Elementary learners use a special tool in the studio: the freedoms and responsibilities scale. At Acton, learners are given freedoms and responsibilities that are not typical of many learning environments. These range from doing studio maintenance to setting weekly goals to choosing which core skills area to work on. However, these freedoms and responsibilities aren’t simply granted, they must be earned and respected by learners. 

The freedoms and responsibilities scale provides both learners and guides a visual representation of each freedom and responsibility in the studio and who—guides or learners—owns it. The scale is simple. It’s a long, thin piece of white wood with a sign labeled “guides” on the far left side and one labeled “learners” on the far right. Laminated cards with freedoms/responsibilities such as “use tech,” “choose core skills,” “print,” and “lead exhibitions” are positioned between the two signs with clothespins. 

After the scale was introduced, learners came together to share opinions about each freedom and responsibility, and where it should sit on the chart at that moment in time. Some responsibilities were clear, like printing, which has been exclusively a guide freedom/responsibility since the start of the year, while others, like using tech, were less clear (and more contentious). Some argued that because learners use computers for core skills, writer’s workshop, and quest nearly every day, the “use tech” card should be on the learner side. Others countered that the guidelines put in place by the guides about when and how tech should be used mean the card should be more in the middle. Learners eventually compromised about the “use tech” card (moving it toward the learner side) and a few others, but some learners made it clear that they wanted to reassess other freedoms/responsibilities after break.

Moving the Needle

Periodically, learners have the opportunity to come together, take stock of the positions of cards on the freedoms and responsibilities scale, and move cards if needed. Recently, when the guide asked if any responsibilities needed to be moved, one learner’s hand shot up right away: “Checking off on studio maintenance needs to be waaaayyy more on the learner side now!” The other learners emphatically agreed. After a few weeks of guide oversight, this week, learners assumed the freedom/responsibility of checking off on proper studio maintenance. Learners are successfully using the checklist binder to review the steps of each studio maintenance job with their studio maintenance partner to ensure proper execution. As a result, the card now sits almost all the way on the learner side of the scale. 

However, each movement of a card doesn't always correspond to more freedoms and responsibilities for learners. The only other card that learners moved, “use tech,” shifted in the opposite direction. After coming back from break, the guides decided to restrict YouTube music access after seeing multiple instances of misuse. Recognizing this, learners unanimously decided to move “use tech” toward the middle of the scale, relinquishing some responsibility for a prized tool in the studio.

The freedoms and responsibilities scale is valuable not only as a visual representation of the freedoms and responsibilities in the studio, but also as a way to mark and appreciate the assumption of greater responsibility (and corresponding freedom) by learners. When learners take on more responsibility, as was the case with checking off studio maintenance, there is a ceremonial aspect to moving the cards and physically seeing the progress. Since returning from break, the learners have worked hard to take on more responsibilities and earn more freedoms, and the scale is a reminder of the progress they’ve made and what they’re capable of!