1. Using Flexibility as a Catalyst for Change

2. Introduction • Background • Catholic Central, St. Mary’s, Palliser Regional Schools • 4 things from this session • Explain what the flexibility project was/is • Give examples of how it looks in practice • Encourage you to think about the structure of our educational system • Encourage you to think about how you can change the structure in your context

3. What is Flexibility? • CEU system – has been in place since approximately 1906 • 1 credit = 25 hours of face to face instruction • 2009 a new initiative waived the time requirement for 13 schools

4. My Journey with Flexibility • My involvement with the “flexibility project” • Catholic Central – initially not overly interested • Meeting in Olds changed my perspective • If a student needed extra help, would they be able to get that help within the structure of your timetable?

5. Why do we…. ? • At St. Mary’s we started to question the way learning was structured in our school. • We know that all students learn at different rates. • So why do we structure schools so that all students are expected to spend the same amount of time in class? • Time vs. Learning • We know that each learner is unique. • So why do we structure schools so there are limited opportunities for one on one instruction? • Standardization vs. Personalization

6. Flexibility in Practice • Two key goals • Ensure students can get additional help when necessary • Ensure students have opportunities to be meaningful partners in the educational process • Examples • Flexible dismissal • Intervention program • Flex Fridays

7. Flexible Dismissal • Teachers have the freedom to dismiss students at any time during a class (they do not have to wait for the bell!) • Teachers set learning objectives, when students have met the objectives at an appropriate level they can leave the class • Picture used with permission from Holy Spirit

8. Intervention • Twice a week for 44 minutes all grades stop learning new content and take part in our intervention program. • Grade 6- 8 Intervention – Literacy, Numeracy, Student Initiated Projects • Grade 9 – 11 Intervention – One on One or Self-Directed • Exam Prep • Picture used with permission from Holy Spirit

9. Flexible Fridays • No bells, no master timetable • Teachers create a Google document detailing what they will be doing at various times during the day • Students use that document to create their own timetable for the day • In some cases students are mandated to meet with teachers • In some cases classes are mandated to meet with teachers • In some cases students decide what they want to do

10. Permission granted from Holy Spirit for next three slides & student comments

14. Results • Very promising results • Over 95% positive comments in open ended questions • Improvement in every academic category in TTFM surveys • 30% increase in intellectual engagement • Teachers covering more material in less time

15. What the Students are Saying • I think it’s had a good impact on me. I know I can stay back if I need extra help. Grade 10 student • I think it has a positive impact on my learning because I can have some time to myself to finish up an assignment or have a quick snack to keep me and my brain going. Grade 8 • Very positive because you have a chance to do your homework or help a friend. Grade 6

16. What the Students are Saying • I looovvveeeee it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It allows us to be our own teacher for a day and to express what we really love! • I love he flexible Fridays. I like it because it is a day I can relax and still get caught up on school work that I missed or got behind on. It also helps me because I can ask a teacher for help a pretty much get a one on one learning with just me and the teacher.

17. What the Students are Saying • The flexibility program in our school has been a really positive impact on my learning. It gives students more time and gives us chance to redeem ourselves from homework and assignments that we need to do, and gives us the ability to decide on what class to study and work for a longer time.

18. What the Students are Saying • flex Fridays help to keep me on track in classes Ifall behind in, flexible dismissal is a good incentive for me to get my work done properly and on time, exam prep helped to give me some peace of mind coming up to my diplomas because it gave me some knowledge about what it was going to be like.

19. Structure Influences Behaviour • Peter Senge • Education is full of structures that have a powerful impact on learning and teaching • At times these structures impede rather than enhance learning • We need to be aware of them • PD Friday - 30 kids for 67 minutes Monday….. • personalization & learning or standardization & compliance?

20. Structure Influences Behaviour • How do bell times limit learning and teaching? • How does curriculum limit learning and teaching? • How does dividing learning into subjects (e.g. math & social studies) limit learning and teaching?

21. Changing the Structure • 3 Key Components: • Powerful Questions • Core Ideas • Implementation

22. Powerful Questions • Why do we…. ? & What if…. ? • Why do we have all students sit through classes for the same length of time? What if we dismissed students based on learning rather than an arbitrary bell time? • Why do we have a master timetable? What if students and teachers made their own timetable? • What changes would you make if all you had to worry about was student learning?

23. Core Ideas • Intervention – one on one, small group help • Students as meaningful partners in the educational process – flex Friday/Flex dismissal • Palliser - Safe and caring, literacy, assessment for learning • What do you want to change in your school? What are the areas of greatest need?

24. Implementation • Short-circuit the defensive reaction • Collaboration • Autonomy • Conserve and change • Keeping kids on track • A simple yet powerful message • Students are your best sales people • Who do you need help from to change the educational structures in your context? • What changes can you make right away to start the process?

25. Flexibility as a Catalyst • Teachers taking risks • Math 10-3/ 20-3 / Science 14 / 24 • Assessment • Cross-curricular • Photo used with permission from Holy Spirit

26. Flexibility as a Catalyst • Our current educational system is like a large passenger ship. • It’s an amazing structure • But… it only skims the surface • And students are often passengers

27. Flexibility as a Catalyst • We envision a structure that is more like a school of fish. • Fluid, Dynamic & Adaptable • Interdependent • Fully immersed

28. Flexibility as a Catalyst

29. Take action • Start the change process or accelerate it • Questions

30. Contact Information • Mike Nightingale Phone- (403) 328 – 4111 E-mail- mike.nightingale@pallisersd.ab.ca Twitter- @mdnightingale