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Opening DayOpening Day

September 2, 2008September 2, 2008

The story we are told.

Inside photos showed Alexei doing complicated experiments in physics and chemistry and reading aloud from Sister Carrie.

Stephen, by contrast, retreated from a geometry problem on the blackboard and the caption advised, "Stephen amused class with wisecracks about his ineptitude." Seated at a typewriter in typing class, Stephen tells us "I type about one word a minute."

Zhao, 2008

Our Nation is at risk. Our once unchallenged preeminence in commerce, industry, science, and technological innovation is being overtaken by competitors throughout the world.

The educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people.We are raising a new generation of Americans that is scientifically and technologically illiterate.

Zhao, 2008

Nations with Average Scores Significantly Higher than the US

Nation AverageSingapore 643Korea 607Japan 605Hong Kong 588Belgium (Fl) 565Czech Republic 564Slovak Republic 547Switzerland 545(Netherlands) 541(Slovenia) 541(Bulgaria) 540(Austria) 539France 538Hungary 537Russian Fed. 535(Australia) 530Ireland 527Canada 527(Belgium (Fr)) 526Sweden 519

Nations with Average Scores Significantly Lower than the US

Nation AverageLithuania 477Cyprus 474Portugal 454Iran, Islamic Republic 428(Kuwait) 392(Columbia) 385South Africa 354

Nations with Average Scores Not Significantly Different than the US

Nation AverageThailand 522Israel 522(Germany) 509New Zealand 508England 506Norway 503(Denmark) 502United States 500(Scotland) 498Latvia (LSS) 493Spain 487Iceland 487(Greece) 484(Romania) 482

1995 TIMSS Grade 8 Mathematics Performance1995 TIMSS Grade 8 Mathematics Performance

Zhao, 2008

By comparing how these students prioritize their time (approximately four years or “two million minutes” of high school), the film demonstrates that the typical student in the U.S. spends much less time on his/her education and gives less thought to future career opportunities than his/her global peers in India and China.

--2 million minutes

Two Million Minutes, vividly reveals that American students are no longer “at risk” of falling behind -- they are now clearly behind even Third World students in India and China, in addition to being in 24th place among developed countries.

Source: http://www.2mminutes.com/pressblog6.html

Zhao, 2008

Despite the billions of dollars being spent on ‘education reform’ since 1983, the U.S. has implemented none of the meaningful recommendations of the 1983 report and as a result has seen no real improvements to our math or science education system.

----Robert Compton,2008, creator and executive producer of the documentary Two Million Minutes. Source: http://www.2mminutes.com/pressblog6.html

Two decades later, A Nation at Risk remains significant in terms of setting the debate and ushering in an era of reform in education, but its goals have not yet been realized. The changes wrought by twenty years of task forces, committees, and study groups have not produced the hoped-for improvement in student achievement. Few of the commission's recommendations were properly implemented, and many of those that were proved too timid to bring about effective educational reform.

--Diane Ravitch 2003Source: http://www.hoover.org/pubaffairs/dailyreport/archive/2848976.html

Zhao, 2008

U.S. treading water in reading U.S. treading water in reading Bloomberg News ServiceBloomberg News Service

Russia, Hong Kong and Singapore shot to the Russia, Hong Kong and Singapore shot to the top of 45 countries and provinces top of 45 countries and provinces participating in a fourth-grade reading participating in a fourth-grade reading test, while England fell below the United test, while England fell below the United States, according to results released States, according to results released yesterday. (Honolulu Advertiser, November yesterday. (Honolulu Advertiser, November 29, 2007)29, 2007)U.S. Students Fall Short in Math and U.S. Students Fall Short in Math and ScienceScience

Teenagers in a majority of industrialized nations Teenagers in a majority of industrialized nations taking part in a leading international exam showed taking part in a leading international exam showed greater scientific understanding than students in greater scientific understanding than students in the United States—and they far surpassed their the United States—and they far surpassed their American peers in mathematicsAmerican peers in mathematics. . (Education Week, December (Education Week, December 4, 2007)4, 2007)

Zhao, 2008

But the story can’t be But the story can’t be left there.left there.

