"Time, goals, project plans, workload, and “just-in-time” learning must all be self-managed and self- directed in today’s wound –up work world...Today’s students must prepare for the reality of 21st Century work and develop deeper levels of initiative and self-direction skills as they progress through school." Trilling and Fadel p. 78
Challenge through Choice We believe that if students and teachers are given more choices within their school environment the students will have more intrinsic motivation to learn and the teachers will be better able to guide the process. Allowing students choices in their learning also allows them to challenge themselves in new ways everyday. -A key component of choice is having the ability to make decisions about your own learning. In a 21st century Killam school, students will have a schedule made-up of core curriculum areas, but will also have flexibility in areas of enrichment. Students will have traditional options such as art, music and p. e. but their choices will be expanded with variability such as drama, orchestra, choir, digital video production, design, Lego engineering, language classes, technology/computer classes, etc. They will also have some choice on the frequency of the courses they choose. Some classes may be mandated, such as physical education tri-weekly. Having choices in schedules will allow students to pursue areas of passion which will in turn help them prepare for their futures. Students will be able to fit their choices in the day by incorporating essential skills and standards into the enrichment classes. "Just think back to when you were a kid and you got your first fire truck or doll or doctor's kit or astronaut's helmet, and you told everyone you wanted to be a fireman or a fashion model or a doctor or an astronaut when you grew up. That innocent passion for a certain job, without knowing the salary or the working hours or the preparation required, is what you need to get back in touch with. It's that childlike feeling of "I want to do that because I want to do that--and I don't have to explain why" that we all need to discover. To put it simply: You need to rediscover your inner fire truck. We all have one, and when you find it, you'll know it." Friedman, p. 315
In order for our students to compete in a 21st Century world, they will need to be adept at succeeding in and accepting the hard work of challenges. Motivated students don't see challenges as something that keep them from their goal, but as something that will push them towards their goal.
"While students have to learn to take responsibility for inventing and managing their own work, teachers need to raise their expectations of what students can accomplish" November, p. 57
-Students need to be challenged by the curriculum. One size fits all curriculum will not make the cut in a 21st-Century learning environment. Whether through varied course options, chances to teach and model lessons for younger students or self-directed projects, students in the future need to be challenged. Other ways students and teachers can have be challenged through choices:
-Teachers will have options to specialty teach in areas that they feel passionate about which will allow them to be experts on a subject and be able to be mentors and/or coaches for students who may want to follow that path.
-Decisions about how to design and set-up their classrooms
-Different work spaces throughout the school, i. e., chairs, beanbags, yoga balls, standing desks
-Options for demonstration of knowledge, i.e. project, video, paper, etc.
-Students involved in school rules and procedures -teacher created professional development
Challenge through Choice
We believe that if students and teachers are given more choices within their school environment the students will have more intrinsic motivation to learn and the teachers will be better able to guide the process. Allowing students choices in their learning also allows them to challenge themselves in new ways everyday.
-A key component of choice is having the ability to make decisions about your own learning. In a 21st century Killam school, students will have a schedule made-up of core curriculum areas, but will also have flexibility in areas of enrichment. Students will have traditional options such as art, music and p. e. but their choices will be expanded with variability such as drama, orchestra, choir, digital video production, design, Lego engineering, language classes, technology/computer classes, etc. They will also have some choice on the frequency of the courses they choose. Some classes may be mandated, such as physical education tri-weekly. Having choices in schedules will allow students to pursue areas of passion which will in turn help them prepare for their futures. Students will be able to fit their choices in the day by incorporating essential skills and standards into the enrichment classes.
"Just think back to when you were a kid and you got your first fire truck or doll or doctor's kit or astronaut's helmet, and you told everyone you wanted to be a fireman or a fashion model or a doctor or an astronaut when you grew up. That innocent passion for a certain job, without knowing the salary or the working hours or the preparation required, is what you need to get back in touch with. It's that childlike feeling of "I want to do that because I want to do that--and I don't have to explain why" that we all need to discover. To put it simply: You need to rediscover your inner fire truck. We all have one, and when you find it, you'll know it." Friedman, p. 315
In order for our students to compete in a 21st Century world, they will need to be adept at succeeding in and accepting the hard work of challenges. Motivated students don't see challenges as something that keep them from their goal, but as something that will push them towards their goal.
"While students have to learn to take responsibility for inventing and managing their own work, teachers need to raise their expectations of what students can accomplish" November, p. 57
-Students need to be challenged by the curriculum. One size fits all curriculum will not make the cut in a 21st-Century learning environment. Whether through varied course options, chances to teach and model lessons for younger students or self-directed projects, students in the future need to be challenged.
Other ways students and teachers can have be challenged through choices:
-Teachers will have options to specialty teach in areas that they feel passionate about which will allow them to be experts on a subject and be able to be mentors and/or coaches for students who may want to follow that path.
-Decisions about how to design and set-up their classrooms
-Different work spaces throughout the school, i. e., chairs, beanbags, yoga balls, standing desks
-Options for demonstration of knowledge, i.e. project, video, paper, etc.
-Students involved in school rules and procedures
-teacher created professional development