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21st Century Learning

An amazing thing, the human brain. An amazing thing, the human brain. Capable of understanding Capable of understanding incredibly complex and intricate incredibly complex and intricate concepts. Yet at times unable to concepts. Yet at times unable to recognize the obvious and simple.recognize the obvious and simple.

Jay Abraham, author of the book, Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Gothttp://www.woopidoo.com/business_quotes/knowledge-quotes.htm

The New Commission on The Skills The New Commission on The Skills of the American Workforceof the American Workforce

"The core problem is that our "The core problem is that our education and training systems were education and training systems were built for another era … in which most built for another era … in which most workers needed only a rudimentary workers needed only a rudimentary education. It is not possible to get education. It is not possible to get where we have to go by patching where we have to go by patching that system … We must get where that system … We must get where we must go only by changing the we must go only by changing the system itself."system itself."

An investigation into student An investigation into student attendance in 8 Louisiana high schools attendance in 8 Louisiana high schools showed that a greater percentage showed that a greater percentage (82.4%) of high-achieving students (82.4%) of high-achieving students disliked school than did average and disliked school than did average and low achievers together (73.2%). Kids low achievers together (73.2%). Kids cited boring teachers, uninteresting cited boring teachers, uninteresting courses, and busywork as reasons.courses, and busywork as reasons.

EJ514741 - Why Do So Many High Achieving High School Students Dislike EJ514741 - Why Do So Many High Achieving High School Students Dislike School?School?

If teenagers do not see the point of If teenagers do not see the point of being in school, if they don’t being in school, if they don’t understand how their schoolwork understand how their schoolwork connects to what they care about or connects to what they care about or what they will be doing in the what they will be doing in the outside world, they’re not likely to outside world, they’re not likely to stick around until they graduate.stick around until they graduate.

John Kao, Innovation Nation: How America Is Losing Its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do to Get It Back. 2007. Free Press,New York.

‘Restoring Value’ to the High School Diploma: The Rhetoric and Practice of Higher Standards

W. Norton Grubb, University of California, Berkeley Jeannie Oakes, UCLA

If our society continues to focus only on standards defined in conventional academic ways, it seems destined to continue the cycle of “reforming again and again and again,” with incomplete reforms in one period leading to further critiques and still other reforms…

http://epsl.asu.edu/epru/documents/EPSL-0710-242-EPRU.pdf

Question 1: Question 1: What do we really believe?What do we really believe?

Risk of change versus status quoRisk of change versus status quo

•Schools and school districts change and Schools and school districts change and innovate all the time. They just don’t do so innovate all the time. They just don’t do so radically enoughradically enough.. (Washor and Mojkowski, Phi Delta (Washor and Mojkowski, Phi Delta Kappan, June 2006)Kappan, June 2006)

•Transforming the high school is “like herding Transforming the high school is “like herding elephants with a toothbrush”.elephants with a toothbrush”. (Newsweek, p.50, June (Newsweek, p.50, June 12, 2006)12, 2006)

Possibly the reason that schools do not Possibly the reason that schools do not take risk is due to infrastructure that take risk is due to infrastructure that blocks change.blocks change. When infrastructure blocks change, a When infrastructure blocks change, a

lesser skilled and educated group may lesser skilled and educated group may leap frog a highly developed group.leap frog a highly developed group.

Nehru built schools of technology first. Nehru built schools of technology first.

Y2K changed our belief systemY2K changed our belief system

Engineers from India brought us into Engineers from India brought us into the new millennium. the new millennium.

American knowledge, ingenuity, and American knowledge, ingenuity, and hard work had not solved the hard work had not solved the problem. problem.

An island of educational excellenceAn island of educational excellence: : IrelandIreland

High economic resurgence has been High economic resurgence has been tied to education.tied to education.

Started with few engineers and no Started with few engineers and no education infrastructure to support education infrastructure to support industry.industry.

Developed nine regional technical Developed nine regional technical colleges devoted to scientific and colleges devoted to scientific and technical training.technical training.

John Kao, Innovation Nation: How America Is Losing Its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do to Get It Back. 2007. Free Press,New York.

