Somers Central School DistrictDesigning Schools for the 21st Century

Presented to the Board of Education, January 12, 2010

Tonight’s purpose:Tonight’s purpose:

• Consider the broader context of education in the United States.

• Define ‘21st Century Learning’ as it relates to our schools

• Share highlights from our schools/consider next steps

• Consider the broader context of education in the United States.

• Define ‘21st Century Learning’ as it relates to our schools

• Share highlights from our schools/consider next steps

We are living in permanent white water

The world is changing

Our students are changing

Technology is changing

Globalization has profoundly impacted our economy and has

redefined workforce demands of a knowledge economy.

Globalization has profoundly impacted our economy and has

redefined workforce demands of a knowledge economy.

The nature of students is changing…

The nature of students is changing…

Today’s students are

the most watched-over generation in

history.

Today’s students think and learn differently…Today’s students think and learn differently…• Graphics oriented• Accustomed to rapid change and thrive on it.

• Demand quick, if not instant, gratification.

• Can access information instantly, though not adept at evaluating it.

• Have “hypertext minds” that prefer to leap around rather than follow a linear thought process.

*from Millenials Rising

• Graphics oriented• Accustomed to rapid change and thrive on it.

• Demand quick, if not instant, gratification.

• Can access information instantly, though not adept at evaluating it.

• Have “hypertext minds” that prefer to leap around rather than follow a linear thought process.

*from Millenials Rising

Today’s students are ‘digital natives’…Today’s students are ‘digital natives’…

• Technology is at the very core of their existence.

• Staying connected is essential. Carry an arsenal of electronic devices, the smaller the better.

• The Web is the hub for all their activities, creating and sharing of content.

• Prolific communicators who gravitate toward activities that promote and reinforce social interaction.

• Technology is at the very core of their existence.

• Staying connected is essential. Carry an arsenal of electronic devices, the smaller the better.

• The Web is the hub for all their activities, creating and sharing of content.

• Prolific communicators who gravitate toward activities that promote and reinforce social interaction.

• Environmental literacy

As we find ourselves in the midst of all of this, where exactly are we in the evolution of our district? Where are we headed?

This suggests a changing role for teachers…This suggests a changing role for teachers…• assume varied roles as appropriate by modeling,

facilitating, lecturing, demonstrating, coaching, observing, participating, encouraging, nurturing, guiding, listening, mentoring

• work with individuals, small groups or large groups

• differentiate instruction and assessment

• set clear academic and behavioral expectations

• integrate technology

• assume varied roles as appropriate by modeling, facilitating, lecturing, demonstrating, coaching, observing, participating, encouraging, nurturing, guiding, listening, mentoring

• work with individuals, small groups or large groups

• differentiate instruction and assessment

• set clear academic and behavioral expectations

• integrate technology

and a changing role of students…and a changing role of students…• Not only answer, but ask the right questions

and solving new problems• Work in teams• Learn how to find, communicate and apply

information• Demonstrate initiative and leadership• Manage their time and prioritize more

effectively• Interact in a multimedia, graphics-based

environment

• Not only answer, but ask the right questions and solving new problems

• Work in teams• Learn how to find, communicate and apply

information• Demonstrate initiative and leadership• Manage their time and prioritize more

effectively• Interact in a multimedia, graphics-based

environment

“Education is the currency of the Information Age.”

Barack Obama

“Education is the currency of the Information Age.”

Barack Obama

National Education Agenda…National Education Agenda…• Transform curriculum and assessment with a

‘focus on thinking and performance skills in a 21st century society.’

• Incentives to redesign schools that are still based on an outmoded factory model

• Create more personalized and engaging middle and high schools

• Use technology to reinvent education.• Create ‘more productive models of education –

charter schools’• Increase teacher capacity/revamp teacher

training

• Transform curriculum and assessment with a ‘focus on thinking and performance skills in a 21st century society.’

• Incentives to redesign schools that are still based on an outmoded factory model

• Create more personalized and engaging middle and high schools

• Use technology to reinvent education.• Create ‘more productive models of education –

charter schools’• Increase teacher capacity/revamp teacher

training

How is Somers responding to the call for 21st Century outcomes?

