The knowledge base becomes the world surrounding the students. Students can identify when they need assistance and are able to ask for and obtain resources other than from the teacher. Students can choose among and use options that are relevant and useful to the learning experience. If essential learning is to be real for the students, activities, materials and information should be available to be utilized when needed. A variety of resources are utilized by teachers as they become both facilitators and collaborators of student learning.
Texts become only one of many resources.
Students will learn the process of determining how their work will be assessed. They determine how to best demonstrate concepts learned. Young adolescents are unique individuals, therefore time should be used flexibly. Teachers, students, parents and indirectly society cooperatively determine what students should learn. Students work to accomplish these essential learnings.