2. Expanding Boundaries …and Building Bridges “The only innovating worth doing is the disrupting kind, the kind that completely redefines the problem and its context before thinking about creative solutions to it.” (Christensen, C., in Washor, E., 2009) Patti BeckmanAmy BurgoyneDeb Dellovo Julie JefferyKaren MacariElise Spang

3. Piloting A New Course: The Big Picture K-5 Pilot School stressing:  Rigorous content, global awareness and service using innovative technology  Project-based, authentic learning experiences  Bringing students out of the classrooms through virtual and actual travel  Personalized learning plans that include core curriculum and areas of interest “The ways and which we connect and learn continue to look less and less like what happens in the classroom. (Richardson, W., 2008, p. x ). “By inviting students to become active participants in the design of their own learning, we teach them how to be active participants in their lives and future careers.” (Richardson, W., 2008, p. 133)

4. Relevant Content and Rigorous Expectations  Science, engineering and design  Daily art and music integration  Second language learning  Expanded learning time (day and year) Expanded learning time (day and year) Expanded learning time (day and year) “ It takes fifteen years to train a scientist or advanced engineer, starting from when that young man or woman first gets hooked on science and math in elementary school. Therefore, we should be embarking immediately on an all-hands-on-deck, no budget too large crash program for science and engineering education. Scientists and engineers don’t grow on trees. They have to be educated through a long process…” (Friedman, T. 2007, p. 359) “ It takes fifteen years to train a scientist or advanced engineer, starting from when that young man or woman first gets hooked on science and math in elementary school. Therefore, we should be embarking immediately on an all-hands-on-deck, no budget too large crash program for science and engineering education. Scientists and engineers don’t grow on trees. They have to be educated through a long process…” (Friedman, T. 2007, p. 359) “ The processes we most hope to engender in our students - thinking critically and logically – are not possible without background knowledge” (Willingham, D. 2009, p. 28) “ The processes we most hope to engender in our students - thinking critically and logically – are not possible without background knowledge” (Willingham, D. 2009, p. 28)

5. Global Awareness Our school will address this by:  Partnerships with schools around the world: ePal, Skype, Wikis, blogs and virtual field trips.  Collaboration with teachers around the world  Second Language instruction (student /family choice)  Curriculum with a global focus “Every person now must, and can ask: Where do I as an individual fit into the global competition and opportunities of the day, and how can I, on my own, collaborate with others globally?” (Friedman, T., 2007, p. 11). “The children of this country must be provided an education that more than adequately prepares them for citizenship in the society and the world they will soon inherit.” (Schukar, R., 1993) Global Awareness

6. Alternative Learning Environment  Service Learning about the world through micro Learning about the world through micro loans: Create a lending team loans: Create a lending teamlending teamlending team Supporting local community Supporting local community  Experiences Business partnerships, volunteering, and Business partnerships, volunteering, and mentoring mentoring  Across grade level collaborations “There’s a third form of happiness that is ineluctably pursued by humans, and that the pursuit of meaning…knowing what your highest strengths are and deploying them in the service of something larger than you are.” (Pink, D., 2006, p. 226)

7. Innovative Technology  Smart Board Tools, Web 2.0, Voice Thread, Photo Story 3, Wikis, Google Maps  Ongoing Differentiated training for all staff  Grant Writers: Touch screen laptops, iphones, ipods, Touch screen laptops, iphones, ipods, SMART Table SMART Table  Technology trainer “With each new advance in technology and increase in the complexity of services you need to even higher level of skills to do the new job.” (Friedman, T., 2007, p. 74)

8. Physical Design IIIInnovative and environmentally conscious school design SSSSelecting alternative architects Children’s museums, art museums, aquariums, planetariums, community planners CCCCollaboration with students, staff, parents and the community “Similar potential exists in bringing a new design sensibility to two other settings where beauty has long taken a backseat to bureaucracy– public schools and public housing. A study at Georgetown University found that even if the students, teachers, and educational approach remained the same, improving a school’s physical environment could increase test scores by as much as 11 percent” (Pink, D., 2006, p. 82)

9. Professional Development  Focus on innovative technology and training for hardware, software, and web literacy skills.\  Professional learning communities Professional learning communities Professional learning communities Within district and ongoing Within district and ongoing Teacher study groups Teacher study groups Peer coaching (students and staff) Peer coaching (students and staff) District share days District share days “Without quality professional development, the best standards, the best assessments, curricula and learning environments will not have much of an impact on student achievement.” Ken Kay, President of the Partnership of 21 st Century skills. “…the role of the teacher is more important than ever. Now it is essential that we teach our children the discipline of making meaning from a very complex and constantly shifting global warehouse of information and communication.” (November, A., 2008, p. 6)  Parent training and support

10. Inspiring Evidence  Big Picture Learning Big Picture Learning Big Picture Learning  International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Primary Years Programme  Study: “The Value of Good Design” Report from the Commission for Architecture of Built Environment Study: “The Value of Good Design” Report from the Commission for Architecture of Built Environment Study: “The Value of Good Design” Report from the Commission for Architecture of Built Environment

11. Benefits  Students and staff will have access to latest advancements in technology.  Students and staff will become more technologically competent.  Students will be engaged and motivated to learn.  Collaboration in learning and teaching will take place.  Students will be provided with real life learning experiences.  The needs of diverse learners will be met.  Second language acquisition will be available for all students.

12. Bibliography Friedman, T. L. (2007). The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. New York, NY: Picador. (Original work published 2005). November, A. C. (2008). Web Literacy for Educators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. November, A. (Producer). (2007, February 9th). Alan November Interviews Daniel Pink [Audio Podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.novemberlearning.com/ http://www.novemberlearning.com/ November, A. (Producer). (2007, February 24th). Alan November Interviews Daniel Pink- Part II: New School Design [Audio Podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.novemberlearning.com/ http://www.novemberlearning.com/ Pink, D. H. (2006). A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. New York, NY: Riverhead Books. Richardson, W. (2008). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. California: Corwin Press Inc. Schukar, R. (1993) Controversy in Global Education:Lessons for Teacher Educators. Theory and Practice, 32 (1). The Partnership for 21st Century Skills - Home. (n.d.).The Partnership for 21st Century Skills - Home. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org Time and Learning. (n.d.). Time and Learning. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from http://www.timeandlearning.org/ Washor, E. (n.d.). Elliot Washor: Thoughts on Innovation. Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elliot-washor/thoughts-on-innovation_b_329811.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elliot-washor/thoughts-on-innovation_b_329811.html Willingham, D. (2009). Why Don’t Students Like School? San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.