21st Century Leaders: Best Practices Affecting Instruction

Dr. Frances Stromsland, Superintendentfstromsland@whrhs.org

Mr. Brian Bayachek, Senior Network Administrator/Systems Analystbbayachek@whrhs.org

Ms. Sarah Bilotti, Director Special Servicessbilotti@whrhs.org

Mr. Brad Commerford, Director of Arts & World Languagesbcommerford@whrhs.org

Mr. Michael D’Alessio, Director Mathematics & Instructional Technologymdalessio@whrhs.org

Ms. Beth Scheiderman, Director of Human Resources & Professional Developmentbschiederman@whrhs.org

Watchung Hills Regional High SchoolSomerset County www.whrhs.org

All Achievement is Global

• Local Issues

• National Directions

• Global Perspectives

Open Response: http://pollev.com/whrhs

Global Achievement = 21st Century Skills

• What are they?

• Critical Thinking• Creative Thinking• Communication

• Technology Literacy• Written and Spoken Literacy

• Others???

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

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…

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

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

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.

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.

From Map to Assessment to Data Analysis

Rubicon – Curriculum Maps

• How does it work• Link to standards• Analyze the data• Evaluate performance• Cross reference curriculum

Talking About Students as 21st Century Learners

• What skills are necessary to improve retention / acquisition of common core objectives?

• Video – The Invisible Gorilla

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

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

Lesson Design• Objective• Plan• Execution• Skill Development• Closure• Exit Ticket

Traditional Design in a Non-Traditional Manner

Classrooms of the

Future?

Reality

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?

HSPA HISTORYMathematics Total Students

YEAR PARTIALLYPROFICIENT

PROFICIENT ADVANCEDPROFICIENT

% PASSING

2009 12.8% 46.6% 40.6% 87.2%

2010 11.0% 51.3% 37.7% 89.0%

2011 14.0% 48.2% 37.8% 86.0%

2012 10.7% 47.0% 42.3% 89.3%

HSPA HISTORYLanguage Arts Total Students

YEAR PARTIALLY PROFICIENT

PROFICIENT ADVANCEDPROFICIENT

% PASSING

2009 2.3% 64.5% 33.2% 97.7%

2010 2.7% 54.7% 42.6% 97.3%

2011 2.4% 59.0% 38.6% 97.6%

2012 1.2% 55.5% 43.3% 98.8%

Watchung Hills Regional High School2012 SAT I

Math Critical Reading Writing Total

WHRHS 569 543 548 1660

STATE-NJ 517 495 499 1511

NATIONAL 514 496 488 1498

County SAT Scores

School 2008 2009 2010 2011

WHRHS 1660 1678 1700 1695

Hillsborough 1611 1664 1660 1671

Montgomery 1764 1782 1790 1784

Ridge 1715 1733 1752 1750

Bridgewater 1703 1639 1675 1666

Bernards 1703 1726 1705 1677

Closing the Achievement Gap:

Difference between top and WHRHS

2008-104 pt2009-104 pt2010-90 pt2011-89 pt

Watchung Hills Regional High School

2008 2009 2010 2011 *2012

Test Takers

453 421 442 456 486

TotalGrades 761 778 847 880 941

3 or better

628(83%)

662(87%)

771(91%)

774(88%)

772(82%)

4 or better

360 (47%)

496(64%)

550(71%)

531(60%)

511(54%)

AP Grades

Class of 2012 AP Score HighlightsCourse Average Grade Number of test takers

AP Biology 4.523 44

AP Calculus AB 4.318 44

AP Calculus BC 4.724 29

AP Chemistry 3.909 33

AP Lang/Comp 3.903 144

AP Physics C & M 4.071 28

AP Physics C Mechanics 4.464 28

AP Environmental Sci. 3.942 52

School Average=3.59

Watchung Hills Regional High School

Year Semi-Finalists Commended

*2013 7 24

2012 3 22

2011 8 25

2010 10 24

2009 10 18

National Merit Scholars

*Qualifying Score for NJ is 221 (2210), which is highest in nation.

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 21st Century learning environment

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

Plan• VDI / BYOD

• iPads were 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

Training-Support• In-Service Day Programs

• Collaborative Meetings

• Departmental Initiatives

• Faculty Meetings

• PLCs

• Strategies for Success Workshops

The Main Event• Training, Training, More Conversations, More Training……and

on the cycle goes..

• Use Experts - Become Experts

• Be Friendly and Cost Conscious

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

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

Adult Learners in the 21st Century

When PD involving new technology isMeaningfulSupported

Adults LearnersAre motivatedWill apply knowledge and skills to additional areas

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

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!!!!!!

Example of Apps

How do we evaluate Apps?

21st Century LearnersThe Seven Survival Skills for Careers, College, And Citizenship

1. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving 2. Collaboration Across Networks and Leading

by Influence3. Agility and Adaptability4. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism5. Effective Oral and Written Communication6. Accessing and Analyzing Information7. 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)

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

Questions??