Getting Started with Per Scholas Materials

🚀 Your Learning Path

New to Per Scholas? Start here to understand your materials, then move to implementing workplace simulation.

Experienced instructor? Use this as a quick reference for materials and flipped classroom approach.

Next Steps:

1. 📚 This page: Understand your curriculum materials and flipped classroom
2. 🏢 Workplace Simulation Guide: Learn how to implement the methodology
3. 🛠️ Tools & Support: Access GPT and additional resources

Quick Start: What You Need to Know

🎯 Key Principle

Every course should spend 75% of class time in activated learning - hands-on practice, discussion, and collaboration.

📚 Two Core Concepts - With Examples

Common Misconception: People often confuse workplace simulation with flipped classroom. They are different concepts that work together.

Flipped Classroom (Content Delivery Method)

What it is: How learners prepare and engage with content Structure: Pre-work at home + activation in class

Example - Network Security Day:

• At Home: Learners watch video on firewall configuration, read about network protocols
• In Class: Hands-on lab configuring firewall rules, troubleshooting network issues
• Result: 75% of class time spent doing, not listening

Workplace Simulation (Learning Environment)

What it is: How the classroom is organized and managed Structure: Job roles, team dynamics, professional scenarios

Example - Same Network Security Day:

• Role Assignment: Learners become “Tier 1 Security Analysts” for TechCorp
• Team Structure: 4-person teams with rotating team lead
• Professional Context: “Client ticket: Network showing suspicious activity”
• Workplace Behaviors: Team stand-ups, documentation, escalation procedures
• Result: Learners experience real job dynamics while learning technical skills

How They Work Together

Traditional Approach:

Instructor lectures about firewalls → Students take notes → Students do lab individually

Per Scholas Approach:

Students prepare at home (flipped) → Come to class as security analysts (simulation) → Work in teams to resolve client tickets (both flipped + simulation)

The Magic: Flipped classroom maximizes hands-on time, workplace simulation makes that time feel like real work experience.

Your Curriculum Materials

Facilitator Guide (FG) - Your Teaching Companion

• Content breakdown with timing
• Instructional tips and troubleshooting
• Assessment guidance and rubrics
• Daily lesson plans and activities

What You’ll Receive from Product Development

• Lesson slides with workplace scenarios
• Labs and assignments with realistic constraints
• Assessments aligned to learning objectives
• Supporting resources and handouts

How to Use: Follow the facilitator guide for each lesson to ensure consistent delivery and optimal learning outcomes.

Assessment Types

Formative (Ongoing)

• PA (Practice Assignment): Ungraded practice
• GLAB (Guided Lab): Step-by-step with instructor support
• Daily warm-ups & exit tickets: Quick engagement

Summative (Module/Course End)

• KBA (Knowledge-Based Assessment): Multiple choice tests
• SBA (Skills-Based Assessment): Hands-on demonstrations
• CAP (Capstone Project): Comprehensive final project

Flipped Classroom Implementation

Home Preparation (10 hours/week max)

Learners do independently:

• Reading course materials
• Watching instructional videos
• Preparing for next day’s activities

Classroom Time (Activation Focus)

You facilitate:

• Hands-on labs and projects
• Team collaboration
• Problem-solving and discussion
• Just-in-time coaching

Managing Accountability

Don’t reteach pre-work content. Use ICP (In-Class Participation) scores to enforce preparation:

“Your team is counting on you. If you don’t do your pre-work, it will affect your participation score and your readiness to work in a real job.”

Essential Acronyms Reference

View complete acronym reference below

Daily Structure Best Practices

Start of Class

1. Check pre-work completion (quick assessment)
2. Brief review (only if multiple learners struggled)
3. Set the day’s focus (connect to workplace simulation context)

During Class

• 75% hands-on time - labs, projects, collaboration
• Float and coach - guide teams, don’t lecture
• Use workplace simulation - job roles, team dynamics, professional scenarios

End of Class

• Synthesis - exit tickets or reflection
• Documentation - ensure teams update their progress
• Prepare for tomorrow - assign next day’s pre-work

Course Modality Considerations

Remote (R) Courses

• Virtual machines and cloud tools
• System requirements: 12GB RAM, Intel i5/Ryzen 5, 100GB storage, Windows 10/11

In-Person (P) Courses

• Physical equipment and hardware
• Collaborative spaces for team work

Hybrid (H) Courses

• Mix of remote flexibility and in-person collaboration
• Specific days for each modality based on learning objectives

Getting Support

• Curriculum Questions → Product Development team
• Technical Issues → Systems and Infrastructure team
• Student Support → Your site’s student services team
• Workplace Simulation → Tools & Support

Complete Acronym Reference

How This Connects to Workplace Simulation

These materials work directly with the Workplace Simulation methodology. Here’s the connection:

1. 📚 This guide: Understand your curriculum materials and flipped classroom approach
2. 🏢 Workplace Simulation: Learn how to implement the methodology
3. 🛠️ Tools & Support: Access additional resources and GPT assistance

The flow: Materials provide the content → Workplace simulation provides the professional context → Tools help you succeed.

Ready to implement? → Start with Workplace Simulation Guide