The document is a presentation by educators in Reading, Massachusetts proposing ways to incorporate 21st century skills into the curriculum. It discusses resources and infrastructure needed like technology access. It recommends teaching skills like problem solving, collaboration, and global awareness through real-world projects. Assessment should be ongoing, formative, and demonstrate both subject mastery and 21st century skills. Partnerships with parents, businesses, and higher education can help achieve these goals.

1. The World is Flat A Presentation by: Nancy Bentley (Wood End) Bill Endslow (RMHS) Colleen Dolan (RMHS) Liz Geraghty (CMS) Meg Powers (PMS)

3. Massachusetts Board of Education Presentation Reading Public Schools 21 st Century Skills Proposal

5. Building Blocks Leading and Managing Learning and Teaching Partnering Assessment

6. Leading & Managing Resources and Infrastructure Knowledge and skills Policymaking Accountability

7. If it’s not happening, it’s because you are not doing it. Thomas Friedman

8. Resources / Infrastructure Resource allocation ensures students, parents, teachers and administrators seamless access to 21st century technology in school, home, community Technical support process addresses issues in a timely fashion District and town services and operations are connected and technology is integrated seamlessly

10. Knowledge and Skills Innovative management, data driven decision making, on-going professional development Proficiency in use of 21 st century tools to create curriculum, develop assessment methods, and align standards Effective use of 21st century learning tools in management and act as role models in the usage. Administrators demonstrate:

11. " Teachers must become comfortable as co-learners with their students and with colleagues around the world. Today it is less about staying ahead and more about moving ahead as members of dynamic learning communities. The digital-age teaching professional must demonstrate a vision of technology infusion and develop the technology skills of others. These are the hallmarks of the new education leader.” Don Knezek, ISTE CEO, 2008

12. Policymaking Focuses on the integration of 21st century skills into content mastery Funding supports and encourages seamless integration of 21st century skills Curriculum is aligned with assessment and inclusive of 21 st century skills Professional development focuses on the most effective research-based teaching strategies, learning strategies and 21st century skills Ensure collaboration opportunities for staff

13. Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them, because they change things, they push the human race forward and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. Apple Computer 1984

14. Accountability District evaluates student achievement of 21st century skills in every aspect of teaching and learning District evaluates the systemic incorporation of 21st century skills Professional development is evaluated based on inclusion of 21st century skills Effective support processes for teachers and staff are in place

15. Are we teaching students to be ready for a bright future, or preparing them to be productive citizens of the past? Niki Alan November Webblog 3/30/08

16. Learning and Teaching 21 st Century Content 21 st Century Context Learning Skills Learning Tools

17. 21 Century Context Content should be contemporary and relevant Establish and utilize global partnerships to create real world connections via the internet Expect the use of 21 st Century Skills Give students real world data, tools and situations to enhance problem solving

19. 21 st Century Content Enhance current curriculum with technology at all levels. Add more World Languages that reflect the Flat World Begin teaching World Languages in elementary Promote right brain thinking through teaching the arts Teach technology in connection to the arts Create cross-disciplinary Courses at all levels Relevant examples, applications, and real world situations should be incorporated.

20. Learning Skills Encourage critical thinking skills Expand communication skills both online and in person Broaden technology skills to increase global awareness, initiate leadership, and practice problem solving Teach students to be discriminating readers and users of online content Students need to be able to manage information, integrate subjects and skills, think critically and creatively and solve problems

21. Instruction Expand opportunities for Virtual Learning in all subjects and all levels Offer opportunities to create innovative uses for computers Expand communication skills both on-line and in person Teach students to be discriminating readers and users of on-line content Technology should be seamlessly integrated into the learning environment.

22. Learning Tools Make sure infrastructure is in place to support technology system wide Every teacher receives a laptop Every student receives a laptop beginning in grade 3 SmartBoard in every classroom Students have their own digital portfolios that they can access from home or school Bring online experts into classrooms Expand opportunities for Virtual Learning in all subjects and all levels Offer opportunities to create innovative uses for computers

23. The most important question we should be asking is how can we convince our teachers to expect students to learn rather than to acquire knowledge. Then we can get them to use the tools we have supplied them to help students learn how to learn, to acquire knowledge and to apply their learning. Ray Dewar Alan November Webblog 7/19/07

24. Partnering Partnering is the creation of relationships that extend beyond the classroom. These are the relationships that have flattened the world and that our children will need to successfully participate in the world as adults. Who are our partners? Parents and Community Schools Across the District Higher Education and Teacher Preparation Content Providers Businesses Flat World Partners

25. “ Girls, when I was growing up, my parents used to say to me, ‘Tom, finish your dinner– people in China and India are starving.’ My advice to you is: Girls, finish your homework – people in China and India are starving for your jobs.” Thomas Friedman

27. Parents and Community Local businesses to provide 21 st century skills training for parents. Community programs and businesses to provide after-school opportunities to develop 21 st century skills. Local businesses to provide assistance of hardware for families in need of technology School based technology nights to provide hands-on learning for families. Workshops and extended learning programs to continue family education. Parents, schools and the community collaborate so that each child will master 21st century skills. The district will collaborate with: In addition, schools across the district can provide:

28. Higher Education and Teacher Preparation Provide district planning time to promote K-12 integration of content and education strategies with 21st century skills. Provide time and compensation to support action research focused on teaching and learning with the integration of 21st century skills. Develop relationships with area higher education institutions to support teacher preparation for proficiency in 21 st century skills and the hiring of teachers with these skills. The district will partner K–12 classroom teachers experienced in 21st century skills as mentors for first year teachers. The district will continue district-wide teacher preparation and sharing through the addition of another District Sharing Conference.

29. Content Providers The district will collaborate with content providers to create content and resources that use and promote 21 st century skills. District education leaders will collaborate with content providers to develop aligned resources, assessments and curriculum integrated with the appropriate 21st century tools and educational systems.

30. Flat World Partners Partner with schools across America or worldwide for authentic and meaningful project-based learning Establish and utilize global business partnerships to create real world business and industry connections via the Internet. Initiate global educational partnerships to allow for collaboration between teachers at all levels Bring on-line experts into the classroom via Skype

31. ASSESSMENT All assessment is learner-centered, formative, context-specific, ongoing and rooted in teaching strategies. All teachers use classroom assessments that demonstrate evidence of student performance in core subjects and 21st century skills All teachers share with parents and students the information needed to monitor student progress in achieving learning goals.

32. ASSESSMENT CON’T Students, teachers and parents always collaborate to monitor student progress in achieving learning goals and use assessment to evaluate long-term student progress Assessments use technology and record student performance as a means of tracking information over time.

33. References http://www.teckitech.com/random/great-inspirational-video-from-india/ Friedman, T. L. (2007). The Word is Flat . New York: Picador. Drawings courtesy of Wood End 4 th Graders http://nlcommunities.com/communities/alannovember/default.aspx

34. Credits Claudia Giles – Parker Middle School Nate Fisher - RMHS Ms. Bentley’s 4 th Grade Class – Wood End School

35. Thank you for supporting us in flattening our student’s world!!