Post on 12-Jan-2015
description
The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach The New Survival Skills
Our Children Need – And What We Can Do About It-Tony Wagner
Closing the Gap: Schools that Work
Ben JohnsonIowa State UniversityAssistant Principal – Curriculum & Professional DevelopmentFort Dodge Senior High – Fort Dodge, Iowa
High Tech High
• 100% of graduates accepted to college• 80% accepted to 4-year colleges• 50%+ HTH grads are 1st Generation college
students• $6,200 –per-student operating budget• Partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation
“Bucking the System”
• No Tracking• No Advanced
Placement Courses• No Test-Prep• No Textbooks• Interdisciplinary Projects• Project-based Learning• Digital Portfolios• 10-week Internship
Common Characteristics
Tech IntegrationInterdisciplinary Studies
Engaging FUN
Community ImpactFormative Assessment
No High-stakes TestsDigital Portfolios
Presentation of LearningGroup Projects
Behaving like ProfessionalsRespect
Integrating Students across SESIntegrate Head and Hand
Learn in the World/Crumble the Walls
Integration of Post-Secondary Opportunities
Technology Integration in Methodology
Teaming of the Teachers
Systemic Professional Development
Equality
Design Principles
1.Personalization2.Real-world Connections3.Common Intellectual Mission• Foundation rooted in
Excellent Teaching
RIGOR: in the Age of Google
• Not Memorization and Regurgitation– Discerning among the avalanche of content
• Not jus about more Complex Content– Deepening the quality of analysis
• Expert Learner– Thoughtful, Passionate, Reflective Adult– Conversation– Pursuit of Inquiry
• Hands-on Leanring
Business and School Connections
• Regional Economic Development• Soft Skills
– Presentation Skills– Group Work Skills– Problem-solving Skills
Habits of Mind
• To think about significance – why is it important
• Perspective – what is the point of view• Evidence – how do you know• Connection – how does it apply• Supposition – what if it were different
Communication Skillls
• Inquiry – where do you get your information• Voice – Descriptive, persuasive• Audience – Who are you talking to, what are
you trying to convince them of• Empathize- with others and understand
another perspective
Purposeful Buzz
• Professional Atmosphere• Respectful Environment• Student Murals
Expert Learner
• “My job is to question, to prod, and provoke them to think and to come to their own conclusions – not to give them the answers.”– HTH Teacher
• Facilitator of others Learning• Individualized direction
“We judge teachers by the quality of their student’s work.”
Teacher Collaboration• Intentional and Systemic• Grow their own• Thoughtful Professional Growth and Development• Mentoring of Veteran and New Teachers• Interdisciplinary Projects – Teacher Prep• Monthly Full Day Professional Development
Project-based Learning: Soft Skills and Generalizing to Employability
• Figure things out• Thinking• Planning• Organizing• Working in a Team
Teach All students
• Laser-like focus on the results that matter• Personalizing Instruction• Advisory Organization• Student Ownership of the School
R & D: Spreading the Gospel
• Systemic Seeding of New Schools• Smaller Learning Communities• Variation among HTH School Themes• Smaller Learning Communities• Rethinking how to best
prepare new teachers for a different kind of instruction
The Met• Big Picture Company• Create Personalized Education Programs– “one student at a time”
Met’s Five Learning Goals1. Communication2. Empirical Reasoning3. Personal Qualities4. Quantitative Reasoning5. Social Reasoning
Portfolios: Performance “Standards of Excellence”
• Reading• Writing• Listening• Oral Presentation• Research• Artistic Expression• Scientific Investigation• Mathematical Problem Solving
and Communication• Systems Thinking • Technology• Wellness• Spanish
Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School
• Inquiry• Expression• Critical Thinking• Collaboration• Organization• Attentiveness• Involvement• Reflection
“Imagination is more important than knowledge – making things, innovating, creating, and building. It creates elasticity in thinking … and the ability to take responsible risks.”
–Einstein
Emerging Economies
1. Can someone overseas do it cheaper?
2. Can a computer do it faster?
3. Is what I’m offering in demand in an age of abundance?
EDUCATION should use this time to REGROUP and RESTRUCTURE
-Mark Roberti (RFID Journal)
What was Your Most Memorable Learning Experience?
• Project?• Community?• Fear of Failure/Recognition of Success?• Mentor?• Public Display of Work?
YES, WE CAN
• I created something• I learned something• I got to share what I learned with the community
YES, WE MUST