STSD Curriculum & Technology Update

Regular updates and musings on curriculum and technology in the Salisbury Township School District in Allentown, PA.

What is this shift? --- in 5 minutes

Here is an excellent video that captures the direction of education for the future. Chris Lehman, Principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, shares his thoughts on education in the 21st century. He talks real fast because the format of the presentation was to assemble 20 slides in 5 minutes. There are a lot of great thoughts in here. Leave yours in the comments…

Here are the actual slides in the presentation, some which you cannot see in the video:

Comments

I enjoy his energy and enthusiasm.  He is correct in his thinking and in the direction we need to go.

The point that sticks out most for me is when he lists the important criteria for learning: Research, Collaborate, Create, Present and Network.  I have found that the best teaching and learning experiences come from an environment where this is happening.  It is so very exciting to me that there is such an infusion of technology and many people right in my building (and beyond) are using it.  When we collaborate the synergistic effect reaches far beyond what one person can create.  Networking beyond our building is very important.  It could be as simple as joining a professional social network where you can collaborate and generate new ideas.  This is very exciting and limitless.

What a great video!  I know that at times, I get caught up with the subject instead of the students because of the pressures of doing well on PSSA.  When I can focus on the students and their needs the class proceeds very well.  I do believe that what we are doing for students in our math curriculum helps all students feel better on a daily basis even if the scores are still lower than we’d like to see.  With out the threat of that test, I think we could do a whole lot more to guarantee our students would be productive members of the 21st century.  Math topics could be totally geared to their future needs and not some “one size fits all” expressed need.

I agree this is a great (albeit fast-paced) video.  What I loved is how the video and slide show made me multi-task, something I am increasingly accustomed to doing online.  His five points, as Diane noted, remind me of the extension beyond the building through social networking, powering your professional and personal learning networks.  Derek Wenmoth’s 4 C’s of participation in online communities--consumer, commentor, contributer, and commentator--remind me of my progression in social networking: where I’ve been and where I am going. 

At our department training session today, when Randy and I watched this video together, I mentioned how today’s training helped me move closer to a creator and commentator.  And I think that should be our goal in our learning communities as we learn and teach together.  Shouldn’t my students see me modeling--the 4 Cs and/or RCCPN--in our classroom.  Not purely rhetorical.

Your post inspired me to create this post: http://tinyurl.com/592u4r.  Although I did not link to the video / slide show, I was inspired by this post, which continues to linger and impact my thinking about education.  We do read you, Randy, and continue to grow as we reflect.

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