Southern Regional Education Board Welcome What Does Academic Integration Really Mean in the Career-Technical Classroom? Nancy Headrick, Director State Services for School Improvement

Southern Regional Education Board Academic Integration The fundamental challenge is to create a set of circumstances in which students take pleasure in learning and come to believe that the information and skills they are being asked to learn are important or meaningful for them and worth their effort, and that they can reasonably expect to be able to learn the material. Engaging Schools: Fostering High School Students’ Motivation to Learn

Southern Regional Education Board CHERISH Rather Than Hide Academic Integration 1.How do we structure our resources to facilitate planning, implementing and sustaining academic integration? 2.What are some examples of projects and activities that show relevance and connect student learning? 3.How do we integrate content and embed the 21st Century Skills into the activities and projects?

Southern Regional Education Board Links to TCTW Key Practices  High Expectations – Setting higher expectations and getting more students to meet them.  Increasing access to intellectually challenging academic and career/technical studies.  Teachers Working Together – Having an organizational structure for teachers to work and plan together.  Students Actively Engaged – Getting every student involved in rigorous and relevant learning.  Extra Help – Providing a structured system of extra help.  Using student assessment and program evaluation data to drive decision-making.

Southern Regional Education Board 98% 90% 70% 50% 30% 20% 10% 1% Learning Pyramid 5 95%

Southern Regional Education Board Use art, drama, music, movement – Integrated curriculum with content Having a personal experience – Making connections (hands on) Teaching someone else Discussion with others Lecture with visuals Fill out worksheet Reading Assignment Lecture Using only visuals Learning Pyramid 6

Southern Regional Education Board Quality Career/Technical Studies and Higher Achievement Source: 2008 TCTW Assessment and Student Survey 7

Southern Regional Education Board Integrated Academics Reported Benefits to Students 1.Greater enthusiasm for learning 2.Increased participation in and completion of learning activities and assignments 3.Better grasp of concepts and skills 4.Making connections across disciplines 5.Fewer discipline problems 6.Improved attendance

Southern Regional Education Board Integrated Academics Reported Benefits to Teachers 1.Gain a sense of belonging and support when they work with a group of peers on a daily basis 2.Contribute their expertise to a team effort and are not overwhelmed by the need to be an expert on all areas of the curriculum 3.Increased feelings of efficacy, empowerment, and enthusiasm for teaching 4.Learning from colleagues 5.Increased creativity 6.Professional renewal

Southern Regional Education Board Pair Share: Reflections Benefits of Integrated Academics 1.Read through the list of students’ benefits on the previous slide. 2.Which of these student outcomes would you most value in your classroom/school? 3.Read through the list of teacher benefits. 4.Which of these teacher outcomes would you most desire? 5.Hypothesize why integrated academics might result in these benefits.

Southern Regional Education Board Traditional Integrated Curriculum Curriculum

Southern Regional Education Board Tools for Making Connections  Problems/Projects  Processes  Skills  Job roles and skills  Thematic units  Alignment of knowledge and skills in one discipline to work in another  Dual credit assignments  What else?

Southern Regional Education Board 21st Century Skills Basic skills high school graduates should possess as ranked as very important by employers:  Professionalism / Work Ethic (80%)  Teamwork / Collaboration (74%)  Oral Communications (70%)  Ethics / Social Responsibility (63%)  Critical Thinking / Problem Solving (58%)  Information Technology Application (53%)  Written Communication (53%)  Diversity (52%)  Lifelong Learning / Self Direction (43%)  Creativity / Innovation (36%)  Leadership (29%)

Southern Regional Education Board Using 21st Century Skills  Develop, analyze & use information from tables, charts and graphs & schematics  Analyze works of literature (read and interpret technical materials)  Solve word problems in mathematics (embedded mathematics…)  Make oral presentation on a project or assignment

Southern Regional Education Board CHERISH Rather Than Hide Academic Integration 1.How do we structure our resources to facilitate planning, implementing and sustaining academic integration? 2.What are some examples of projects and activities that show relevance and connect student learning? 3.How do we integrate content and embed the 21st Century Skills into the activities and projects?

Southern Regional Education Board Technology Centers That Work THANK YOU!!! Nancy Headrick