From Students to Learners: New Learning Environments for 21st Century Learners Bob Pearlman 10th Annual Building Learning Communities Conference Boston, MA July 29, 2009 PowerPoint Slides at http://www.bobpearlman.org/BLC2009.htm

Assessment of 21st Century Skills Partnership for 21st Century Skills Since the Partnership’s inception, our framework for learning in the 21st century focuses on measuring a student’s performance on all the elements of 21st century education. Partnership for 21st Century Skills http://www.21stcenturyskills.org

21ST CENTURY SKILLS DEFINED LEARNING & INNOVATION Creativity & Innovation Critical Thinking & Problem-solving Communication & Collaboration LIFE & CAREER Flexibility & Adaptability Initiative & Self-direction Social & Cross-cultural Skills Productivity & Accountability Leadership & Responsibility INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY Information Literacy Media Literacy ICT Literacy The skills needed to be successful today are much different than they were when schools were designed Partnership for 21st Century Skills http://www.21stcenturyskills.org

New Technology HS LEARNING OUTCOMES Sacramento 10 Learning Outcomes: Content Proficient Able to Write Proficiently Orally Proficient Able to Think Critically Technologically Proficient Able to Collaborate Prepared for a Career Solid Citizens with Ethical Behavior Able to Analyze and deal with Data Possessing a solid Work Ethic Napa 8 Learning Outcomes Technology Literacy Collaboration Critical Thinking Oral Communication Written Communication Career Preparation Citizenship and Ethics Curricular Literacy (Content Standards)

What learning curricula, activities, and experiences, foster 21st Century learning? And what does schooling look like?

"What is Manor New Tech?" video -- In their own words, Manor New Tech (Manor, TX) students explain what MNTHS is to them. This video features footage of what is happening on campus every day. Presented by students at the Texas Computer Educators Conference, February 4, 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-klc2KijMG8

Manor New Technology High School, Manor, TX Figure 1. World GeoLit Integrated class at Manor New Technology High School, Manor, TX. Photo by Les Simpson.

At the core is a student centered, project and problem based teaching strategy that is tied to both content standards and school wide learning outcomes.

Project- and Problem-Based Learning Keys to 21st Century Learning NTHS teachers start each unit by throwing students into a realistic or real-world project that both engages interest and generates a list of things the student need to know. Projects are designed to tackle complex problems, requiring critical thinking. New Tech’s strategy is simple: To learn collaboration, work in teams. To learn critical thinking, take on complex problems. To learn oral communication, present. To learn written communication, write. To learn technology, use technology. To develop citizenship, take on civic and global issues. To learn about careers, do internships. To learn content, research and do all of the above.

Students form a team, develop a work contract and build a work plan Each unit begins when students are presented with a complex, standards-based problem Students form a team, develop a work contract and build a work plan

Students get to work! Students are provided an online briefcase specific to the project with information, resources, links and assessment criteria that help guide them.

Students Need To Know Student questions and “need to knows” drive classroom lectures and activities. Sometimes for the whole class … sometime for just one student

Students experiment and apply learning Students test their ideas and experiment to find solutions and breakthroughs while receiving ongoing feedback from instructors.

Students get back to work! Students work and collaborate in a business-like environment, where they know their deliverables and have the technology tools to do their jobs.

Students prepare to present Students work on building presentations to repre-sent their work and defend their solutions

Students present their solutions! Students present ideas through debates, skits, panels, presentations, etc… where their work is evaluated by peers, teachers, parents, and community

Napa New Technology High School – Segment 2

The New Language of School Design "Classrooms are out! No more classrooms! Don’t build them!" -- Roger Schank, Institute for Learning Sciences

Columbus Signature Academy, Columbus, IN Figure 2: Learning Studio for integrated interdisciplinary class at Columbus Signature Academy, Columbus, IN. Figure 2: Learning Studio for integrated interdisciplinary class at Columbus Signature Academy

Columbus Signature Academy Primary Student Work Area Learning Studio Presentation Space Presentation Room Large Group Space Multi-Purpose Room Extended Learning Spaces Breakout Area Project Conference Room Specialty Labs Graphic Media Lab, Science Furniture Rolling Tables and Chairs; Flip-up tables

New Tech High @ Coppell, Coppell, TX Figure 4. Student project teams at work in double-sized classroom at New Tech High @ Coppell, Coppell, TX. Photo by Kate Jenkins.

