Orbital Studies - Notes

Chris Stevenson (1992, 1997) suggests orbital studies as an ideal way to address both commonalities and differences among middle-level learners. Indeed, the strategy appears easily adapted to learners at all levels.

Orbital studies are independent investigations, generally of three to six weeks. They "orbit" or revolve, around some facet of the curriculum. Students select their own topics for orbitals, and they work with guidance and coaching from the teacher to develop more expertise both on the topic and on the process of becoming an independent investigator. Teachers can design rubrics or other criteria for success so that important knowledge, understandings, and skills from course goals are integrated into the orbital products. 

Orbitals are based on the premise that all learners are dignified by developing and sharing knowledge and skill. It is important to match the strategy to the requirements of the curriculum and the needs of the learner and to know whether the goal is to differentiate content, process, or product. It matters that teachers know when it makes sense to respond to learners' readiness, interest, or approach to learning and they grasp why a particular approach will benefit the learning of a particular student.