The Destination:

•Creative and Critical ThinkingCreative and Critical Thinking•Collaboration Across Boundaries

•Cross-Cultural Understanding and Exchange•Quest for Life-Long Learning

•Continuous Integration of Current and Emerging Technologies

2121stst Century Education in Century Education in ReadingReading

Standards & Assessments

Curriculum & Instruction

Professional Development

Learning Environments

Learning EnvironmentsLearning Environments

StructuresStructures -Buildings-Buildings

--ClassroomsClassrooms

-Flexible Schedules-Flexible Schedules

Cultural EnvironmentCultural Environment -Homeroom activities -Homeroom activities -Clubs/Partnerships-Clubs/Partnerships

-Service-Service

--External RelationshipsExternal Relationships

ToolsTools -Hardware-Hardware

--SoftwareSoftware

-District-wide -District-wide initiativesinitiatives

SupportSupport --Expanded tech supportExpanded tech support

-Integrated training -Integrated training

-Emerging tech committee-Emerging tech committee

“To learn how to learn, you have to love learning-or you have to at least enjoy it…” (Freedman, 2006, p. 310).

Professional Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

Teachers embrace the need for continuous Teachers embrace the need for continuous personal developmentpersonal development

Teachers utilize a library of online tutorials Teachers utilize a library of online tutorials and courses that provide PDPs and graduate and courses that provide PDPs and graduate credits applicable to content areas credits applicable to content areas

Teachers attend conferences and access all Teachers attend conferences and access all available opportunities to learn about cutting available opportunities to learn about cutting edge technologyedge technology

Teachers share and learn about technology Teachers share and learn about technology through school, district and global web 2.0 through school, district and global web 2.0 toolstools

Teachers are chosen and trained to be Teachers are chosen and trained to be technology leaderstechnology leaders

Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

Teachers need sufficient time to adapt to Teachers need sufficient time to adapt to changing expectationschanging expectations

Teachers are motivated by self-directed PDTeachers are motivated by self-directed PD To provide time, a permanent sub can be To provide time, a permanent sub can be

provided to give monthly or quarterly provided to give monthly or quarterly “sabbaticals” so that a teacher can attend “sabbaticals” so that a teacher can attend trainings, conferences, and have work time trainings, conferences, and have work time to interpret and incorporate knowledge to interpret and incorporate knowledge into unitsinto units

Teacher goals can be tied into these mini-Teacher goals can be tied into these mini-sabbaticals sabbaticals

Curriculum & InstructionCurriculum & Instruction

Students engage in Students engage in HEATHEAT – – Higher-Order ThinkingHigher-Order Thinking Engaged Learning (Engaged Learning (online courses online courses and and

self-directed study)self-directed study) Authentic Learning (real world projects, Authentic Learning (real world projects,

writing for a global audience through writing for a global audience through blogs blogs and and websiteswebsites))

Technology Use (including webliteracy Technology Use (including webliteracy skills)skills)

““Educators can harness the power of the Internet . . . to empower students to become more Educators can harness the power of the Internet . . . to empower students to become more activelyactively

involved in . . . their own learning.” (November, 2008, p.3) involved in . . . their own learning.” (November, 2008, p.3)

Curriculum & InstructionCurriculum & Instruction

Students develop creativity through Students develop creativity through the study of art, music, and literaturethe study of art, music, and literature

Students have been studying a Students have been studying a foreign language since kindergarten foreign language since kindergarten

Students develop tolerance and Students develop tolerance and appreciation of international culturesappreciation of international cultures

Students use an online discussion Students use an online discussion area in every classarea in every class

Standards & Standards & AssessmentsAssessments

““Today, the defining skills of the previous era- the Today, the defining skills of the previous era- the “left brain” capabilities that powered the “left brain” capabilities that powered the

Information Age- are necessary but no longer Information Age- are necessary but no longer sufficient. And the capabilities we once disdained sufficient. And the capabilities we once disdained or thought frivolous- the “right brain” qualities of or thought frivolous- the “right brain” qualities of inventiveness, empathy, joyfulness, and meaning- inventiveness, empathy, joyfulness, and meaning-

increasingly will determine who flourishes and who increasingly will determine who flourishes and who flounders.”flounders.”

- - ( Pink, 2006, p.3)( Pink, 2006, p.3)

Grades 6-8 Program Guide

Why Us?Why Us?

Connects current research and best Connects current research and best practices in educationpractices in education

Brings together the necessary realms of Brings together the necessary realms of emotional, content-rich and technological emotional, content-rich and technological learning that middle school students need learning that middle school students need

Encourages participation from school, Encourages participation from school, community, business and global interestscommunity, business and global interests

Can be realizedCan be realized

Our plan:Our plan:

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