Keynote+Tony+Wagner


 * The Global Achievement Gap** by Tony Wagner

Skills we do not know how to teach or test Innovation – we need to be the country with good ideas. How do you teach those skills? What are those skills?

Crayola curriculum – just doing fun stuff Curriculum needs redesigning; re-creating

Core set of competencies all students will need to get a good job 1. Critical thinking and problem solving – ability to ask really good questions (school is about the right answers). It is the process of continuous improvement. 2. Collaboration across networks and leading by influence. 3. Agility and Adaptability. 4. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism 5. Effective oral and written communication (can’t write because they can’t think) They don’t know how to write with voice. 6. Access and analyze information. 7. Curiosity and Imagination (read Daniel Pink’s book).

All Kids – New skills - All students need to learn these new skills. How do we motivate students to achieve these skills?
 * The problems (two):**

Also, how do we change school REFORM to school REINVENTION? (...and who want to go to reform school anyway?) Innovation is the key to US economic survival. To influence change you must become an instructional leader. Goal for every graduate is to be good problem-solvers and independent learners.

1. Do not do alone 2. Spend as much time debriefing as doing the learning walk
 * Learning walk** – not walkthrough (drive-by)

Are they learning to be independent learners? No…they are doing what the district has asked the teachers to do: teach to the test Students challenged to think…
 * Learning walks – questions** (that there was no evidence)…

Students being prepared to do the college level work they will need to do next year?

Look into a microscope and describe what they see. Students start raising their hands and asking what they should be looking for (so they can get an A)

There is only one curriculum in schools today – called “test-prep” MCAS does not assess the skills that matter mostly.

Some schools have dropped the AP curriculum entirely…

When we teach to the test we are not allowing time for students to write extensive research papers, oral presentations..

Other countries have gotten better…

How do we motivate students to achieve these skills? Want instant gratification Focus on interest based learning, including extended friendships and self-expression Constantly connected …except in school. Kids in the class googling what the teacher is saying to see if it is still true
 * The problem:**

A generation with less respect from authority – they learn from peers.

Want to make a difference and do interesting worthwhile work

Mentoring from adults who do not talk down to them.


 * How are some schools responding to these challenges?**

21st Century vs content is a false dichotomy. The only way that you teach is to engage in reach content. Deeper, richer more challenging activates to develop core content.

New delivery system for learning… (Harvard College)
 * More activity based and service learning
 * More dialog and inquiry


 * Education 3.0** – just in time learning. Brand new problem, brand new question – find the most up-to-date information.

Need a foundation of some timeless learning – but cannot only know who to do timeless learning.
 * Much more about inquiry
 * Exploring new problems
 * Often working across discipline
 * Working in teams
 * Make a contribution, motivated by instrinsic rewards
 * Teachers first as coaches, second as content teachers
 * Teachers working in teams (teamed coaches)
 * Assessment – diverse – digital portfolios

Learning walk… Who is asking what kinds of questions?

We adults need to practice tough questions of each other…

Hold ourselves accountable for the data that matters most (not AYP). Graduation rates – the way they are reported is a “lie”. We do not even know this data. The real question is are students career, college, and citizenship ready National Students Clearinghouse [] – data for each individual – that is what we need to lool College and work ready assessment Focus groups with previous students and video tape and show them to teachers and parents. We need to do the new work in new ways for teaching & testing the skills that matter most. Gather baseline data Consider a strategic planning process to identify critical outcomes for all students Create voluntary teams of teachers Develop administrative skills
 * 2 Cornerstones**

Critical thinking Communication Collaboration Out of classroom learning – internships, service learning.
 * Every grade level start now and do:**

Work on teams and have shared responsibility Video tape – make the work more transparent All students need a powerful connection to adult.
 * Educators work alone. Isolation is the enemy of innovation.**

Volunteeers of teams of teachers to volunteer to video tape lessons Flip cameras for supervision conferences – what is effective in the classroom and in supervising Digital portfolios – use free software available on the web.

See Tony's site [|www.schoolchange.org] (must register to download presentations)