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UnitedStates

Japan Korea China India Russia

2007-2008 Global Competitiveness Index

United States

Japan

Korea

China

India

Russia

http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Global_Competitiveness_Reports/Reports/gcr_2007/gcr2007_rankings.pdf

Zhao, 2008

World Population Distribution

World Wealth DistributionWorld Tertiary Education EnrollmentRoyalties and License Fees ExportsToy Exports

Source:

http://www.worldmapper.org/

Zhao, 2008

What do other countries think?

[China 2002]

In December 2002, the Chinese Ministry of Education issued a policy designed to reform assessment and evaluation in elementary and secondary schools. This document, entitled Ministry of Education’s Notice Regarding Furthering the Reform of Evaluation and Assessment Systems in Elementary and Secondary Schools, calls for alternative assessments that go beyond simply testing academic knowledge. It specifically forbids ranking school districts, schools, or individual students based on test results or making test results public. [China 2005]High school curriculum reform

Among the problems targeted by the reforms: •Overemphasis on knowledge transmission•Too many required and uniform courses, which limited students’ individual development •Too much overlapping content, resulting in excessive coursework burden on students•Overemphasis on the value of individual discipline, resulting in too little interdisciplinary and social integration Remedies:•Credit system•More electives, fewer required courses•Local subjects/school based curriculum•Integrated studies•New subjects (art, environment, technology, etc) Zhao, 2008

JapanJapan

• Since 2001, Japan has been working to implement its Since 2001, Japan has been working to implement its Education Plan for the 21st CenturyEducation Plan for the 21st Century, which has three major , which has three major objectives: objectives:

– The first is “enhancing emotional education,” that is, cultivating The first is “enhancing emotional education,” that is, cultivating students as emotionally well-rounded human beings. students as emotionally well-rounded human beings.

– The second objective is “realizing a school system that helps The second objective is “realizing a school system that helps children develop their individuality and gives them diverse children develop their individuality and gives them diverse choices” by moving towards a diverse, flexible educational choices” by moving towards a diverse, flexible educational system that encourages individuality and cultivates creativity. system that encourages individuality and cultivates creativity.

– The third is “promoting a system in which the school’s autonomy The third is “promoting a system in which the school’s autonomy is respected” through decentralizing educational administration, is respected” through decentralizing educational administration, enhancing local autonomy, and enabling independent self-enhancing local autonomy, and enabling independent self-management at the school level. (Iwao, 2000)management at the school level. (Iwao, 2000)

Zhao, 2008

[Korea 2000]

Revised 7th National Curriculum

The ultimate goal is to cultivate creative, autonomous, and self-driven human resources who will lead the era's developments in information, knowledge and globalization.

•Promote fundamental and basic education that fosters sound human beings and nurtures creativity

•Help students build self-leading capacity so that they well meet the challenges of today's globalization and information development

• Implement learner-oriented education that suits the students' capability, aptitude and career development needs

• Ensure expanded autonomy for the local community and schools in curriculum planning and operation. Zhao, 2008

SingaporeSingapore

Since 1997, Singapore another frequent high flyer in international Since 1997, Singapore another frequent high flyer in international comparative studies, has engaged in a major curriculum reform comparative studies, has engaged in a major curriculum reform initiative. Entitled initiative. Entitled Thinking SchoolsThinking Schools, , Learning NationLearning Nation, this initiative , this initiative aims to develop all students into active learners with critical thinking aims to develop all students into active learners with critical thinking skills and to develop a creative and critical thinking culture within skills and to develop a creative and critical thinking culture within schools. Its key strategies include:schools. Its key strategies include:

• The explicit teaching of critical and creative thinking skills; The explicit teaching of critical and creative thinking skills;

• The reduction of subject content;The reduction of subject content;

• The revision of assessment modes; and; The revision of assessment modes; and;

• A greater emphasis on processes instead of on outcomes when A greater emphasis on processes instead of on outcomes when appraising schools.appraising schools.

