Rooted in
Research
A cross-pollination of the best scientific insights inside and outside education form the foundation of our framework.
Supporting Research
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Learning
Medicine
Insights from gold-standard healthcare practices inform the MARIO emphasis on the expert/learner relationship. Remarkable potential arises from careful listening of the medical practitioner to the patient.
Design Thinking
Educators learn to leverage design thinking through MARIO courses and then model and teach the process to learners in their classrooms.
Neuroscience
One-to-one conversations, like those at the core of the MARIO Framework, transform the neurophysiology of the conversationalists, strengthening the junctions between different regions of their brains.
Systems Theory
Ecological systems theory sets the context for learner progress – filtered and focused via the cultivation of self-awareness.
Conceptual Change
The power of conceptual change programs is undeniable and we embed this pedagogical approach in our learning experiences with students in the form of conceptual change conversations.
Psychology
Understanding the learner’s mind unlocks change that comes from within. The one-to-one and self-directed approaches that are central to the MARIO Framework arise from a careful blend of the top research in educational and cognitive psychology
Self-Assessments
One-to-one learning conferences are multi-layered interventions that use student self-assessments as fuel for life-changing conversations.
Self-Efficacy
As students create, monitor, and achieve their goals, we focus on increasing their sense of self-efficacy. Our executive functioning skills and social-emotional learning modules in the elementary school and self-directed learning module in the middle and high school create extra opportunities to increase self-efficacy.
High Expectations
All learners benefit from high expectations and our students aren’t an exception in this regard. We help you set and leverage high expectations effectively.
Student Effort
We are creating high expectations and building effort-based behaviors in one-to-one learning sessions and conferences that provide scaffolding and positive reinforcement our students need to flourish.
Self-Directed
We are empowering students with the tools and skills to become passionate life-long self-directed learners.
Deep Motivation
We foster deep motivation and approach in students through self-directed learning and personalized goals. We empower students to invest in what truly matters most to them.
Personalized Goals
With the guidance of teachers, students develop personalized learning plans that give them ownership of their learning. Goals are monitored and adjusted, as well as the strategies used to achieve them, throughout the school year.
Evaluation
We build metacognitive skills and target evaluation and reflection in profound ways. This happens throughout MARIO classes but especially during highly personalized one-to-one learning sessions and one-to-one conferences.
Quality Feedback
Formative and summative assessments embedded in the one-to-one learning sessions and conferences provide immediate and personalized feedback that helps students understand the gap between where they are, where they want to be, and then illuminates ways to get there.
Planning
Students regularly plan and predict in their one-to-one learning sessions. The regular meetings allow for further reflection and realignment that ultimately results in a more accurate ability to plan and predict in the future.
Integrated Learning
One-to-one learning sessions build on each other. Teachers highlight opportunities for looping in fresh concepts with prior knowledge.
Self-Advocacy
In addition to the help provided by teachers in one-to-one sessions, improving self-advocacy skills is one of the primary targets of one-to-one conferences. We foster and encourage help-seeking behaviors intentionally.