Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The Ripple Effect - 21st Century Innovations That Matter

This session made a case for how using digital innovations could transform education and have a global impact as students are required to become prepared to enter a interdependent global workforce. Several points where explored.

1 - Learning with Understanding Works - this has to do with how information is transfered from short to long term memory and the number of synapsis used to transfer the information - it takes less when context comes into play.

2 - Prior Knowledge Counts - preconceptions must be made visible to students.

3 - Self Direction is Critical - students must be able to independently manage their own time

4 - Collaboration Advances Complex Learning - collaboration trumps competition everytime
5 - Multimodal Learrning - working memory can hold only 7 bits of information at a time, auotmaticity means your working memory is freed up to hold new things
6 - Creativity and Critical Thinking - can be taught acroos all domains
7 - System Thinking - Classrooms fall across a continuum of preparedness for 21st century learning - is yours a 1 or a 10?

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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope that you had a Happy Birthday! I love all of the information and can't wait to learn more from all of you. Now please get some sleep!
Cindy

Chascinc said...

Number three (self-direction) was one of my biggest challenges last year. I spent most of my time and energy teaching my students how to manage their time and work independently. I would love to learn more efficient ways of doing this. Vertical conversations among grade levels would probably be beneficial. I feel that I know so little about the primary classroom.
-Cheryl

Suzanne said...

Great post! In fact, I think digital innovations are the ONLY way to transform education. Those that catch on will soar, those that don't will fall further and further behind. The last point on systems thinking is key to the design and management of a school don't you think. Reminds me of you and TS always saying, "That was done by design!" :)

dayle timmons said...

So, Susan, on a scale from 1 to 10, where do you think Chets Creek is on the continuum for preparedness for 21st century learning? I think I'd give us a 3 schoolwide with variations among grades and classrooms. What do the rest of you think? dayle

Melanie Holtsman said...

I think you're right on dayle. But the amazing thing is we were probably a 0 a year ago and we'll be a 7 or above by the end of the year - I'll make sure of it!!!

Michelle Ellis & Debby Cothern said...

We are counting on all of you to help us move up the continuum. Debby

dayle timmons said...

Can we really be a 7 in the next year without money? Or is so much of web 2.0 based on the Internet that money is not a barrier?

Melanie Holtsman said...

Web 2.0 is almost entirely on the internet and free!