21 st Century Leaders: Best Practices Affecting Instruction

1. 21st Century Leaders: Best Practices Affecting Instruction Dr. Frances Stromsland, Superintendent fstromsland@whrhs.org Mr. Brian Bayachek, Senior Network Administrator/Systems Analyst bbayachek@whrhs.org Ms. Sarah Bilotti, Director Special Services sbilotti@whrhs.org Mr. Brad Commerford, Director of Arts & World Languages bcommerford@whrhs.org Mr. Michael D’Alessio, Director Mathematics & Instructional Technology mdalessio@whrhs.org Ms. Beth Scheiderman, Director of Human Resources & Professional Development bschiederman@whrhs.org Watchung Hills Regional High School Somerset County www.whrhs.org

2. All Achievement is Global • Local Issues • National Directions • Global Perspectives Open Response: http://pollev.com/whrhs

3. Global Achievement = 21st Century Skills • What are they? • Critical Thinking • Creative Thinking • Communication • Technology Literacy • Written and Spoken Literacy • Others???

4. THE BIG PICTURE • School transformation that promotes student engagement • Student empowerment • Seamless Technology Integration • Limitless Creativity for Teachers in the Classroom • Students guiding their learning and teaching others

5. Organizing the Learning Environment to Foster 21st Century Skills • Classroom management • Routines and procedures • Give students responsibilities to “direct learning experiences” • How? • What does this look like? • Using technology to set the stage…

6. Setting the Stage • Assessment of Teaching and Learning Environment at WHRHS • What skills and knowledge must today’s students master to compete globally and become successful 21st Century citizens? • What kind of critical support systems do schools need to produce 21st Century teaching and learning outcomes? • Develop a Consensus Philosophy – We need a 21st Century curriculum that blends thinking, innovation skills, and life and career skills in the core subjects

7. It always helps to ask the right questions! • What are our goals? THE VISION • How would we measure our progress toward them? • Who can help us achieve them? • What methods of 21st Century instruction integrating innovation and research proven strategies with real world resources and context

8. What is curriculum mapping? ● A system for focused conversation. ● An instrument for transparent partnerships. ● The hub of all curriculum initiatives. ● The central nervous system of curricular discussions. ● A promise that the students won't get lost.

9. Why map? • Determine what is taught, as it actually occurs in the classroom. • Understand how students are being taught. • Make appropriate, immediate modifications to the curriculum. • Determine "why" certain performance results have been achieved.

10. From Map to Assessment to Data Analysis

11. Rubicon – Curriculum Maps • How does it work • Link to standards • Analyze the data • Evaluate performance • Cross reference curriculum

12. Talking About Students as 21st Century Learners • What skills are necessary to improve retention / acquisition of common core objectives? • Video – The Invisible Gorilla

13. What Motivates the “Net” Generation? • Accustomed to instant gratification and “always-on” connection • Use the web for 1) extending friendships, 2) interest-driven, self-directed learning, and 3) as a tool for self-expression • Constantly connected, creating, and multitasking in a multimedia world—everywhere except in school • Less fear and respect for authority—accustomed to learning from peers; want coaching, but only from adults who don’t “talk down” to them • Want to make a difference and do interesting/worthwhile work

14. Let’s Discuss…. • Global Knowledge Economy • What does this mean in day to day planning for instruction? • Curriculum that blends thinking, innovation skills, life and career skills in the core subjects • Engaging and motivating to students

15. Lesson Design • Objective • Plan • Execution • Skill Development • Closure • Exit Ticket Traditional Design in a Non-Traditional Manner

16. Classrooms of the Future?

17. Reality

18. Why is DATA So Important? • Being able to communicate and report on what makes the teaching and learning environment effective! • Making course adjustments, corrections in real time • Bottom Line = Student Achievement and Performance WHY?

19. HSPA HISTORYMathematics Total Students

20. HSPA HISTORYLanguage Arts Total Students

21. Watchung Hills Regional High School 2012 SAT I

22. County SAT Scores Closing the Achievement Gap: Difference between top and WHRHS 2008-104 pt 2009-104 pt 2010-90 pt 2011-89 pt

23. Watchung Hills Regional High School AP Grades

24. Class of 2012 AP Score Highlights School Average=3.59

25. Watchung Hills Regional High School National Merit Scholars *Qualifying Score for NJ is 221 (2210), which is highest in nation.

