Future Graduate brainstorming
Our subcommittees brainstormed characteristics for the “future graduate,” so we can consider ways to keep “our train on the right track” for the future.
Community, Business, and College Committee
- Virtual learning–experiencing immediately what students in other places are experiencing
- Ability to know that there is a rhythm to life and we need to teach that
- Ability to communicate and socialize with others one to one and in groups; “reading others” face to face (Facebook and other social networking sites don’t necessarily encourage this).
- Want the 2017 graduate to stop and be able to lay in the grass and look at the stars
- Follow the passion; how do we ignite kids?
- How do we balance requirements with creativity? (Chinese example of students being able to follow their passion and path from a younger age) Create students who don’t feel burdened; need for balance
Research Committee
- need for high ethical standards
- critical thinking skills; ability to think outside the box, creative problem solving
- integrative thinking
- ability to take creative risks
- ability to learn from mistakes and permission to make mistakes
- technologically literate/adaptive(fluent)
- support for teachers as creative “risk” takers
- form and function; process and product; ability for technical reading/writing
- mentoring/networking; kids into the community and other experiences and partnerships
- collaborative
Technology committee
- shrinking world; expansion of opportunities for learning
- 24/7 learning
- ubiquitous learning
- global culture and workplace
- multi-language learning? does technology make language learning more or less important? what about cultural values?
- changed school day and year
- impact on students’ social skills
- constant global connections
- collaborative group learning
- effect on common culture, and what is our common culture now?
October 18, 2006 @ 5:49 am
Here are 5 things that humble self holds as especially important:
1) Ability to work collaboratively. (The word ‘collaborative’ shows up on two of the brainstorming lists.) This means more than just the ability to identify the most obsessive-compulsive individual in a work group and shift all the work on to him/her.
2) Development of social networking skills and online networking skills. The ability to make productive use of a group blog such as this would be part of what such skills should involve.
3) Ability to take risks and learn from mistakes.
4) Ability to listen with focused attention and an open mind, and the ability to frame and to ask productive questions as part of the listening process.
5) Ability to have fun while doing hard work.
October 18, 2006 @ 12:38 pm
I just ran across these two articles that relate to our discussions yesterday!
The first one is about using video games to teach with (way to go, Max, for bringing this idea up!)
http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/10/17/video.games.ap/index.html
and the other one is about math scores and confidence. The study makes some questionable “links” in my opinion relating to student confidence–because I think student confidence is partly a matter of culture, as well, and I’m not sure there is a direct connection here. But the article is pertinent to our discussion and talks about math as taught in Asia, versus here. And towards the end of the article, it does discuss the controversial nature of this study. I think this will get a lot of discussion, right or wrong, so I think it’s an important study to be more informed about and not leap into accepting it right away.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/17/AR2006101701298.html
Something to add to the discussion!
Carolyn
October 19, 2006 @ 5:47 pm
I have taken the liberty to add a little to the five I have selected:
1) To incorporate more technology into the teaching and learning experience.
2) To communicate using a variety of methods and emphasizing current methodology.
3) To have strong critical thinking skills.
4) To enhance each student’s creativity and problem-solving skills.
5) To encourage productive risk-taking.
October 20, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
Carolyn:
Thank you for the very helpful link which you provided in your post of 10/18. “Not Playing Around: Scientists Say Video Games Can Reshape Education.”
(http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/10/17/video.games.ap/index.html)
Apropos of our ongoing conversation about skills for success, the article states that, “games teach skills that employers want: analytical thinking, team building, multitasking and problem-solving under duress.” The article further states that we need “research into which features of games are most important for learning — and how to test students on the skills they learn in games.” Given our proximity to the University of Texas, St. Edward’s University, Austin Community College, and other institutions of higher learning, we at WLH would seem to be in an ideal location for teaming with researchers in an effort to discover how video games can support student learning. The article concludes by saying that “teachers need to see games as a way to help – not as a threat.”
After reading this article, and then reviewing the 5 points posted by lrawlings4 on 10/19, the following questions come to mind: What if Westlake High School were to become a leader in developing video games to support student learning? What if students were required to apply the principles being taught in physics, chemistry, and mathematics classes to solving problems that came up in the process of playing an online video game? What if teachers in these classes could work together to come up with game-based homework assignments, and then provide these assignments to groups of students for collaborative, online, problem solving?
Austin is already becoming a national leader in the video game industry. If preparing our students for success in a 21st Century workplace is to be part of our vision, then building links with local industry leaders would seem like a reasonable course of action.
May we be granted wisdom and grace as we pursue our efforts to build a better future for our students.
Landon.
October 20, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
Interesting comments, Landon….
I do think it’s going to become evident that we need to find ways to bring more of the “outside” in, and I think providing more authentic experiences like that for students will really motivate them.
I think for any of these connections to work, a teacher or group of teachers will have to buy in to the idea and run with it, because ultimately the teachers are the ones in the classroom.
I think as we go along in our conversations particularly about technology, that element is important.
I do think some tie in with the video-game industry in Austin would be very interesting for some of our students!
October 30, 2006 @ 11:15 am
My five for future graduate:
1. Mental capacity – a strong and creative mind that constantly stretches and thirsts for knowledge both within one’s area of interest and outside of one’s area of interest
2. Physical capacity – a strong and well-maintained “body bag” for enjoying this great journey
3. Emotional capacity – self awareness, personal motivation, empathy, social skills
4. Spiritual capacity – having a connection with a higher purpose and a sense of contribution to others
5. Bringing it all together – An ability to grow in each capacity throughout life, to oscillate in and out of each area on a rhythmic basis, and to inspire others to do the same
October 31, 2006 @ 7:24 pm
What a great trip to Washington, D.C.! All of us (Marlene, Becky, David, Denise, etc.,) thoroughly enjoyed the conference. It helped us to put in words what our vision committee has struggled with in terms of 21st century learners. As we think about what we want our students to be able to know or do in ten or twenty years, it is sometimes difficult to verbalize exactly what they need to know.
We heard a great presentation by Ken Kay, President of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. This group is working with Dell, Adobe, Cisco, Ford, ETS, Verizon, Intel, etc., to identify skills that our students will need to know in order to be successful in the 21st Century world of work.
Most of these are skills that we are already touching on. I think that the key is to bring them to the foreground and to work them into our curricula more. They include:
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Creativity and Innovation
Communication and Information
Collaboration
Leadership
Ethics
Accountability
Adaptability
Personal Productivity
People Skills
Self Direction
Social Responsibility
Global Awareness
Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurship Literacy
Civic Literacy
Health and Wellness Awareness
What do you think?
Linda
November 7, 2006 @ 10:39 am
I ran across this list from NCREL of 21st Century Digital Literacies, called Engauge. NCREL is the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory whose work was funded by the Dept. of Education until 2005.
While these relate just to the technology part of our list, I think they are worth looking at. I’ll bring a brief copy to our next meeting.
–Digital-Age Literacy
Basic, scientific, economic, and technological literacies
Visual and information literacies
Multicultural literacy and global awareness
–Inventive Thinking
Adaptability and managing complexity
Self-direction
Curiosity, creativity, and risk taking
Higher-order thinking and sound reasoning
–Effective Communication
Teaming, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
Personal, social, and civic responsibility
Interactive communication
–High Productivity
Prioritizing, planning, and managing for results
Effective use of real-world tools
Ability to produce relevant, high-quality products
“Each skill cluster is further broken down into representative skill sets, which offer guidance on recognizing student performance in developing the enGauge 21st Century Skills.” If anyone wants to see the list directly, here’s a link to more: http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/skills/skills.htm
Carolyn