About six years ago, as a faculty we began thinking about and discussing 21=
st century skills. We did some readings, including Learning by Heart by Rol=
and Barth. That book is actually more about school culture and the profess=
ion, but it was a good place to start because it affirms our work as educat=
ors and underscores the importance of personal and collective vision . We =
looked at a variety of national standards and the work of groups such as th=
e Partnership for 21st century skills.=20
After considerable discussion and debate, we brainstormed a long list of 21=
st century skills, literacies and habits of mind. We then did a red dot exe=
rcise in which each faculty member had six dots to place by the important =
items on the list. From that exercise, we arrived at the six topics the fac=
ulty deemed the most significant 21st century skills/topics for the school.=
They are environmental stewardship, global perspective, life skills, servi=
ce learning, diversity and differentiated instruction. Teachers were invite=
d to "follow their passion" (a Barth suggestion) and choose membership in t=
he group that most interested them.=20
Our next step was to write charges for each group. Again, all faculty and s=
taff members were invited to participate in this exercise. These study grou=
ps have now been meeting for the past three years. Many of them have made v=
isits to other schools and worked with outside consultants. Each group has =
reported out to the entire faculty, to departments and divisions as well as=
to the Board of Trustees.=20
These study groups have been engines of curricular change at the school. Th=
ey have led the way in projects such as the LEEDS remodeling of the Middle =
School and the expansion of our 20/20 NAIS award winning exchange with scho=
ols in Tanzania and England.=20
This construct of red dot exercises and study groups works well for the sch=
ool. Some of the ongoing curricular work on 21st century skills will be hig=
hlighted in Engaging Minds, Inspiring Ideas: Interdisciplinary teaching sem=
inars on topics such as global education, bioethics and media literacy, www=
.keyschool.org
=20
Marilyn Meyerson
Head, Libraries and Technology
The Key School
Annapolis, MD
________________________________________
From: A forum for independent school educators [ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On=
Behalf Of Don Stalls [dstalls@EpiscopalCollegiate.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 3:43 PM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: 21st Century Curriculum - study / review
I am curious to see which schools have recently taken a look at their
curriculum with regard to 21st Century Skills. As Information Technology is
a big part of the landscape, I figure it has touched a few of you. We are
currently in initial conversation about ideas of continued growth and
curriculum reflection. I am looking for schools that are doing the same in
order to have some contacts for communication and the sharing of ideas. I a=
m
also looking for schools that are well down the road of examining curriculu=
m
and assessing where they are with the 21st century learning framework. Any
contact would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Don Stalls
Director of Technology
Episcopal Collegiate School
Jackson T. Stephens Campus
1701 Cantrell Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
(501) 372-1194 Ext. 2520
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