Jamestown Public Schools introduced a pilot program at all middle schools to help individualize learning based on the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) ELA and math assessments, which are given to students three times a year. This year, middle school students are using Compass Learning, which enables MAP assessments to communicate student performance information to develop targeted, individualized lessons to help students master critical content. Depending on how a student scores on, for the example, the algebra assessment, Compass Learning creates an individual lesson tailored to that particular student to help build and improve their skill level in algebra. Compass Learning is accessible in classrooms, but also anywhere that a student has Internet access, including home.

“Compass Learning answers the question, ‘Now what?’ as it pertains to assessment data,” said Denise Pusateri, JPS math coordinator. “Both MAP and Compass Learning provide real-time data to identify the areas where a student needs to improve. Automatically generated, individualized learning paths make the work of designing instruction much simpler and personalize the learning experience for each and every student.”

Priscilla Menzies, Washington Middle School sixth-grade teacher, is using MAP and Compass Learning with her students.

“Compass Learning doesn’t replace classroom instruction – it is an additional tool. Another unique way teachers can use it is by creating an assessment of a skill or objective, such as naming geometric shapes. I choose the learning path in Compass Learning, assign the assessment, and the students take it. Based on how they do, students are assigned another learning path. I can also assign a post-test to make sure they have learned the skill. Compass Learning is just at the pilot stage but we are hoping that it can be used to fill in learning gaps, which for a classroom can be very diverse, and therefore be difficult to remediate.”