My Twitter network came alive this weekend at the Educon 2.0 Conference in Philadelphia, PA. I met so many people that I have known virtually for a long time. We had amazing conversations about learning and technology (in that order). What was most powerful for me was the common vision that many of us share about what good teaching and learning looks like in the 21st century. Thank you so much to Chris Lehmann and everyone else who made this all possible.In the spirit of Ted Sizer's Common Principles for the Coalition of Essential Schools (Thanks to Thom Hoffman for his session on the topic), I list below my thoughts on the Common Principals for 21st Century Schooling. I do not believe these principles should take the place of Sizer's vision. I use his model for inspiration and as the backbone for what I have begun to flesh out below and on a wiki.
I've created an Educon 2.0 group on the Classroom 2.0 Ning Website for attendees (both virtual and face to face) to continue the conversation.
The Common Principles for 21st Century Schools
This is a work in progress. Please join the wiki and help me to revise and refine these ideas.
Community is Essential - The school should bring learners and teachers together into a supportive community that nurtures both the individual and the group. The community should permeate all possible spaces, in the classroom, in the home and Online.
Critical Thinking - The school should actively encourage learners and teachers to think critically, continually asking the question, "Why do we teach what we teach?"
Risk Taking - The school should actively encourage learners and teachers to risk failure in the pursuit of understanding.
Learner Centered - The school should surround the learner with ideas and information, encouraging the learner to pursue a wide variety of paths to knowledge, and supporting the personal growth for all who inhabit the community.
Diversity - The school should actively encourage and pursue the input of those both inside and outside the community with a diversity of opinions. The school should consistently check that it is inclusive and supportive of learners and teachers from diverse backgrounds.
Nurture all learners - The school should provide opportunities and encouragement for all members of the community including teachers, students and parents to learn and grow.
Pursue Innovation - The school should actively explore, pursue and test new ideas and technologies, while always keeping the learner at the heart of the pursuit.
Good schools graduate good people - The school should actively and explicitly teach learners to think beyond themselves, encouraging students to value kindness and generosity.
Break down the walls - The school should provide access and opportunities for learners and teachers to reach outside the walls of the school to the neighboring, national and global community.
Image Citation: "Fitting In" assortedstuff's Photostream on Flickr. 26 Jan 2008. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/assortedstuff/2220751752/] 28 Jan 2008
7 comments:
Liz, I think what I really like about your proposed 21st Century Common Principles in relation to the CES Common Principles is your emphasis on thinking of the learner and teacher as being part of a greater community. That there is a responsibility for a learning environment to be inclusive outside the classroom walls. This means focusing not so much on the individuals needs as isolated but rather the learner's place in a community both nurtured and nurturing.
Liz,
I like what you are thinking but I have some critical comments:
"Community is Essential - The school should bring learners and teachers together into a supportive community that nurtures both the individual and the group. The community should permeate all possible spaces, in the classroom, in the home and Online."
-Shouldn't the community be a community of learners period. You should not exclude the 'teachers' from the learners as they can learn as well and isn't a community of learners more apt to learn from a variety of places?
"Risk Taking - The school should actively encourage learners and teachers to risk failure in the pursuit of understanding."
- This only works if the one who delivers the grades understands that risking failure is often more of a learning experience than "learning." What I mean is that not all teachers will adopt this attitude, putting some children at risk.
- Finally, should we not enforce some sort of community service on our children. Would this help promot your goals of creating "good" people and provide those students with outside opportunities.
I am encouraged that you are working on the project and that you have the passion to try and make it a reality.
Hi Liz, Nice work. I think if you define all of the community as learners and teachers it would apply to all. Get rid of the "student" reference and instead expect all to teach and all to learn. This vision is great and I feel will come to be.
Liz,
Agree with Cheryl on her idea.
As for risk taking, it needs to stay as failure is a part of learning. Perhaps a focus on something authentic will remove "grades as we know it" and therefore failure is not the same. It could also be the vehicle for the community service that Aaron suggests.
I like your list and the focus on conversations, community and everyone being a learner. These will be important points that are shared visions for many.
Learners and teachers have become synonymous in the 21st Century. Amazing list Liz! Enjoyed your company all weekend.
Thanks Liz for your thoughts. I'm preparing a seminar and had a panic thinking, "No where have I talked about how to get test scores up!" Thinking I would get cruicified for such a horrendous approach, this ties in with exactly how I'm presenting...nice to know there are others out there like me!
Liz, I appreciate your work and dedication to education. Your 21st Century Common Principles covers a lot of ground. What do you think about somehow incorporating the "moral obligation" we teachers must have to meet the needs of all learners. In addition to that, possibly working in the idea of identifying and teaching to each learner's strengths. Our current emphasis on testing endangers those kids whose strengths aren't identified or nourished.
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