1. Our school already has an excellent track record, with our students scoring among the highest test scores in the world. Why should we change?
While your students are achieving superior results on standardized tests, there is much these tests do not measure, and which is crucial for overall success in the 21st century. High tests scores are important, but not sufficient.
Students today need to develop a range of 21st century skills; they need to develop multiple literacies.[i] Students should have plenty of opportunities to construct their own knowledge, rather than receiving it from a teacher, lecture or textbook. Teachers must design 21st century curriculum and instruction, which is then embedded in an intentionally designed, 21st century learning environment. The physical, emotional and academic learning environment is the context in which the knowledge and skills are developed.
The curriculum and instruction are designed and delivered in a way that allows students to learn and function independently, interdependently and as self-directed learners.
2. We are committed to the ICGSE, IB and/or several national curricula. Won’t the development of new curriculum take the place of, or interfere with, our students receiving these excellent curricula?
The curriculum and instruction which we assist teachers in designing is not a separate, or replacement, curriculum. Rather, it is a 21st century method, or approach, to delivering the curriculum you have in place – the ICGSE, IB and national curricula.
3. This program sounds expensive.
Helping schools make the transition from a traditional model of education to the 21st century model requires an initial investment of significant professional development and support.
We liken the process of change to the challenge of launching a rocket into space. As you know, the rocket requires immense thrust in order to successfully escape the atmosphere and the strong gravitational field of the Earth. Once the rocket has achieved orbit the enormous amount of fuel and thrust is no longer required; it just takes continual monitoring and course corrections.
The first two to three years of the professional development program are intensive. Teachers require significant professional development and ongoing support. Otherwise, the professional development will be ineffective, and teachers will return to what they knew before, and to their comfort zone – and practices.
It takes 3 years, with support, for a teacher to become proficient in 21st century curriculum, instruction, and assessment. See “What is effective professional development?”
Professional development and consultants who can help you take your school truly into the 21st century are not an expense; they are an investment. Not only for your school, but an investment in the lives of the children you serve and the community in which you are located.
Consider the analogy of the rocket again. Let’s assume a rocket was designed and built; it took years to do this, not to mention an enormous sum of money. Your rocket is the school. Your goal and desire is to successfully launch this rocket/school into the 21st century. What happens if you do not provide sufficient professional development to support the teachers in making the change you desire?
Click here for a visual on what happens when the rocket is defective and/or does not have the sufficient fuel (training and support) to escape the gravitational pull of the Earth, beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
Your initiative to take your school or into the 21st century requires similar time, funding and support to achieve success. If you cut corners the mission will fail. Refer to the research; commit to the investment required to truly create 21st century schools and learning experiences for your students.
4. What are the benefits of our implementing this program of professional development and curriculum design?
Please see the Benefits and Results page.
While your students are achieving superior results on standardized tests, there is much these tests do not measure, and which is crucial for overall success in the 21st century. High tests scores are important, but not sufficient.
Students today need to develop a range of 21st century skills; they need to develop multiple literacies.[i] Students should have plenty of opportunities to construct their own knowledge, rather than receiving it from a teacher, lecture or textbook. Teachers must design 21st century curriculum and instruction, which is then embedded in an intentionally designed, 21st century learning environment. The physical, emotional and academic learning environment is the context in which the knowledge and skills are developed.
The curriculum and instruction are designed and delivered in a way that allows students to learn and function independently, interdependently and as self-directed learners.
2. We are committed to the ICGSE, IB and/or several national curricula. Won’t the development of new curriculum take the place of, or interfere with, our students receiving these excellent curricula?
The curriculum and instruction which we assist teachers in designing is not a separate, or replacement, curriculum. Rather, it is a 21st century method, or approach, to delivering the curriculum you have in place – the ICGSE, IB and national curricula.
3. This program sounds expensive.
Helping schools make the transition from a traditional model of education to the 21st century model requires an initial investment of significant professional development and support.
We liken the process of change to the challenge of launching a rocket into space. As you know, the rocket requires immense thrust in order to successfully escape the atmosphere and the strong gravitational field of the Earth. Once the rocket has achieved orbit the enormous amount of fuel and thrust is no longer required; it just takes continual monitoring and course corrections.
The first two to three years of the professional development program are intensive. Teachers require significant professional development and ongoing support. Otherwise, the professional development will be ineffective, and teachers will return to what they knew before, and to their comfort zone – and practices.
It takes 3 years, with support, for a teacher to become proficient in 21st century curriculum, instruction, and assessment. See “What is effective professional development?”
Professional development and consultants who can help you take your school truly into the 21st century are not an expense; they are an investment. Not only for your school, but an investment in the lives of the children you serve and the community in which you are located.
Consider the analogy of the rocket again. Let’s assume a rocket was designed and built; it took years to do this, not to mention an enormous sum of money. Your rocket is the school. Your goal and desire is to successfully launch this rocket/school into the 21st century. What happens if you do not provide sufficient professional development to support the teachers in making the change you desire?
Click here for a visual on what happens when the rocket is defective and/or does not have the sufficient fuel (training and support) to escape the gravitational pull of the Earth, beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
Your initiative to take your school or into the 21st century requires similar time, funding and support to achieve success. If you cut corners the mission will fail. Refer to the research; commit to the investment required to truly create 21st century schools and learning experiences for your students.
4. What are the benefits of our implementing this program of professional development and curriculum design?
Please see the Benefits and Results page.
[i] See our 3 compass roses on the Documents Page. These are used to guide the development of everything from policies to lesson plans. The compasses can be used from the board room to the classroom.