Student Learners in the 21st Century

ED 870 AK 366 Educational Leadership in Community Schools Collaborative Action Research:  Sherron Burns  Darcy Helmink  JoAnne Kasper  Leanne Merkowsky April 2008 Collaborative Action Research:  Sherron Burns  Darcy Helmink  JoAnne Kasper  Leanne Merkowsky April 2008

"Twenty-first century education will…. shift towards learner- centered education and create creative thinkers. Today’s world is no longer content with students who can simply apply the knowledge they learned in school: our generation will be asked to think and operate in ways that traditional education has not, and can not, prepare us for.” ( Anthony Chivetta, Student 2.0 ) "Twenty-first century education will…. shift towards learner- centered education and create creative thinkers. Today’s world is no longer content with students who can simply apply the knowledge they learned in school: our generation will be asked to think and operate in ways that traditional education has not, and can not, prepare us for.” ( Anthony Chivetta, Student 2.0 )

School in 1924

83 years later …..

Who knows what the future holds? How can we prepare them? Students graduating four years from now will be working in jobs not yet invented.

Our Question What does our community view as the critical attributes of the 21st century student learner?

Industrial Age Digital Age

Subject Based Experience Based

Teacher Centered Student Centered

What Does Our Community Value?

Conversations with our Community Artist Community (Sherron) Pharmacist Community (Darcy) Education Community (JoAnne) Career Community (Leanne)

Artist Salon »Visual Artist/Curator » Actor/Writer/Teacher » Visual Artist »Visual Artist/Curator » Actor/Writer/Teacher » Visual Artist “Critical & Creative Thinking”

Critical & Creative Thinking »We ask why? »Sometimes subversive in nature »opposition at times to school »Empathy: head, heart & soul »Insight, saturation, incubation and illumination »Connections and metaphor »Passion and discipline »We ask why? »Sometimes subversive in nature »opposition at times to school »Empathy: head, heart & soul »Insight, saturation, incubation and illumination »Connections and metaphor »Passion and discipline

Understanding the Process »Not always aware in the moment »Give “permission to be” »Build confidence »Work outside of comfort zone »Don’t teach “stuff” - explore through situations »Passion & discipline »Not always aware in the moment »Give “permission to be” »Build confidence »Work outside of comfort zone »Don’t teach “stuff” - explore through situations »Passion & discipline

Pharmacist Community Interviews: Co-worker/pharmacist Hospital pharmacy technician preceptor Recent graduate/practicing community pharmacy technician

Summary of Data Co-worker & Preceptor were 21st century focused: creativity, group work, technology, thinking outside the box, making connections Recent graduate was focused on tasks and was skill specific (rather than process)

Reflection on the Data The perceived 21st century skills (as identified by the teachers) are not transferred to the practice (as demonstrated by the recent graduate) Why is there a difference between the teaching and the practice?

Conversation with Educators 1.Senior Administrator 2.Elementary Teacher/former Adult Educator 3.High School Teacher/Political Activist 4.High School Teacher/STF Executive

Shared Thoughts Developing personal spirit and the sense of giving to our community are essential to the future. Content areas are changing as new evidence avails itself so that the ability to think always allows one access to knowledge. Language skills are the foundation of the thinking process and necessary for meaningful communication.

Shaping the Future Through Thoughtful Schools LSSD Mission Statement A contributing member of society has skills to perform a useful function in society through a job and/or volunteer work. They are concerned about and contribute to the welfare of their fellow citizens. They value other viewpoints, are culturally aware and accepting of differences. Thoughtful schools are all about reflective practitioners, it can’t stop at the students. Schools must be the model. Learning how to learn is becoming more important than what we learn.

Conversations about Careers Entrepreneur/Mayor Entrepreneur/Mayor Employment Officer Employment Officer Career Guidance Counselor Career Guidance Counselor Parent/Teacher Parent/Teacher Student Student

Quotes “Have a sense of pride in what you do.” “Have a sense of pride in what you do.” “Give more than you take to your community and your family.” “Give more than you take to your community and your family.” “It’s no longer what can I bring to the company, but what can the company offer me.” “It’s no longer what can I bring to the company, but what can the company offer me.”

Essential Skills for Future Work Force Passion Passion Positive attitude Positive attitude Empathy Empathy Perseverance Perseverance Integrity Integrity Reliability/dependability Reliability/dependability Team work Team work Initiative Initiative Social skills/people skills Social skills/people skills Cultural sensitivity Cultural sensitivity Trustworthy Trustworthy

Collaborative Project Shared Themes  Passion & discipline  Basic skills needed  Personal spirit  Flexibility  Interpersonal skills  Giving back to the world  Critical thinking  Creative PPassion & discipline BBasic skills needed PPersonal spirit FFlexibility IInterpersonal skills GGiving back to the world CCritical thinking CCreative