Question 2:Question 2:Do we identify 21Do we identify 21stst Century rigor? Century rigor?

A dangerous American mythA dangerous American myth

We think that education can We think that education can be reformed merely by piling be reformed merely by piling on extra homework.on extra homework.

John Kao, Innovation Nation: How America Is Losing Its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do to Get It Back. 2007. Free Press,New York.

Students needStudents needliteracy experiences.literacy experiences.

The Reality of A Free WorldThe Reality of A Free World

Competing Literate PeopleCompeting Literate PeopleCompeting Literate People

14%

56%

30%

56% of literates are in China56% of literates are in China30% of literates are in India30% of literates are in India14% of literates are in 14% of literates are in

USAUSA

The literacy must coincide The literacy must coincide with 21with 21stst Century engaged activity. Century engaged activity.

““Instant message me.”Instant message me.”

Today’s students expect to live Today’s students expect to live the experience not be told the experience not be told about it or read about it about it or read about it without the virtual tour or a without the virtual tour or a discussion with the author.discussion with the author.

Meg Cabot, author of Meg Cabot, author of The Princess DiariesThe Princess Diaries series. series.

"The minute the text-messaging icon "The minute the text-messaging icon went up on my Web site, teens were went up on my Web site, teens were talking about it on my message talking about it on my message boards. Anything that gets kids boards. Anything that gets kids excited about books is great. This is excited about books is great. This is just reading in a totally different just reading in a totally different way."way."

USAToday August 24, 2005http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/services/2005-08-24-text-message-book_x.htm

Students needStudents needlogical thinking logical thinking

experiences within a experiences within a systems procedure.systems procedure.

Learn the procedure for reading.Learn the procedure for reading.

Technical reading cannot be simply Technical reading cannot be simply assigned reading. assigned reading.

Students must know techniques for pre-Students must know techniques for pre-reading, during reading, and post reading.reading, during reading, and post reading.

The academic skill will be displayed in the The academic skill will be displayed in the process of finding the information.process of finding the information.

The Untouchables

Friedman says these jobs will not Friedman says these jobs will not face outsourcingface outsourcing

• The locals: butcher, baker, auto The locals: butcher, baker, auto technician, construction worker, technician, construction worker, the clergyman, the teacher, the the clergyman, the teacher, the plumber, the electrician, the plumber, the electrician, the accountant, the office receptionist.accountant, the office receptionist.

Reframe our thinkingReframe our thinking

All of those “untouchable” jobs All of those “untouchable” jobs require logical progression of thought require logical progression of thought and a procedural system of thinking.and a procedural system of thinking.

Not all of those jobs require a four Not all of those jobs require a four year degree.year degree.

We must attach the logic and the We must attach the logic and the systems thinking to the need and systems thinking to the need and desire.desire.

Researchers conclude “structural Researchers conclude “structural changes to improve personalization changes to improve personalization and instructional improvement are and instructional improvement are the twin pillars of high school the twin pillars of high school reform.” (reform.” (Phi Delta Kappan, February 2007)Phi Delta Kappan, February 2007)

Students needStudents need

challenges.challenges.

Doing math for math and science Doing math for math and science for science will not enhance for science will not enhance academic performance.academic performance.

Doing math and science for a Doing math and science for a reason will enhance academic reason will enhance academic performance because of the performance because of the personalization.personalization.

The Harris Personalization ModelThe Harris Personalization Model

Kathleen Harris says teachers must Kathleen Harris says teachers must personalize instruction and focus on personalize instruction and focus on what the student loves. Ask the what the student loves. Ask the students.students.

Do I care about people?Do I care about people? Do I care about things and function?Do I care about things and function? Do I like discovery and process?Do I like discovery and process? Am I purely creative and expressive?Am I purely creative and expressive?

Question 3:Question 3:Are we willing to shift our thinking Are we willing to shift our thinking

about technical education?about technical education?

The personalization that comes The personalization that comes through technical education can through technical education can

impact academics.impact academics.

