A learner-driven environment means that your child will be free to pursue mastery at their own pace and the guides (known as teachers in a more traditional setting) will not serve as a bottleneck to keep everyone contained on the same state-prescribed learning track and timeline.

Not only will your child have the opportunity to expand and deepen their learning experience through mentoring (and being mentored by) a mixed age group of learners, they are free to pursue mastery at whatever pace makes most sense (with your support and encouragement as parents, of course). 

WARNING:  This can be unnerving for some parents that want to see a smooth, even progression achievement. ;-)

Many people would call it "curriculum".  A flexible series of learning challenges designed to accommodate a wide spectrum of learners.

Our Learning Design (aka curriculum) is broken down into a series of Badges.  In the Discovery (Elementary) studio, for instance, there are 5 Math Badges, 5 Reading Badges, 5 Writing Badges, etc.

Badges represent groups of challenges that a learner completes to demonstrate mastery.

Badges Plans are groups of Badges that a learner must earn in order to "level up" to the next studio.

Learners are free to accelerate through the badge plan in whatever manner they choose - horizontally, vertically or both, with the end goal always the same - to eventually earn all the badges required to advance to the next studio.

At AANWA, we'll eventually grow into 4 separate studios:  Spark (ages 4-7), Discovery (ages 7-11), Middle School (ages 11-14), High School (ages 14-18).  As learners advance through the studios, individual Badge Plans can become increasingly customized - one of the many benefits of the learner-driven approach!