Thursday, March 24, 2011

In 21 Words or Less

by Shelly Blake-Plock

Here's the scenario: You have been put in charge of creating a brand new education system. Whatever you decide will be done. You are the monarch. You have unlimited resources and everyone is mandated to do your bidding (and they love you and think you are a genius).

And they are waiting to hear your concept.

One caveat: This being the 21st century, you have to explain your entire concept in 21 words or less.

So, let's hear what you've got.

56 comments:

  1. We will seek balance between creative and critical thinking through a flexible, thematic, humanities based, student driven curriculum anchored in exploration.

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  2. "Real Problem"-driven interdisciplinary curriculum which transcends the classroom walls to the cloud and back.

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  3. Teach them how to learn: literary foundations, critical discussion, demonstrate that proposition at the chalkboard, and essays, essays, essays with feedback.

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  4. I resign my benevolent dictatorship and encourage the formation of democratic governance structures as they are essential to address this question.

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  5. Authentic learning by combining classroom with real world activities - visiting workplaces, volunteer activities, touring museums and cultural/historical places, and traveling.

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  6. Using technology to truly go where no student has gone before.
    "what cannot you and I perform?" Macbeth

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  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. 24/7 all you can learn buffet. Students choose when, what, and how to learn based on passion and life goals.

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  9. Learning - up front and essential. No marks, just feedback. Encouraged inquiry and problem solving. Create something original and meaningful. Be great!

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  10. Passion driven, feedback fueled, student centered, meaningful, gradeless, enjoyable, networked, learning frenzy.

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  11. Collobrative learning environments that are student driven. Not tests,no assignments, no subject areas. Technology makes the entire world their classroom.

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  12. Trying to be clever with 21 word solutions is part of the problem. Complex problems require complex solutions. Let's get started.

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  13. The question "what is best for our students?" will be the way in which we address every facet of education.

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  14. Provoke reflection (someone else can use my last 19 words)

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  15. an education that is engaging and that endures the test of time...whatever that may look like.

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  16. Let the consumers / students choose the way. Let us guide them and assist them. Let passion be the fuel.

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  17. 1-let
    2-the
    3-kids
    4-decide

    5-...please

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  18. Passionate, interactive classroom instruction should challenge worldviews to refine and strengthen them. Heavy critical thinking and writing components sure wouldn't hurt.

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  19. Learn darnit. And everyone stop saying, "I'm not good at Math/Science"
    .
    .
    .
    Nobody ever says "Oh, I'm not good at Reading" That's just unacceptable. But, why is it acceptable to say "I'm not good at Math?"

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  20. Reinvent history lessons. Learn from today to make a better world tomorrow where kids address today's conflicts and think of solutions.

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  21. Teachers engage in professional development, emphasize process over product, and make the purpose of assignments transparent to students.

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  22. Engaging students with cross-curricular problems that require popular technologies and mind driven skills to solve.

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  23. Talk is cheap. How many people do what they are saying? Walk the Walk. Just do it! You may get fired!

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  24. Engage, explore, and learn. To infinity and beyond!

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  25. Students AND Teachers creating individual endeavors that drive what and how they learn. Eliminate virtual field trips and take real ones.

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  26. Let learners investigate what they are interested in and learn what they need to. The teacher is a coach.

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  27. Engage, Empower, Play, Create, Reflect.
    @surreallyno

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  28. nothing is for everyone. choice empowers. your school/life design it. 1-1 mentors. share back: ie wikipedia. be you.

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  29. I left my comment as a full post. I went under twenty-one words and then I went over it on my explanation. I don't do well with guidelines, I suppose.

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  30. We will answer each question and listen to each person's points of view.

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  31. We will find the answer to each question together,lrespecting to each person's point of view.

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  32. We will follow the planned learning sequence,finding the answer to each question together, respecting each person's viewpoint.

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  33. Sharing experiences with children to encrease enquiring attitudes, creative minds and collaborative ways of solving problems. (17 words)

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  34. Learning is forever. Let's start early and never stop. Reading is crucial. Writing is necessary and math happens everywhere everyday.

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  35. Spend the money to hire the smartest teachers. Measure smart by personal achievement: appropriate major, best grades, innovative creation, obvious success.

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  36. Check out Mr Pesas' response. Then read all the suggestions that cluster around the idea of letting students learn what they want. (Nudge in the right direction: too few will choose math/science.) The teacher must lead.

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  37. Students create. Teachers learn. Administrators lead. Parents are partners. Community participates. School is green. Arts prevail. Learning is leveraged by technology.

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  38. Education that uses the arts, music, humanities, and technology as the basis to ignite curiosities, teach skills, and expand minds.

    ---------
    Www.thebusinessofeducating.com

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  39. 1:1 labtops with student influenced curriculum, authentic project based learning and "free learning" days for student and staff---abolish grades

    Tim Monreal
    @mryoungteacher

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  40. Families have to be involved as a whole unit with a common goal.

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  41. Keep students in the forefront of everything we do. Collaborate, communicate, experiment and reflect. Let's take responsibility to be the best we can be for students.

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  42. Maximize the use of the resources that have been given to you. Make sure that your students don't fall behind.

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  43. For the learners:

    "This is what the real world is, all around the planet. Good and bad. What are you interested in? We'll help."

    For the people helping the learners:

    "Be humble. Build tools. Share. Empower, engage, connect, collaborate. Inspire curiosity, passion, integrity. Imagine. Learn. We would be less without you."

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  44. Offer a set of guidelines that lend themselves to further questioning. The questioning leads to seeking answers, the more questions. (20 words)

    *Creative outlets, IT, writing, art, even spoken word, to demonstrate their findings. The educator they conference with offers ideas as building blocks, not directives, then the process repeats itself, perpetual learning. Sorry, I just described how most of us live and learn in the real world, plus-minus the incentive of course.

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  45. Brenda M. SandbulteApril 1, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Einstein's mother daily asked, "Did you ask any good questions today?" Let's do that...ask good questions and seek answers together!

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  46. "What do you need to learn and how can we help you learn it?

    When done, show us what you know."

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  47. Joy. Find joy in your teaching and students will love learning.

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  48. Expect excellence from everyone: staff, teachers, administrators, students, parents, everyone.

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  49. Real thinking requires an education that leaves you fully at the controls of life. Welcome to Starship You - Are you ready?

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  50. Follow the child. Maria Montessori

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  51. Families must be involved. Students make decisions about how to meet objectives adults set. 1:1. Positive, constructive attitudes are expected.

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  52. Teacher and students engaged in real-life project, academic exercises organized around developing and completing the project. Contextual learning and teaching.

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  53. The community at large focusing on lifelong learning in the real world developing skills and communicating through multiple means.

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  54. 1:1; paperless; fearless; collaborative; presentation oriented; no teachers - only coaches/mentors/guides; no walls; questioning; challenging, encouraging; uplifting

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  55. Project based..student driven..high interest..curriculum focused

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  56. School should be like a job, your work should end when you leave the office. No required homework ever.

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