The 21st Century Adult Learner:what matters most in writing,

communicating and vocabulary

Burnaby District DayFeb. 25th, 2011Faye Brownlie

www.slideshare.net

21st Century Learning Skills

• Critical thinking• Collaboration• Problem solving

• Rotherham & Willingham, 2009

Frameworks

It’s All about Thinking – Brownlie & Schnellert, 2009

Universal Design for Learning

Multiple means:-to tap into background knowledge, to activate

prior knowledge, to increase engagement and motivation

-to acquire the information and knowledge to process new ideas and information

-to express what they know.

Rose & Meyer, 2002

Backwards Design

• What important ideas and enduring understandings do you want the students to know?

• What thinking strategies will students need to demonstrate these understandings?

McTighe & Wiggins, 2001

ModelGuided practiceIndependent practiceIndependent application

Pearson & Gallagher (1983)

A Writing Strategy

• 1 minute story telling• 30 second response• 1 minute story telling• 30 second response• 3 minute write• Choose powerful line or phrase• Whip around• Criteria

Connecting/Processing Strategy: What’s In, What’s Out?

(Reading 44, adapted by Paul Paling)

stomach squeezingabdomen hungrysaliva ulcerbolus tonguegastric juices mucuspepsin carbohydratesmuscles mechanical

Communicating Mathematically

• Sit back to back with a partner• Partner A observes the diagram and describes

it to partner B• Partner B draws what he hears Partner A

describing• Reflect: what worked in the partnership?

What didn’t? How can it be improved?

References

• Grand Conversations, Thoughtful Responses – Brownlie (2005). Portage and Main Press.

• Student Diversity, 2nd ed (2006) – Brownlie and Schnellert. Pembroke Publishers

• It’s All about Thinking – Humanities, Social Studies and English (2009) – Brownlie and Schnellert. Portage and Main Press.

• Assessment Instruction of ESL Learners – Brownlie, Feniak, McCarthy. Portage and Main Press.