The Studio Model is Building 21's core instructional model. In a studio, which typically spans 6-9 weeks, students investigate real issues and build creative solutions to impact their communities.

At Building 21, student agency is one of our core driving principles. One way we support agency is by building learning resources that not only help students "learn how to learn," but that enable them to lead their own learning.

At Building 21, we think of assessments not primary as a tool for evaluation, but as a structure that supports learning itself. Assessment "as" and "for" learning. We believe assessments should mirror real-world tasks and problems—not only to ensure they are meaningful, but that they are authentic.

The following resources were created to support learning experiences that are meaningful, rigorous, and well-scaffolded for diverse learner profiles. For resources specific to building units or projects based on Building 21's Studio Model, select "Studio Design" above.

Competency-based instruction is rooted in the learning sciences, which emphasize the importance of experiential learning, regular feedback and revision cycles, explicit instruction, recurring transfer opportunities, and ongoing support for increasing levels of self-direction and decision-making.