26. Tech Plan • Increase the physical devices in the school • Understand that technology is rapidly changing • Understand that funding is KEY • Move forward on old projects • Work with Superintendent, Business Admin, Board of Ed, Cabinet, and TEACHERS to provide WHRHS with a 21stCentury learning environment

27. How did we start? • Technology Initiative – School Wide • Survey to Community • Indicated community has a vested interest in technology • Indicated out students bring their own devices to school • Indicated that our parents “know” technology is the forefront of our curriculum

28. Plan • VDI / BYOD • iPadswere chosen as a teaching device • Affordable • Portable • Ability to hook up to projector • Easy to update by user • APPs allow for continuous improvement of curriculum

29. Training-Support • In-Service Day Programs • Collaborative Meetings • Departmental Initiatives • Faculty Meetings • PLCs • Strategies for Success Workshops

30. The Main Event • Training, Training, More Conversations, More Training……and on the cycle goes.. • Use Experts - Become Experts • Be Friendly and Cost Conscious

31. Characteristics of Adult Learners • Are self-directed in their learning • Have a greater need to know why they should learn something. • Self-initiated learning is the most lasting and pervasive. • Learning should be applicable to the learner's work or to other responsibilities valued by the learner. • Know the learner's needs and design learning activities that are relevant to those needs. • The learner should be actively involved in learning, with the instructor acting as a facilitator. Collins, J. (2004). Education techniques for lifelong learning: principles of adult learning. Radiographics, 24(5), 1483-1489

32. Technology and Adult Learners • Two tasks- learn the technology and the content • Adult learners, when properly trained on how to use the technology, are highly motivated learners. • Ensure that the content is directly applicable to the lives of the adult learner, as adults have a low tolerance for learning without a purpose. • Expert advice and feedback to handle technical issues surrounding the content delivery system is required to help adult learners become comfortable with the system. If adult learners perceive a lack of support or find themselves spending too much time completing a program they feel could be done in a traditional manner more rapidly, they are likely to drop out of the learning module. • Making the skills training in technology available and useful to adult learners helps ensure these skills will be transferred. Johnson, M. Adult Learners and Technology retrieved from http://www.umsl.edu/~wilmarthp/modla-links-2011/Adult-Learners-And-Technology.pdf on March 4, 2013

33. Adult Learners in the 21st Century When PD involving new technology is Meaningful Supported Adults Learners Are motivated Will apply knowledge and skills to additional areas

34. Adult Learners in the 21st Century • How do you currently gather information? • How has the way that you learn changed in the last 5 years? • Internet “Google News”, “The Patch” • Facebook, Twitter • E-books

35. How are the teachers and administrators using technology? Mathematics & Science-Webassign World Languages-Book Resources English-iPAD Project PE/Health-Fitnessgram Arts-Photography classes Business-Microsoft Suite History-Primary Sources using Web Special Ed-all resources iTunes U Teachscape Genesis student database system Schoolwires-webpage hosting Rubicon Atlas Student Conduct System Outlook e-mail Sys-Aid LOTS MORE!!!!!!

36. Example of Apps

37. How do we evaluate Apps?

38. 21st Century LearnersThe Seven Survival Skills for Careers, College, And Citizenship • Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving • Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence • Agility and Adaptability • Initiative and Entrepreneurialism • Effective Oral and Written Communication • Accessing and Analyzing Information • Curiosity and Imagination from The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach The New Survival Skills Our Children Need—And What We Can Do About It, by Tony Wagner (Basic Books, 2008)

39. Our Resources Today • Curriculum Mapping – Heide Hayes Jacobs • Understanding By Design – Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe • The Skillful Teacher – Jon Saphier • The Skillful Leader – Andy Platt and Caroline Tripp • The Global Achievement Gap – Tony Wagner • www.whrhs.org • www.Rubicon.com • www.teachscape.com • www.genesis.org • www.polleverywhere.com • www.t-eval.com

40. Questions??