1 (2004) (see attachment)
- A Nation Empowered, vol. 1 (2015) (see attachment)
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