Standards-Based Learning

How does standards-based learning align with our mission?

Dalat is committed to aligning all initiatives with our core mission of providing ‘Education for life founded on a Biblical worldview.’ Our vision, ‘our students will know God and impact the world for His glory,’ guides our evaluation of new programs, improvements, or significant implementations, ensuring that everything we do contributes to our overarching goals.

In light of this, we’ve been reflecting on how to effectively fulfill our mission and vision despite the rapidly changing educational landscape. How can we adapt our teaching methods to equip Gen Z and Gen Alpha students to thrive in a rapidly changing world? How do we help prepare students who will likely experience up to 16 jobs across five careers? How do we encourage academic excellence without undermining social and emotional well-being? These are the big questions that we wrestle with every day, and consequently, we’ve realized the traditional grading system undermines our desire to cultivate lifelong learning, growth, and adaptability.

Traditional grading often conflicts with the Biblical worldview we strive to instill because it emphasizes performance, competition, and fixed mindsets. It also undermines students’ willingness to take risks and embrace challenges. However, it’s critical for future success in college and beyond that students know how to manage and track learning goals, develop perseverance, and be intrinsically motivated. Standards-based teaching and learning align better with these goals by focusing on growth, grace, and mastery.

In the standards-based classroom, students have multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency, reflecting the Biblical concept of redemption. Students are empowered to take ownership of their learning and view challenges as chances to improve. Additionally, standards-based learning allows for personalized instruction, acknowledging that students develop and learn at different paces. It encourages students to focus on their progress rather than compare themselves to others.

Our shift to standards-based teaching and learning is rooted in our commitment to providing an ‘Education for Life founded on a Biblical worldview.’ By focusing on growth, grace, and mastery, we empower students to become lifelong, resilient learners equipped to impact the world positively.