Monday, August 13, 2012

21st Century Learning at PTHS

Today I turn over my blog to a guest blogger.  Mr. Scott Inglese, the high school principal, will discuss one initiative that is targeting significant change at the high school.  I have been watching the development of this team that he discusses with great interest.  The work they are doing has the potential to shift the culture of instruction toward a more individualized format.  Mr. Inglese and the teachers have been doing a great job transferring ideas into action.  Enjoy the blog entry from Mr. Inglese.


As the high school moves toward 21st Century Learning, students and staff will undergo significant changes in the coming years.  This year we will implement a new BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy where student may use their own device anytime, anywhere as long as they use them responsibly and appropriately.  We have come to realize that in, 2012, these devices can be a valuable instructional tool for teachers.  We now have a new wireless network that will permit students to access WIFI throughout the school.  Student devices enable teachers to “blend” their classes to combine traditional and virtual methods of instruction inside and outside the confines of the classroom.  Instead of fighting with students using Facebook and Twitter in class we will embrace it as an instructional tool for students and teachers to collaborate with one another.  Students will be able to learn anytime, anywhere.

A 21st Century Learning pilot group of teachers are implementing some new practices that challenge some of the traditional teaching and learning that most of us grew up with.  These teachers will shift from individual practitioners to collaborative and project based teaching.  Teacher-centered, lecture-based classrooms will give way to more student-centered, interactive learning. Teachers are moving students out of rows and into groups where they will do more collaboration and application of concepts. 

Additionally, these teachers are reexamining some of their homework practices to make sure homework is meaningful and relevant, so students don’t perceive it as busywork.  Instead of students doing homework for “points,” they do it for the value of learning.  They are also exploring an option for students to retest to encourage mastery of concepts before they plow forward.

This is an exciting time for the high school.  I look forward to the new school year to see how these changes develop.

8 comments:

  1. I would like to address this response to both Scott and Dr. Tom: has the district opened a dialogue with business to see what the district can do (particulary at the high school level) to educate/prepare PT students for entering the workforce. Specifically, is PT preparing students for the technology based jobs, supervision of non-English speaking workers, addressing hands on (higher paying blue collar jobs) etc.? To become a district of choice, PT should be anticipating the next 5 to 10 years and be adjusting the education plan accordingly. But what else is PT doing to meet this challenge?

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    1. Hokapig, you should already know the answer to this after all you have ALL the answers.

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    2. While that is true, I am interested in the admin's point of view.

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    3. The school district is focusing on engaging the business community during the upcoming school year. There will be events where business leaders will get a chance to see some of the pilot programs in action and to offer advice as to what they are looking for in new employees. I look forward to the conversations that will result from engaging this important constituency.

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  2. BYOD? REALLY? How disheartening it is to learn that the PTHS teachers are tired of fighting with the students to turn off their electronic devices during school. An argument may be made that twitter and facebook can be learning tools, BUT truly how could the staff be naive to think that there will be much more inappropriate use than could be justified?

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    1. It's time you realize we are living in the 21st century. These devices are an extension of these kids lives. I for one don't like the reliance that everyone has on their devices but it's what we have, we need to use it to our advantage. Look at how much the handheld device has taken over the work place, we would be doing our kids a disservice if we didn't incorporate them into their school day.

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    2. What about the students who don't own the fancy devices that others have... it becomes a social status issue as well.
      I strongly disagree with your second point... employers frown on the use of any device used to access social media during the workday.

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  3. In our business, we tried to find some PTHS students to assembly electronic devices but we couldn't find anyone with the right skills and time to fit in. It basically turned into a training project that drove production costs beyond the threshold for profit. Mr. Whitmore's point is well taken and in-line with Mr. Inglese's well written project description ending with the statement on evaluating the program this year.

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