Teach Students to Use Their Minds Well/Aim for Mastery

Focus on Results

Depth of Understanding vs. Quantity of Coverage

Student as Active Learner

All Children Can Learn

For the past 15 years, these goals have been evidenced in Somers’ Guiding Instructional Principles…

…and our ‘Desired Student Outcomes’. All students will become:

…and our ‘Desired Student Outcomes’. All students will become:

•proficient readers, writers and communicators

•complex thinkers problem solvers and decision makers

•collaborative workers

•quality producers

•self-directed learners

•effective users of technology

•healthy and physically fit individuals

•appreciative performers, audiences, and creators of the arts

•understanding and accepting members of a diverse society and world as knowledgeable, responsible and involved citizens

•proficient readers, writers and communicators

•complex thinkers problem solvers and decision makers

•collaborative workers

•quality producers

•self-directed learners

•effective users of technology

•healthy and physically fit individuals

•appreciative performers, audiences, and creators of the arts

•understanding and accepting members of a diverse society and world as knowledgeable, responsible and involved citizens

In Somers, our work is defined by a cycle of continuous improvement

In Somers, our work is defined by a cycle of continuous improvement

Our long-time focus has been on: Our long-time focus has been on:

•Project-based , student-centered learning

•Performance based assessments

•Focus on critical thinking skills, questioning, self-reflection

•Cooperative learning/team building

•Differentiated instruction

•Use of technology as a key tool/resource for teaching and learning

•Focus on learning ‘beyond classroom walls’

•Emphasis on global awareness and sustainability

•Project-based , student-centered learning

•Performance based assessments

•Focus on critical thinking skills, questioning, self-reflection

•Cooperative learning/team building

•Differentiated instruction

•Use of technology as a key tool/resource for teaching and learning

•Focus on learning ‘beyond classroom walls’

•Emphasis on global awareness and sustainability

Current initiatives: a few highlights…Current initiatives: a few highlights…

Focus on Math, Science and TechnologyTri-State Consortium review of K-12 ScienceExamination of teaching and learning in our Math

classrooms – real-world application of math skills as related to problem solving and integration with other curriculum areas

Expanded opportunities in Tech Ed, Media, Computer-based applied arts

Focus on Math, Science and TechnologyTri-State Consortium review of K-12 ScienceExamination of teaching and learning in our Math

classrooms – real-world application of math skills as related to problem solving and integration with other curriculum areas

Expanded opportunities in Tech Ed, Media, Computer-based applied arts

• Environmental literacy

https://www.edline.net/pages/Somers_CSD

SMS and SIS participating in a Education for Sustainability Curriculum Development Project via PNWBOCES region.

Outdoor education integrate learning – students are engaged in science, social studies, problem solving and collaborative learning projects as they expand the “walls” of our schools

In 7th Grade English Classes . . .

Siemens Challenge – MS Science

Tech Tools that help students identify their own learning styles in conjunction with global studies unit

Using technology to communicate and connect outside of our own district…

http://www.cnn.com/

The Pepsi Project

8th Grade Social Studies

Collaborative WIKI Experience

World of Technology

Applying problem solving skills to the deconstruction and re construction of a computer

High School Biology and Gizmos!

Technology Education, Green Power Club and Technology Student Association (TSA) with increased female involvement.

S.T.E.M.

Collaboration with Jacob Burns Film Center’s Education department to explore media literacy in the Intermediate Grades. See Hear Feel Film teaches students active viewing skills and the techniques of telling a story through film.

Participation in program design inititiative, Teaching and Technology in the Digital Age

Our ‘paperless initiative’ has helped us to communicate in ways that are more compatible with 21st Century Teaching and Learning –

In Somers, our work is defined by a cycle of continuous improvement

In Somers, our work is defined by a cycle of continuous improvement

• Innovate – a group of teachers and administrators have begun working together to explore the role of instructional technology in the 21st Century Classroom

• Define practices that engage students in 21st Century skills – especially in critical thinking, communication and collaboration