NETS in Action: Strengthening and Assessing 21st Century Skills

Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9 NETS in Action: Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills Ferdi Serim Director, Professional Development Programs Excelsior Software [email_address]

To Explore NETS (S-T-A) and identify:

what intrigues, startles or puzzles you

obstacles to practical implementation

materials for your local action plan

(use your google docs!)

Three unreleased movies stolen

Studio fears Internet distribution

Time is critical

Studio detectives conducted preliminary investigation

E-mailing you the details now…

Location of the hacker found fro

LAN Party

25 People in attendance

Many were strangers to one another

Rotated computers

Computers no longer there

Router logs can’t be located

Intensive interviews narrowed the suspects

Absolute confirmation of certain facts

Facts to follow

IP Ad ress

Essential Questions

Could you solve this problem? Einstein estimated that only 2% of the population could!

Teens around the world are solving it today!

We ask 8 th graders to solve it in NETS-S 4.

Are you prepared to teach such students?

Are you prepared to supervise such teachers?

The new ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (for Students & Teachers) reinforce the importance of learning new processes and tools. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills

Navigating Our Way to Digital Age Learning Experienced aviators rely on a variety of sophisticated tools, none of which are sufficient when used in isolation. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Our Metaphor: “ By contrast, education’s over-reliance on mandated high-stakes testing as a single accountability measure may be a disaster waiting to happen.” (FS -2002) Only a multi-faceted system involving the proper tools and effective procedures, understood by all parties within a distributed team, can safely convey everyone from departure to destination. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

The GPS Metaphor

Formative data, based upon real-time, real-life

classroom observations

Gauges effectiveness of “course corrections”

Puts students at the center of their own learning

Technology can help teachers to:

focus on students as individuals

closely monitor their progress by looking at “real time” data

Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9 The new ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (for Students & Teachers) reinforce the importance of learning these new processes and tools.

Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9 Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology Presentation – Creativity: My presentation includes language, features, and information that surprise readers and communicate the theme. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face & virtual environments. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Discussion – Collaborating: I enthusiastically contribute to discussions. I am careful not to talk too much. I always encourage my classmates to speak by asking them questions and noticing when they look like they have something to say. I understand and use similar cues and strategies in online discussions.

Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9 Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools & resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, & attitudes identified in the NETS•S

Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Finding Information: When I have a problem, I can separate the important information from the unimportant information. I know when I need more information to solve a problem, and I have several strategies to find what I need. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Problem Solving - Seeking Challenge: I seek out challenging problems because they interest me, and because I learn from them. Working on difficult tasks gives me pleasure and satisfaction. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Accountability – Participation: I initiate discussions, ask significant questions, and act as a leader within the group. I ask thoughtful questions, and defend my opinions. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, & exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting & demonstrating the effective use of digital tools & resources Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations Managing Information: Tell about when you first entered information into simulation software. Describe your thoughts and reactions. Are these now “everyday tasks” for you? Have you ever coached someone in getting started? Please provide an example. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

21 st Century Standards-Based Learning: NETS Crosswalk

Reflection Validation Artifact Evidence of 21 st Century Skills NETS-S Student Project Technology Operations & Concepts Critical Thinking Problem-Solving & Decision Making Digital Citizenship Research & Information Fluency Communication & Collaboration Creativity & Innovation

Each 21 st Century Skills course project unit provides opportunities for students to submit artifacts for review and validation of mastery for each ISTE NETS standard and benchmark. While students are not expected to submit examples from all 24 measurement topics (6 standards each with 4 benchmarks) from a single project, over the course of several projects students will have been required to apply each skill and benchmark in completing their projects. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Submissions for portfolio entries in the database include:

Initial reflection on prior knowledge and examples of using these skills in real life

Predictions on how relevant skills will be used in the project and demonstrations of actual use during the project

Nominations for consideration as mastery

Reflections and evaluations of other student mastery nominations

Reactions to other students’ feedback on mastery nominations

Reactions to teachers’/coaches’/mentors’ feedback on mastery nominations

Final reflection on gained knowledge & examples of using these skills in real life

21CS Course Design

Professional Development Is Essential!

How do we grow the abilities of teachers and students to harness these systems to guide their next steps in advancing digital age learning and teaching?

How do we learn to see patterns that can inform our choices about curriculum and instruction?

How do we share this information with our teachers so they can use it to improve?

Strategy: Marzano Research Suggests Three Critical Interventions for Effective District/School Reform

1. Provide specific feedback on learning goals at the classroom, school and district levels.

2. Ensure effective teaching in every classroom.

3. Build background knowledge for all students.

Arizona’s Model of Systemic Schoolwide Improvement: Standard 1: SCHOOL AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP The district and school leadership focuses on improved student achievement. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Strategy: Align Curriculum, Instruction and Job-embedded PD

Implement a system of individual student feedback on learning goals at the classroom school and district levels

Arizona’s Model of Systemic Schoolwide Improvement: Standard 2: CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Rigorous curriculum and quality instruction provide all students the opportunity to meet or exceed Arizona Academic Standards . Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

21CS Course Design: Integrate PD and Instruction

Strategy: Guide Growth with Real-Time Data

Build understanding for the need for multiple measures

Build capacity through best practices in developing rubrics, measurement topics and formative assessments

Build capacity in using technology to assist with managing data: progress monitoring, tracking learning trends, adjusting instruction

Build capacity in interpreting and applying data for continuous improvement of instruction and student achievement

Arizona’s Model of Systemic Schoolwide Improvement: Standard 3: CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS The district or school uses multiple standards-based assessments, strategies, and data to measure and monitor student performance and to revise curriculum and instruction as needed. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Strategy: Communicate results to all stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, administrators, community) Arizona’s Model of Systemic Schoolwide Improvement: Standard 4: SCHOOL CULTURE, CLIMATE, AND COMMUNICATION The school functions as an effective learning community, supports a climate conducive to student achievement, and possesses an effective two-way communication system. Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Brainstorming: What Data Would Help You Decide…. How can we facilitate the sharing of ideas so that teachers who experience success in a particular area can help others meet similar challenges? Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Information is vital to navigating today’s educational landscapes and reaching our goal: to inspire systemic and sustainable change that drives educational performance and meets the diverse needs of every student Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9

Our Next Task:

To Consider NETS (S-T-A) and apply:

what intrigues, startles or puzzles you

solutions for practical implementation

strategies for your local action plan

(use your google docs!)

NETS in Action: Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills Ferdi Serim Director, Professional Development Programs Excelsior Software [email_address] Strengthening and Assessing 21 st Century Skills – Ferdi Serim © 2007-9