The Dalton Plan is an educational method developed by American educator Helen Parkhurst around 1919 and first implemented at a high school in Dalton, Massachusetts, organizing instruction around three principles: freedom for students to work at their own pace, cooperation through mixed-age group work, and a budgeting of assignments each student contracts to complete within a set period rather than following a fixed daily timetable. It influenced school reform internationally and remains in active use today, especially in the Netherlands, where hundreds of Dalton schools still operate.
Facts
Classification
Education LevelPrimary Education (ISCED 1) 1 Education LevelLower Secondary Education (ISCED 2) 1 Education LevelUpper Secondary Education (ISCED 3) 1 Central QuestionWhat happens to a student's motivation and judgment when the teacher sets the standard to be reached but leaves the student free to tackle the work in his own way and at his own pace? 1 Connections
Developed By
Source Dalton Plan (Wikipedia)
Includes
Source Helen Parkhurst (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Dalton education, Dalton International
Dalton education section, quoting Helen Parkhurst on the Freedom principle
Under the Dalton Laboratory Plan we place the work problem squarely before him, indicating the standard which has to be attained. After that he is allowed to tackle it as he thinks fit in his own way and at his own speed.
Dalton education history
The first Dalton development started in secondary education, but short after the introduction some primary schools followed the ideas.
View the SourceDalton Plan (Wikipedia)
Developed By: Helen Parkhurst, Lead section
The Dalton Plan is an educational concept created by Helen Parkhurst.
In Group: Alternative and Self-Directed Schooling Models, Lead
The Dalton Plan is an educational concept created by Helen Parkhurst.
View the SourceHelen Parkhurst (Wikipedia)
Includes: Helen Parkhurst, Lead sectionQuote, Includes: Helen Parkhurst, Lead section
Helen Parkhurst (March 8, 1886, June 1, 1973) was an American educator, author, lecturer, the originator of the Dalton Plan, founder of the Dalton School and host of Child's World with Helen Parkhurst on ABC Television Network.
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