• In 2005, the Ministry of Education in Singapore released another In 2005, the Ministry of Education in Singapore released another major policy document major policy document Nurturing Every Child: Flexibility and Nurturing Every Child: Flexibility and Diversity in Singapore SchoolsDiversity in Singapore Schools, which called for a more varied , which called for a more varied curriculum, a focus on learning rather than teaching, and more curriculum, a focus on learning rather than teaching, and more autonomy for schools and teachers (Ministry of Education, 2005).autonomy for schools and teachers (Ministry of Education, 2005).

Zhao, 2008

Why?Why?

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.

Albert Einstein

Technology redefinesTechnology redefines

HD TV

Zhao, 2008

Swanni's Annual 'Best & Worst' HDTV Swanni's Annual 'Best & Worst' HDTV ListList

1. Teri Hatcher1. Teri Hatcher2. Demi Moore2. Demi Moore3. Donald Trump3. Donald Trump4. Heather Locklear4. Heather Locklear5. David Letterman5. David Letterman6. George W. Bush6. George W. Bush7. Ray Liotta7. Ray Liotta8. Sandra Bullock8. Sandra Bullock9. Bill Clinton9. Bill Clinton10. Clint Eastwood10. Clint Eastwood

1. Jessica Alba1. Jessica Alba2. Eva Longoria2. Eva Longoria3. Anna Kournikova3. Anna Kournikova4. Ben Affleck4. Ben Affleck5. Ashton Kutcher5. Ashton Kutcher6. Marcia Cross6. Marcia Cross7. Halle Berry7. Halle Berry8. Jessica Simpson8. Jessica Simpson9. Nicole Kidman9. Nicole Kidman10. Angelina Jolie10. Angelina Jolie

http://www.tvpredictions.com/fall2005hd092605.htmlhttp://www.tvpredictions.com/fall2005hd092605.html

Zhao, 2008

"Say bud, can you tell me where the illiterate club is?"

Zhao, 2008

Industrial Revolution

Zhao, 2008

Science!

Latin

Greek

Grammar

Theology

LatinGreek

Grammar

ReligionChemistry

Physics

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

Technology

Biology

What’s taught in schools

What knowledge is of most What knowledge is of most worth?worth?

--Herbert Spencer, 1859--Herbert Spencer, 1859

Zhao, 2008

Our Challenge Our Challenge

(W)hy would the world’s (W)hy would the world’s employers pay us more than they employers pay us more than they have to pay the Indians to do have to pay the Indians to do their work? They would be their work? They would be willing to do that only if we willing to do that only if we could offer something that the could offer something that the Chinese and Indians, and others, Chinese and Indians, and others, cannot.cannot.

--New Commission on the Skills of the --New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce (2007). American Workforce (2007). Tough Choices or Tough Choices or Tough TimesTough Times

Because of the Death of Because of the Death of DistanceDistance

As electrically contracted, the globe is no more than a village.

Marshall McLuhan, 1964

“Honey,” I confided, “I think the world is flat.”

Thomas Friedman, 2005

It’s a Big Job to Make It’s a Big Job to Make the Mini: Global Supply the Mini: Global Supply ChainChain

Therefore we need to move into niche areas where they will not be able to completely replace us for quite some time.

