To understand Acton, it’s helpful to understand key Acton terms.

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"HERO'S JOURNEY"

We believe that life is full of trials and tests that, when faced with integrity and purpose, lead to a satisfying and fulfilling life. ​​We also believe that each learner is destined to uncover their unique passion in life. In turn, our mission is to provide learners with a learning environment in which they can  discover their passions and prepare for the journey ahead of them

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"THE STUDIO" AND "STUDIO MAINTENANCE"

Our work, play, and maker spaces are all called "studios" (versus classrooms). Our spaces do not have a traditional classroom design and can vary significantly amongst Acton Academies. However, at all Acton Academies, learners play a significant role in deciding how  their space(s) shall look and feel, as well as how they are to be managed.

 

"Studio Maintenance" is when the learners perform tasks to help them care for their studio space(s). Some everyday maintenance activities include reorganizing studio materials and returning them to their designated place (e.g., plugging Chromebooks into their charging docks),  vacuuming, bringing out the recyclables to the pickup location, sorting through the lost and found bin, cleaning out the fridge, organizing the library, wiping down countertops, etc.

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"LEARNERS" AND "GUIDES"

At Acton Academy, we do not use the terms "student" or "teacher." Instead, we prefer to call learners precisely what they are... learners. We also like to call the adults in the studio(s) “guides”, as that is the most accurate way to describe their role at AABC. A guide’s role is not the same as that of a traditional teacher. A guide does not stand at the front of a classroom and deliver lectures for students to digest. Nor is it a guide’s role to be a subject-matter expert with all the “right answers.”. Instead, the role of a guide is to guide the learners on the path towards learning how to learn. To do this, guides provide learners with the resources and support needed, but not with pre-scripted lessons or answers to questions that the learners are perfectly capable of answering themselves and/or researching.

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"INDEPENDENT LEARNER"

An independent learner is someone who:

• can follow instructions and solve problems;

• admits when they don't know something (yet) and will take the initiative to research what they need to figure out the answer or solution;

• strives for mastery and excellence in what they do; 

• is perseverant and resourceful when a roadblock appears (rather than looking for someone else to complete the challenge for them); and

• participates in Socratic discussions, voicing their own thoughts and opinions. 

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"GROWTH MINDSET"

Learners with a “growth mindset” believe trial and error, experimentation,  and perseverance are the keys to success. A “growth mindset” allows a learner to perceive  “failure” as an opportunity to grow rather than a setback or negative reflection of their worth.

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"SOCRATIC DISCUSSIONS" 

Socratic discussions are designed to enable learners to think critically about big topics and to open their minds to learning, unlearning, and relearning through thoughtful analysis, the forming of their own independent conclusions, and the process of defending their ideas.

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"QUESTS"

A “quest” is part of a six-week session where learners engage in experiential learning centered around a specific subject area. Throughout the academic year,  there are multiple quests (at least one per session) in various subject areas. Examples of these subject areas include chess, electricity, game design, entrepreneurship, ancient Athens, podcasts,  architecture, coding, and gardening. Through a variety of hands-on experiences that comprise a quest, a Learner can explore the given subject area in-depth. As learners advance in Acton, they take on a more significant role in determining quest subject areas.

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"STUDENT-LED"

Although we avoid using the term "student," Acton Academy is considered a "student-led" learning environment. This means our learners are involved in every step of the decision-making process, from defining studio rules to determining the studio schedule to defining appropriate disciplinary actions for studio mates who break the rules. Within reason, age-appropriate freedoms are provided to the greatest extent possible. For example, learners are responsible for setting their own learning goals, tracking their progress toward achieving them, navigating relationships, and reflecting on their personal and academic experiences.

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"MASTERY-BASED LEARNING"

Mastery-based learning focuses on learners mastering a topic before moving on to a more advanced one. This allows learners to work at their own pace and have a true understanding of a topic or skill before moving forward. While this shift in education would help all children, it is essential for gifted learners because they can often achieve mastery at a quicker pace and are therefore limited in a traditional academic setting.​