Learning for You
Activity 1: Leading the Team
Lesley was really excited to be asked to lead the ICT Innovation project for the next two years. She could see the potential to transform learning for students. She asked her closest friend Charlie and 3 other staff to a meeting where she told them about the project and asked them to join in as the steering committee members.Her first task was to go to a whole school staff meeting to outline the project, introduce the steering committee members and to give a 10 minute powerpoint presentation on 21st century skills and why they were important for all students. At the end of the presentation Lesley asked for volunteers who would:
Feeling really devastated she called an urgent steering committee meeting to discuss the lack of interest. Only Charlie turned up.
Initial thinking
Read through the essential questions on the next page. Reflect on Lesley's story as you read. Make rough notes in My journal as you go.
Making a great start
Imagine that Lesley gets to be able to start over again. Write an alternative scenario which sees her make a great start to leading her project. Share your ideas with one of your active learning partners.
Developing a communication strategy
Lesley turns to you as her mentor. What questions could you ask her to help her think differently about her communication strategy? Add these questions to My journal
- trial using these 21st century skills in their classrooms and
- assist in delivering regular 10 minute presentations at staff meeting over the next school year.
Feeling really devastated she called an urgent steering committee meeting to discuss the lack of interest. Only Charlie turned up.
Initial thinking
Read through the essential questions on the next page. Reflect on Lesley's story as you read. Make rough notes in My journal as you go.
Making a great start
Imagine that Lesley gets to be able to start over again. Write an alternative scenario which sees her make a great start to leading her project. Share your ideas with one of your active learning partners.
Developing a communication strategy
Lesley turns to you as her mentor. What questions could you ask her to help her think differently about her communication strategy? Add these questions to My journal
Activity 2: 21st Century Professional Learning Activity
Plan and present a 21st century skills activity in your school.
This activity should aim to assist your colleagues to answer the 3 essential big questions.
Who did you involve in the planning and presentation? How did you get them involved? Describe what each of you contributed.
What did you learn? What would you do differently next time? Record your responses in your journal.
Resources to assist you
We will share one activity from the Microsoft Peer Coaching Program. You may want to try the activity in your school and then having trialled this material you may wish find out more about this excellent program.
Note: You could adapt and use this activity if you wish.
21st Century Skills
Chalk Talk Reflection
Place two large white boards or equivalent in the room. Write 21st century skills on one board and write Strategies to develop 21st century skills on the other.
This activity should aim to assist your colleagues to answer the 3 essential big questions.
- Which 21st Century Skills matter?
- Why do these matter?
- What will you do to ensure that all teachers and students have these skills?
Who did you involve in the planning and presentation? How did you get them involved? Describe what each of you contributed.
What did you learn? What would you do differently next time? Record your responses in your journal.
Resources to assist you
We will share one activity from the Microsoft Peer Coaching Program. You may want to try the activity in your school and then having trialled this material you may wish find out more about this excellent program.
Note: You could adapt and use this activity if you wish.
21st Century Skills
- Introduce topic
- Show a youtube video or research article on 21st century skills. Choose one that is current and relevant.
Chalk Talk Reflection
Place two large white boards or equivalent in the room. Write 21st century skills on one board and write Strategies to develop 21st century skills on the other.
- Ask participants to take five minutes to individually brainstorm the skills they believe are essential for future success eg high level literacy.
- Ask participants to add their ideas on the whiteboard. Stress the need to do this silently. They can tick an idea that they agree with that someone else has added.
- Now ask them to silently add teaching/learning strategies that would assist students to develop these skills.on the other board.
- Look at these ideas and discuss.What does this tell us?
- Reflect by examining the value of this protocol
- Ask how this protocol could be used in the classroom?
- At the end of the activity record the ideas on the white boards for future use. A smart phone will do this effectively. Make a copy available to participants as a way of ensuring follow up.
Activity 3: Ensuring Innovation and Change
(and avoid burning people out by doing more of the same)
Step 1: research
Research the concept of innovation.
Step 2: reflection
We have all heard the saying the more things change the more they stay the same...
Why does so much innovation fail and become more of the same? Add your reflection to your journal and share with a learning partner.
Step 3: sharing
Step 4: staying in touch with 'what's over the horizon' and new and emerging technologies
How do you decide what should inform the next stage of your plan and action? How do you know that it is right for you? How do you embed this in your next cycle of practice?
Step 1: research
Research the concept of innovation.
- Have a discussion about innovation with your team.
- If you find some new resources, share them with your team. Consider using tools such as Delicious or Diigo to share bookmarks with your active learning partners.
Step 2: reflection
We have all heard the saying the more things change the more they stay the same...
Why does so much innovation fail and become more of the same? Add your reflection to your journal and share with a learning partner.
Step 3: sharing
- What can you do to ensure the success of your change?
- What thinking, actions and processes are significant in supporting innovation? What opportunities for change of direction are evident? What will we see happening? How often?
- Share your ideas with a learning partner.
Step 4: staying in touch with 'what's over the horizon' and new and emerging technologies
How do you decide what should inform the next stage of your plan and action? How do you know that it is right for you? How do you embed this in your next cycle of practice?
Activity 4: The Miracle Question
People who have a very clear mental picture of where they want to be have the best chance of getting there. This activity is designed to help you create that picture. It is important to have the time to do it justice.
Imagine that a miracle has occurred and you have achieved all your goals and have successfully led the transformation of your school into a 21st century learning centre where students are achieving great outcomes. Take a guest on an imaginary tour. Describe what they will see and hear as the tour progresses. Take them into a classroom. What will they see students doing? What will they hear teachers and students saying? What will they feel?
Allow at least 30 minutes to silently complete this task. Write your ideas trying to keep writing without stopping. Don't agonise on the quality of the writing as it is for you only.
Write on paper or in your journal, it does not matter at this stage.
When you have finished read over your rough draft and prepare a summary. Identify 3 peers whose judgement you value. Meet with each individually. Share your vision with each of them and ask them for an honest response. Note their suggestions without comment or justification. Silently reflect on these suggestions and adjust your picture accordingly.
You now have a clear picture of where you want to be and what 21st century learning could look like in action. Over time you can keep refining your picture.
This is a very practical way to set goals.
In your journal answer the following questions:
Imagine that a miracle has occurred and you have achieved all your goals and have successfully led the transformation of your school into a 21st century learning centre where students are achieving great outcomes. Take a guest on an imaginary tour. Describe what they will see and hear as the tour progresses. Take them into a classroom. What will they see students doing? What will they hear teachers and students saying? What will they feel?
Allow at least 30 minutes to silently complete this task. Write your ideas trying to keep writing without stopping. Don't agonise on the quality of the writing as it is for you only.
Write on paper or in your journal, it does not matter at this stage.
When you have finished read over your rough draft and prepare a summary. Identify 3 peers whose judgement you value. Meet with each individually. Share your vision with each of them and ask them for an honest response. Note their suggestions without comment or justification. Silently reflect on these suggestions and adjust your picture accordingly.
You now have a clear picture of where you want to be and what 21st century learning could look like in action. Over time you can keep refining your picture.
This is a very practical way to set goals.
In your journal answer the following questions:
- How did you find this activity?
- How did the peers you approached support your thinking?
- How will you use the picture that you have developed?
- What have you learnt?