SAS Civics and the Civic Mission of Schools March 19, 2010 PATTAN-Harrisburg Ken Britcher, Middletown Area Middle School Sally Flaherty, IU 6 Kevin Little, Middletown Area Middle School Beth Specker, Office of the First Lady of Pennsylvania Jeff Zeiders, Pennsylvania Dept. of Education

The Big Ideas The World is Changing…… The World is Changing…… Technological innovation shakes the institutions of society to their roots, with advantageous and disastrous consequences. Technological innovation shakes the institutions of society to their roots, with advantageous and disastrous consequences. The choices we make, whether as consumers or as citizens active in politics, impact people around the globe. The choices we make, whether as consumers or as citizens active in politics, impact people around the globe. The rapid pace of technological change has established unprecedented economic, political, and cultural interdependence among nations and individuals. The rapid pace of technological change has established unprecedented economic, political, and cultural interdependence among nations and individuals.

Please Break into Groups of 6-8 people 1. How are you accessing the world in 2010? 2. How did you access the world when you were 20? 3. How do you think you will access the world in 20 more years? 1. How are you accessing the world in 2010? 2. How did you access the world when you were 20? 3. How do you think you will access the world in 20 more years?

What sort of world awaits our students?

FACING REALITY The journey of a thousand miles sometimes ends very, very badly.

Reality Check #1: 180,000 college students in the U.S. never graduated from high school.

Reality Check # 2: When schools are irrelevant, other institutions find alternatives and ways around them. When schools are irrelevant, other institutions find alternatives and ways around them. Ever wonder about the growth of private/cyber/charter/home schools? Ever wonder about the growth of private/cyber/charter/home schools?

Reality Check #3: Technology is NOT THE ANSWER. Technology is NOT THE ANSWER. EDUCATION IS THE ANSWER. EDUCATION IS THE ANSWER. Technology is a valuable tool in the process of education. Technology is a valuable tool in the process of education.

The Unflat School

1. IRRELEVANCY Features a content-based curriculum for an Industrial Age on the calendar of the Agricultural Age and is expected to develop student skills for the Digital Age Features a content-based curriculum for an Industrial Age on the calendar of the Agricultural Age and is expected to develop student skills for the Digital Age

2. “Learning” takes place in a vertical command structure

3. Unflat Experiences and Unrealistic Assessments “Oh NO! Death by Worksheet!” F You’ll have to do better on next one!

4. Irrelevancy=high dropout rate with subsequent social issues… National rate is 27% PA rate is 25% Philadelphia (City of) 33% City of Detroit Public Schools 75%

What skills and knowledge do our students need to even have a chance at successfully adapting to the world in which we live? What skills and knowledge do our students need to even have a chance at successfully adapting to the world in which we live?

In a flat world, student learning has evolved to include accessing and processing the continually expanding body of knowledge and information with which we live. Students’ application of this exponential information will require technical and creative skills that are beyond the survival level. In a flat world, student learning has evolved to include accessing and processing the continually expanding body of knowledge and information with which we live. Students’ application of this exponential information will require technical and creative skills that are beyond the survival level.

WHAT SKILLS DO STUDENTS REQUIRE TO EVEN HAVE A CHANCE?

THINK (collaborate with one another and reflect individually)

CREATE (bring new knowledge, ideas, and skills into being)

INNOVATE (reform and recreate institutions, technology, systems and schemes for solving problems)

Steps for Educators

1. ESTABLISH RELEVANCE

“Never place into the hands of a child a book which you do not treasure.” David McCullough, Pennsylvania native

2. Develop Learning Experiences that allow for failure, success, and learning

3.Authentic Assessment (solves a problem, addresses an issue, allows students to collaborate and demonstrate use of tools and resources)

4. Students Learn to use 21 st Century Skills in a Flat World