 “Acton emulates real adult life but in a kid-friendly environment.” 🌟 At Acton Academy, learning isn’t about memorizing facts for a test—it’s about real-world skills, independence, and responsibility. Our learners take ownership of their education, work on meaningful projects, and navigate challenges just like they will in adult life—only in a safe, supportive space designed for growth. 📣 Want to see it in action? Join us for our upcoming Open House! Next Tuesday, March 4th from 4pm to 6pm. RSVP at www.actonmarietta.org.openhouse 
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 The Learning Pyramid suggests different teaching methods impact knowledge retention differently. Attributed to the National Training Laboratories (NTL), it claims passive methods like lectures result in lower retention, while active methods like teaching others lead to higher retention. According to the model, students retain 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, and up to 90% when they teach others. This has been used to advocate for interactive learning. Supporters of the Learning Pyramid argue that it highlights the effectiveness of experiential learning, where students engage more deeply through hands-on activities and collaboration. Many educators use it as a guide to design more engaging and student-centered curricula. The model also emphasizes the role of teaching as a powerful learning tool, reinforcing the idea that explaining concepts to others enhances understanding. However, critics argue the retention percentages lack scientific backing. Learning is highly individualized, influenced by prior knowledge and engagement rather than a fixed hierarchy. Despite these flaws, the pyramid highlights the importance of active participation in learning. While its figures are questionable, its core message encourages diverse teaching strategies to improve education. This aligns with the learning model of Acton Academies, which emphasizes self-directed learning, Socratic discussions, and hands-on projects. Acton’s approach mirrors the Learning Pyramid’s advocacy for active engagement, where students learn by doing, collaborating, and teaching others, reinforcing deeper understanding and long-term retention. So while the pyramid is not precise science it does highlight why the Acton model is so empowering and meaningful to so many learners! Congratulations to the MS/LP Eagles! The Acton Network hosted a contest for all studios worldwide to submit taglines and videos to be used in a global ad campaign the network is working on. The prompt was "Acton is not a school, it's more like...". Learners from all over the network were tasked with completing that thought and creating an accompanying video.
In the Launchpad category, the AAM MS/LP Eeagles won for the Southeast region (FL, GA, TN, SC, NC)! Well done.  There has been a lot of buzz recently about Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation. In "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness," social psychologist Jonathan Haidt examines the alarming rise in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among adolescents since the early 2010s. He attributes this mental health crisis to two primary factors: the decline of unsupervised, play-based childhoods and the surge in smartphone and social media use.
Haidt argues that, starting in the 1980s, increased parental concerns about safety led to a reduction in children's free playtime. This overprotection deprived children of essential experiences that foster resilience, risk assessment, and social skills. Concurrently, the early 2010s saw a significant rise in smartphone adoption among adolescents, leading to increased screen time and exposure to social media platforms. Haidt contends that this shift resulted in social deprivation, sleep disruption, fragmented attention, and addictive behaviors, all contributing to deteriorating mental health. To address these challenges, Haidt proposes several solutions:
Acton emphasizes the importance of play early on and carries outside time and movement up into high school. Our learners create their own tech contracts and set guardrails for themselves and cell phone use beginning in middle school. You'll rarely see a cell phone out at Acton Marietta as learners are engaged in meaningful work and collaboration with peers during pivotal developmental periods. To learn more about our learning model, click on the Next Steps tab above! |
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