Figure 6. Student collaborative project teams working in the digital media library and in the corridor, some of the many extended learning spaces at New Tech High @ Coppell, Coppell, TX. Photos by SHW Group, Plano, TX.

Primary Student Work Area Dual subject matter Learning Environment New Tech High @ Coppell Primary Student Work Area Dual subject matter Learning Environment Presentation Space Large Multi-Group Collaboration Zones Large Group Space Extended Learning Spaces Corridor Alcoves Project Planning Rooms Media Library Outdoor Benches Specialty Labs Science Furniture Mix and match tables; office chairs; lounge chairs and sofas in Extended Learning Spaces

The Met, Providence, RI Figure 7: Students in advisory room at the Met, Providence, RI.

Figure 8: Floorplan of Met East, Providence, RI, showing advisory rooms, project labs, and commons area.

The Met Primary Student Work Area Advisory/ Project Room Presentation Space Commons Large Group Space Extended Learning Spaces Conference Rooms, Meeting Rooms, Commons Specialty Labs Fabrication Furniture Soft, cushioned seats, contour chairs, flexible tables

High Tech High, San Diego, CA. Figure 9: Cluster area studio surrounded by four flexible classrooms at High Tech High, San Diego, CA.

High Tech High Primary Student Work Area Clustered classroom/ common studio Presentation Space Commons Large Group Space Extended Learning Spaces Small and large conference rooms, Common studios, Commons Specialty Labs BioTech, Engineering, Art, Music, Multimedia, Digital Arts Furniture Benches in Extended Learning Spaces

New Line Learning Academy, Maidstone, Kent, England Figure 10: Learning Plaza prototype at New Line Learning Academy, Maidstone, Kent, England, shows Learning Plaza divided in multiple ways for large group, small group, and individual learning.

Figure 11: Ground Floor, Learning Plaza prototype at New Line Learning Academy, Maidstone, Kent, England.

Figure 12: Mezzanine,Learning Plaza prototype at New Line Learning Academy, Maidstone, Kent, England.

New Line Learning Academy Primary Student Work Area Learning Plaza Presentation Space Large Group Space Extended Learning Spaces Learning Plaza watering holes and caves Specialty Labs Art, Technology, Science Furniture Modular tables and mobile lecture style amphitheater seating

Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High @ Coppell The Met High Tech High New Line Learning Academy Primary Student Work Area Learning Studio Dual subject matter Learning Environment Advisory/ Project Room Clustered classroom/ common studio Learning Plaza Presentation Space Presentation Room Large Multi-Group Collaboration Zones Commons Large Group Space Multi-Purpose Room Extended Learning Spaces Breakout Area Project Conference Room Corridor Alcoves Project Planning Rooms Media Library Outdoor Benches Conference Rooms, Meeting Rooms, Commons Small and large conference rooms, Common studios, Commons Learning Plaza watering holes and caves Specialty Labs Graphic Media Lab, Science Science Fabrication BioTech, Engineering, Art, Music, Multimedia, Digital Arts Art, Technology, Furniture Rolling Tables and Chairs; Flip-up tables Mix and match tables; office chairs; lounge chairs and sofas in Extended Learning Spaces Soft, cushioned seats, contour chairs, flexible tables Benches in Extended Learning Spaces Modular tables and mobile lecture style amphitheater seating

Some Cautionary Tales: It’s about a lot more than design and technology UK Open Learning Environments – 1970s Massachusetts –New High Schools, mid-1990s NW England– new Learning Centres Are the teachers ready to teach in the new learning environments?

Old PD Model Teachers Training 1 Training 2

New Tech PD Model Teachers Coach NTF Advocate Shadowing Training Critical Friends Meeting of Minds All Schools Conf Professional Learning Community

Putting it all together Learning spaces and environment Technology PBL Assessment for Learning

PowerPoint Slides at www.bobpearlman.org/BLC2009.htm Contact Information Bob Pearlman 21st Century School Development Consultant bobpearlman@mindspring.com www.bobpearlman.org 520-881-9965 PowerPoint Slides at www.bobpearlman.org/BLC2009.htm