Give Schools Back to Teachers

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Stephen Murgatroyd, PhD Chief Scout, The Innovation Expedition Inc. Principal, Murgatroyd Communications & Consulting Inc.

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How should schools look at their work in transforming the minds of students? What is the model of accountability we need? What is the Alberta Teachers Association actually doing? What can you do?

Transcript of Give Schools Back to Teachers

Page 1: Give Schools Back to Teachers

Stephen Murgatroyd, PhDChief Scout, The Innovation Expedition Inc.Principal, Murgatroyd Communications & Consulting Inc.

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Innovation – we need more creativity and innovation in the way we run business, health care, schools, government….we need a more diversified economy, which requires innovation – we need innovation eveywhere!

Choices – tough choices ahead on environmental issues, ethics of the person…cutting government spending..

Environment – we need to think about what we can do to sustain the quality of living..

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People – where are the next generation of leaders, workers, imagineers going to come from ? How do we secure higher productivity from all our people? How are we going to engage immigrants to our communities?

Quality of Life – personal responsibility for health, life long education, community and the environment…

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• The future will require individuals to be able to move easily between different “minds”:

• The Disciplined Mind• The Synthesizing Mind• The Creating Mind• The Respectful Mind• The Ethical Mind

• We will also need individuals to balance their intellectual “intelligence” with their emotional “intelligence”.

• We will need more people who display empathy, warmth and genuineness in their care of others…

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• Using logic and critical thinking to understand

• Not accepting orthodoxy but seeking to understand

• Need to develop distinctive ways of thinking based on the underlying processes of a discipline – the disciplines of history, literary criticism, science, sociology…

• Developing the skills of moving from information to knowledge and understandingExample: Not falling for “organic is best” but asking questions about the nature of our food

and the challenges of eating well.

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• Understanding the world and its sub-sets in terms of “systems”

• Developing an understanding of linkages, connections and synergies – cutting across the boundaries of “disciplines” to develop a more comprehensive understanding

• Becoming a synergist and encouraging polygots, not just specialists

Example: Using a range of understandings and systems

thinking to rethink the delivery of health care.

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• In the face of a multi-cultural, immigrant driven community – respect for differences and respect for challenge

• Respecting self as well as others – having self respect may be key to well being

• Letting go of political correctness so as to permit realism rather than encourage pretense

Example: Embracing a tripling of immigration in Canada without causing

community racial tensions – overcoming prejudice.

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A characteristic of the 21st Century is that we will be constantly challenged by ethical issues – climate change, genomics, nanotechnology

all pose significant challenges• Need to understand “trade off’s” and ethical

choice• Need to develop the emotional intelligence

that enables us to live with and manage ethical choices

• Need to be able to see ethical dilemmas in the context of ethical systems

Example: Determining the limits of medical intervention in terms of prolonging life

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“All children are artists. The problem is how they remain an artist once they grow up” Picasso

Developing the skills for art, music, dance, creative writing, drama, film in the well-being of persons, groups and community

Using creativity as a basis for breakthrough thinkingCultivating imagination and designExample – Transforming down-town Edmonton’s

arts district into a stunning centre for creative communities through design and a focus on

creative arts

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Caring is a characteristic of 21st century communities – growing elder population, increasing health challenges for our young…caring professions amongst the fastest growing…

Caring professions are the fastest growing professions, especially elder-care and home care…

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We have a new generation of students…

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Are global in their approach to knowledge and understanding

Are technological savvy – they use technology in ways we don’t fully understand

They think differently They are more collaborative and

engaged with peers – which is why MySpace and Facebook are important…

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Students can….

Work at twitch speed

Multi task in a range of media

Pursue non linear approaches to problems

Process discontinuous information

Leverage iconic skills

Be connected to ideas as threads

Be collaborative globally

Be very active and focused

Learn by playing

Secure quick pay-off’s

Engage and use fantasy

Work with technology as a “friend” or companion

As Opposed to Former Generations

Work at a conventional speed

Prefer mono tasking or dual tasking

Seek linear approaches to problem solving

Process single information flows

Leverage reading skills

Work as one with their own ideas

Are competitive locally

Are generally passive

See learning and playing as distinct

Show patience

See “reality” as “where it’s at”

See technology either as a foe or a convenience

(C) Murgatroyd Inc. 13

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TEACHER CENTRIC WITH TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT

Traditional Schools

50 minute lessons

Subjects (knowledge domains) the basis of the curriculum

Classrooms for 25-35 students

Age the basis for groups managed by year groups

LEARNER CENTRIC WITH TECHNOLOGY AS COMPANION

Future Schools

Half days basis for time-table

Authentic tasks based on challenges, collaboration and global resources basis for curriculum

Individualized learning – areas for 90 – 120 learners

Learning passports for each student provides a basis for continuous learning

(C) Murgatroyd Inc. 14

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Groupthink – one size fits all for all of Alberta Provincial curriculum as the “rule book” as

opposed to being a resource and general guide Unit cost accountability linked to a very narrow

range of “performance” measures Measuring to the average

De-professionalization of Teaching Compliance based hiring Minimizing risk and maximizing uniformity Advancement and promotion decisions

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Accountability Regime Narrow band of skills Focused on between school differences rather

than within school differences Teaching to the test

Role Confusion Thinking that the funding source “knows best” –

no they don’t Empowerment of those closest to the student to

make decisions about what, how, when, and how to assess

Confused roles between Ministry, School Board, Principals, Teachers, Parents…..

Too many priorities….

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Resourcing Levels by the Common Denominator Different schools have different needs at

different stages of the development of their communities

School based bugdeting, curriculum and assessment linked to quality planning and performance regimes from the school up are what is needed…

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ATA has a major professional development / change initiative focused on rethinking accountability at the level of the school

It is also seeking to influence / change the Alberta Education Accountability Pillar (or is it pillow?)

It has a major policy document – Real Learning First

It has two pilot projects in GPPS / Livingstone Range

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School Self

Assessment

Systematic Review

By Stakeholders

Peer Review / Exchange

Personal Improvement

Plans / Professional Development

Evidence Based

Assessment

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Think about the future and its implications for “now”

Look at the skills, values, attitudes and behaviours which your students need to demonstrate to make a quality future possible

Ask – how will this impact teaching, learning and collaborative work in our school

Set measurable goals as a school for this work See creativity, emotional intelligence, ethics,

collaborative skills, Imagineering as being as important as math, reading and writing for your students..

Always ask questions you don’t know the answer to and let students surprise you…

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Read Real Learning First from the ATA to be inspired

Galileo Educational Network (www.galileo.org) is full of example of students using authentic tasks as a basis for complex learning…

Look at Finland – find out what happens there…

Look at school development planning in the UK….