October 18, 2005 - Case Study: Southwest Secondary Learning Center

SmartLab Helps Charter School Register Impressive Gains in Student Standardized Test Scores

In 2002, Creative Learning Systems worked collaboratively with the directors and staff of Southwest Secondary Learning Center to create an innovative technology-based charter school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With the school’s stated vision of becoming “the best preparatory secondary school in New Mexico”, SSLC selected CLS to develop a SmartLab environment that would serve as a core element of their educational program. The resulting model has been an unqualified success as students consistently register dramatic gains in state-mandated standardized test scores.

The success at SSLC results from a unique educational model that combines computer-based instruction with project-based, student-centered learning in a SmartLab. SSLC students acquire much of their core subject knowledge through a comprehensive computer-based curriculum. Students then spend a significant portion of each week in the SmartLab building on this foundation. Dave Yellott, Facilitator at SSLC, believes that much of the school’s success results from the ability students have to apply, and thereby reinforce, their core subject knowledge in the SmartLab. “A lot of school time is devoted to teaching core skill sets”, Dave Case Study: Southwest Secondary Learning Center points out. “The SmartLab gives students the opportunity to apply the skills they’ve learned in math, science, English and social studies in a context they find interesting and challenging.”

SSLC’s innovative combination of direct core-subject instruction with projectbased learning in the SmartLab, is proving to be a powerful educational model. Students gain a solid foundation of core subject knowledge and reinforce this knowledge through its immediate application. In the SmartLab, they also develop critical-thinking and reasoning skills, and build 21st century competencies such as collaboration, project management and self-direction. Moreover, since documentation of project work in the SmartLab is portfolio-based, it helps students develop written and oral communication skills – both keys to future success.

The effectiveness of this model is evidenced both through qualitative measurements of student progress, as well as quantitative measures such as standardized test scores. Such highstakes test results have become critical in today’s legislative climate. Moreover, as a school of choice, SSLC must provide parents with information necessary to assess their children’s academic progress. In short, accountability is core to the mission of SSLC.

This chart illustrates the dramatic gains in Terra Nova standardized test scores achieved by students in this learning system. The chart shows test scores of 7th grade students in 2002, the year SSLC opened. This reflects the initial test scores of a representative student cohort shortly after transferring into SSLC from Albuquerque public schools. Also shown are comparative test scores for the same student cohort in each of the next two years. The improvement has been dramatic indeed; test scores in core subject areas increased by an average of 52%. Moreover, the most dramatic gains were registered in math and science, the subjects most directly applicable to project work in the SmartLab.

SSLC’s educational approach has proven so effective that, despite the relatively short time students have benefited from this system, its state-mandated test scores now rank among the highest for all Albuquerque schools.

The partnership between SSLC and Creative Learning Systems has been productive in other ways as well. To showcase this unique and successful model of SmartLab integration, SSLC has been selected to host two national Facilitator training conferences.

Since 1986, Creative Learning Systems has partnered with over 500 schools to create learning environments that build critical-thinking skills and support core academics. In teaming with Southwest Secondary Learning Center, an environment has been created where all students are expected to succeed and accountability is paramount. The mission of Southwest Secondary Learning Center is “to prepare students to become self-motivated, independent, competent, lifelong learners”. Creative Learning Systems is proud of its role in helping them to fulfill that mission.

Download Case Study (PDF, 711k)