Low achieving students do not Low achieving students do not appear to suffer from taking appear to suffer from taking tough, college-prep courses. tough, college-prep courses. The evidence indicates that a The evidence indicates that a combination of rigor, relevance, combination of rigor, relevance, and good instruction can lead to and good instruction can lead to higher student achievement.higher student achievement.

Toch, Jerarld, and Dillon (February 2007), Toch, Jerarld, and Dillon (February 2007), Surprise High SchoolSurprise High SchoolReform Is Working,Reform Is Working, Phi Delta Kappan. Phi Delta Kappan.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that enrollment in career and found that enrollment in career and technical education is positively technical education is positively associated with higher graduation associated with higher graduation rates, but only when tech courses rates, but only when tech courses are taken along with challenging are taken along with challenging academic courses.academic courses.

Toch, Jerarld, and Dillon (February 2007), Toch, Jerarld, and Dillon (February 2007), Surprise High SchoolSurprise High SchoolReform Is Working,Reform Is Working, Phi Delta Kappan. Phi Delta Kappan.

A message to parents from Trish Millines Dziko, A message to parents from Trish Millines Dziko, speaker at the Emerging Leaders in the African speaker at the Emerging Leaders in the African American Community Conference as seen on CSPAN American Community Conference as seen on CSPAN February 25, 2006February 25, 2006

““If students are If students are

notnot using technology, using technology,

notnot doing project based learning, doing project based learning,

and getting A’s,and getting A’s,

the students are in trouble.the students are in trouble.””

Daniel Perna, Ed.D.Daniel Perna, Ed.D.Box 486Box 486

Shamokin Dam, PA 17876Shamokin Dam, PA 17876570 850 7733570 850 7733

www.jamesdanielassociates.comwww.jamesdanielassociates.com

Technology with educationTechnology with education

Nina Zolt: In2BooksNina Zolt: In2Books Tim Discipio: ePals Classroom ExchangeTim Discipio: ePals Classroom Exchange Teacher in Michigan assigned students to Teacher in Michigan assigned students to

select a consumer product, describes the select a consumer product, describes the product’s impact on society, then, come product’s impact on society, then, come back with a different way to design the back with a different way to design the product or manufacture the product.product or manufacture the product.

Scott McNealy, Cuuriki.org: answers any Scott McNealy, Cuuriki.org: answers any question that a student may have.question that a student may have.

Fall of the Berlin Wall Fall of the Berlin Wall Changed the CompetitionChanged the Competition

A critical mass of educated people became part of the A critical mass of educated people became part of the job-seeking market place.job-seeking market place.

1985: the global free market place had 1985: the global free market place had 2.5 billion 2.5 billion people living in and competing in the world.people living in and competing in the world.

2000: the global free market place had nearly 2000: the global free market place had nearly 6 6 billion people living in and competing in the world.billion people living in and competing in the world.

What is a What is a college preparatory program?college preparatory program?

““If students can read, write, If students can read, write, calculate and think, I can teach calculate and think, I can teach them.”them.”

(James Brock, Ph. D., Susquehanna University, chair (James Brock, Ph. D., Susquehanna University, chair of the Sigmund Weis School of Business.)of the Sigmund Weis School of Business.)

Students needStudents needstructure structure

and and systems procedure.systems procedure.

Students needStudents needa model of work ethic,a model of work ethic,

andand

Students need to be Students need to be expected to demonstrate expected to demonstrate

a work ethic.a work ethic.

Students needStudents needa model of a model of

collaboration,collaboration,andand

Students need to Students need to collaborate.collaborate.

Students need to learn to Students need to learn to ask questions more than ask questions more than

they need to answer they need to answer questions.questions.

One promising avenue for One promising avenue for innovation lies in our mastery of innovation lies in our mastery of

Internet-based technologies.Internet-based technologies.

John Kao, Innovation Nation: How America Is Losing Its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do to Get It Back. 2007. Free Press,New York.

What is your school’s What is your school’s purpose?purpose?

When picking a school, pick one where When picking a school, pick one where teachers teach you how to learn. teachers teach you how to learn. Friedman in Friedman in speeches given in 2006 and 2007. speeches given in 2006 and 2007.