---Lee Kuan Yew, 2007

Daniel H. Pink (2005).A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age

A Whole New MindA Whole New MindInformation Age: Information Age: L-Directed ThinkingL-Directed Thinking

– SequentialSequential– LiteralLiteral– FunctionalFunctional– TextualTextual– AnalyticAnalytic Conceptual Age:Conceptual Age:

R-Directed R-Directed ThinkingThinking– SimultaneousSimultaneous– MetaphoricalMetaphorical– AestheticAesthetic– ContextualContextual– Synthetic Synthetic

AsiaAutomationAbundance

Zhao, 2008

Essential Aptitudes in the Essential Aptitudes in the Conceptual AgeConceptual Age

•DesignDesign

•StoryStory

•SymphonySymphony

•EmpathyEmpathy

•PlayPlay

•MeaningMeaning

Five Minds for the Five Minds for the FutureFuture• Disciplinary MindDisciplinary Mind

– MasteryMastery• Schools of ThoughtSchools of Thought• Professional CraftProfessional Craft

• Synthesizing MindSynthesizing Mind– Integrate IdeasIntegrate Ideas– CommunicateCommunicate

• Creating MindCreating Mind– Uncover new ideasUncover new ideas– Clarify new ideas Clarify new ideas

• Respectful MindRespectful Mind– Awareness and Awareness and appreciation of appreciation of differencesdifferences

• Ethical MindEthical Mind– Fulfillment of Fulfillment of responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Gardner, 2006

Global CitizenshipGlobal Citizenship

The completely untraveled person will view all foreigners as the savage regards a member of another herd. But the man who has traveled, or who has studied international politics, will have discovered that, if his herd is to prosper, it must, to some degree, become amalgamated with other herds.

--Bertrand Russell, 1950

American companies lose an estimated $2 billion a year due to inadequate cross-cultural guidance for their employees in multicultural situations. A 2002 survey of large U.S. corporations found that nearly 30 percent of the companies believed they had failed to exploit fully their international business opportunities due to insufficient personnel with international skills. Microsoft’s Windows95 was banned by India because its Time Zone map put the region of Kashmir outside the boundaries of India. (Committee for Economic Development, 2006)

Are we preparing citizens Are we preparing citizens for the globalized world?for the globalized world?

•Unique talentsUnique talents

•Creativity, Imagination, and Creativity, Imagination, and PassionPassion

•Cross-cultural competenciesCross-cultural competencies– Understanding the globeUnderstanding the globe– Foreign languagesForeign languages– Understanding other culturesUnderstanding other cultures

•Global responsibilitiesGlobal responsibilitiesZhao, 2008

What does it take?What does it take?

Personalize education: Is Personalize education: Is there a core curriculum?there a core curriculum?

Creativity and discipline: Creativity and discipline: Skills, knowledge, and Skills, knowledge, and attitudeattitude

Globalization: Schools as Globalization: Schools as global enterprisesglobal enterprises

Zhao, 2008

Digital CitizenshipDigital Citizenship

• Living in the digital worldLiving in the digital world– ConsumersConsumers– CitizensCitizens– Community leadersCommunity leaders

• Making a living in the digital worldMaking a living in the digital world– Digital workersDigital workers– Global workersGlobal workers

• (Re)Creating the digital world(Re)Creating the digital world– InnovatorsInnovators– EntrepreneursEntrepreneurs

Zhao, 2008

What can we do?What can we do?

Assume Moral Responsibility of Assume Moral Responsibility of Public EducatorsPublic Educators

Public education does not serve a public. It creates a public.

Neil Postman

The philosophy of the classroom today will be the philosophy of government tomorrow.

Abraham Lincoln

Zhao, 2008

Be informed of changes.Be informed of changes.

Model attitudes and behaviors.Model attitudes and behaviors.

Lead changes in curriculum, Lead changes in curriculum, policy, and events in your policy, and events in your schools.schools.

Advocate changes in the state Advocate changes in the state and the nation.and the nation.

Zhao, 2008

Imagine a District Imagine a District where…where…

People work together to improve instruction in all classrooms.

People strive to personalize instruction for all students.

People model professionalism creating a healthy and supportive environment for students to learn.

People treat each other with respect and learn from their differences.

People believe that communication is the most important subject we teach.

People take risks and encourage students to take risks.

People employ technology as a tool to instruct.

Students turn on to education when they come through our doors.

Can you imagine?

Is it or could it be the Watertown Public Schools?

We can only do this together!