The Adventist EDGE
Educators Developing Goals of Excellence

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A description of The Adventist EDGE
4-MAT as a model for school improvement
Schedule of training events

The Adventist EDGE...
A Comprehensive
School Improvement Initiative

Educators Developing Goals of Excellence

Description

The Adventist EDGE is...

• a systematic approach to schoolwide improvement that incorporates every aspect of a school, from curriculum and instruction to school management
• a program and a process that is designed to enable all students to meet challenging academic content and performance goals
• a framework for using research to move from multiple, fragmented educational programs to a unified plan with a single focus: academic achievement
• a product of the long-term, collaborative efforts of school staff, parents, and district staff

The Adventist EDGE initiative will incoporate the following components:

• A comprehensive design with aligned components
• Research-based teaching strategies
• Ongoing, high-quality professional development for teachers and staff
• Measurable goals and benchmarks for student achievement
• Support by/for teachers, administrators, and staff
• Meaningful parent and community involvement
• High-quality external technical support and assistance
• Annual evaluation of implementation strategies and student results
• Adequate resources to support and sustain the school improvement initiatives

Objective

Excellence in Adventist education that...

• motivates students
• is relevant and meaningful
• prepares students for life

Goals

Curriculum
Identify and implement relevant performance standards that...

• integrate Seventh-day Adventist principles and philosophy
  
• clearly define what students should know and be able to do

Develop relevant curriculum that...

• helps students make meaningful connections to real life
  
• provides opportunities for service and community outreach

Instruction
Promote sound educational practices based on...

• divine counsel
  
• solid educational research

Provide on-going staff development that equips teachers to...

• implement preferred educational practices
  
• apply brain research
  
• honor diverse learning styles

Assessment
Compliment traditional assessment methods with diverse forms of authentic assessment such as...

• demonstrations and performances
  
• portfolios
  
• products
  
• projects
  
• rubrics
  
• self-assessments
  
• student-led conferences

Why?

To implement FACT 21 Initiatives:

• Goals
  
• Essential Core Elements
  
• Preferred Practices

To address concerns identified in the Profile Survey of Adventist Educators biennial reports:

• ambivalence of educators about curriculum guides, testing, and the use of textbooks
  
• feelings of inadequacy in implementing the curriculum
  
• lack of appropriate follow-up support for implementing innovative curricular initiatives
  
• teacher isolation which works against implementation and professional renewal
  
• traditional instruction (lecture and recitation) which still dominates many classrooms

To address the "Fix-it Areas/Weaknesses" identified by Marketing Survey Focus Groups:

• quality of the education is low
  
• poor academic quality
  
• new items, and curriculum changes
  
• hard to identify the product
  
• lack of defined mission or vision by principals, teachers, administrators
  
• difficult to identify the school's purpose for existence
  
• little parent involvement
  
• poor communication between school, teachers, and parents

How?

Long-range planning, which includes...

• 4MAT model training
  
• standards for lesson planning
  
• on-going staff development through study groups to support implementation efforts, continued training in research based teaching strategies, and the
  development of 4MAT units

Training for...

• teachers in the use of standards for writing lesson plans, the 4MAT model, teacher study groups, research-based teaching strategies, and performance based assessment
• administrators, supervisors, and study group leaders in coaching techniques to support teachers during the implementation of the school improvement initiative
• parents, constituents, and students about 4MAT and The Adventist EDGE
  

Assessment of ...

• the development of 4MAT lessons and units for classroom use
  
• the implementation of 4MAT lessons and units in individual classrooms
  
• the impact of the 4MAT system of instruction on student achievement

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4-MAT
The Chosen Model
for School Improvement

Jesus, the Master Teacher, recognized "infinite possibilities" in those with whom He came in contact. He accepted people where they were, provided motivation and inspiration for individuals, and used a variety of teaching methods designed to improve their lives.

Because the 4-MAT model of teaching recognizes the diversity of each learner, and proposes ways to address all learning styles by building relationships and establishing real life meaning to the curriculum, it was chosen as the preferred model for comprehensive school improvement by the Southern Union.

4-MAT is a natural cycle for delivering instruction of any kind in a way that...

• connects to learners
  
• provides relevant information
  
• offers an opportunity for practice
  
• allows for creative adaptation of material learned

The 4-MAT model advocates

• the use of curriculum innovations
  
• brain compatible teaching strategies
  
• the connection of relevancy and meaning to learning
  
• utilization of a variety of assessment methods
  
• motivational techniques designed to benefit the individual learner

One reads in the book Education (p.78), that "He who seeks to transform humanity, must himself understand humanity." The 4-MAT model is the chosen framework that will best identify individual differences, and meet the diverse needs of all learners at all levels of ability; thereby improving the educational process in the Southern Union.

For more information about the 4-MAT system of learning visit their web site at http://aboutlearning.com/

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Schedule of Training

Pilot teachers

May 28-30, 2002
4MAT Awareness
Study Group Cadré Leaders

July 15-26, 2002
4MAT Level I: The Foundation
4MAT Level II: The Application

Spring, 2003
4MAT Level III:
The Replication - Trainer Certification

Spring, 2003
4MAT Level III:
The Replication - Peer Coaching Certification

2002-2003 school year
On-site and on-line participation in study groups

Parent and Community Programs

August, 2002
Introduction to The Adventist EDGE
4MAT Awareness

On-going
Diversity
Wholeness
Parenting Applications

SUCOE Teachers

2003-2004 school year
4MAT Level I: The Foundation
4MAT Level II: The Application

2003-2004 school year
On-site and on-line participation in study groups

Administrator Programs

TBA
The Power of Connections
A Model for Learning and Leading
Leading the Learning Organization

For a snapshot description of the various training programs, visit this site.

For a detailed description of the various training programs, visit this site.

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