“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
Project XLR8 (Accelerate)
Progress, Challenges and Efforts Towards Sustainability
A. Anil Kumar
PVAMU
RHS
WSSU
WSPA
TSU
Jones HS
Globally
Competitive
Educational
Reform
SU-BR
Capitol
Academy
CSU
Coppin
Academy
Future Sites
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston
November 16-18, 2008
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
PROGRESS
•
Science passing rates have increased
•
Curriculum is more rigorous with problem-based learning
•
Increased participation and success in UIL events
•
Several innovative approaches to instruction
•
“Spiral” approach to building comprehension in successive grades
•
Integration of concepts and thinking across subjects and disciplines
•
… and many more!!!
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
WHAT IS DIFFERENT?
Royal High School:
• Enhanced expertise in RHS teachers
• More confident and empowered teachers
• Redesigned classrooms
• Redesigned laboratories
• Enhanced rigor in the curriculum and delivery
• Obvious relevance to the real world needs
• Enhanced periodic interactions within and across disciplines
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
WHAT IS DIFFERENT?
Prairie View A&M University:
• Enhanced appreciation among faculty for school affairs
• Modified curriculum more relevant for future teacher preparation
• Enhanced In-Service-Pre-Service teacher interactions
• Reduced need for remedial courses for RHS graduates entering PVAMU
• Reduced need for remedial courses for graduates from other schools when
this effort is expanded
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
CHALLENGES
•
US continues to trail behind globally
•
State standards in relevant subjects still primitive
•
Depressing economy issues raise the relevance of education
•
Problems regarding education have become more cultural
•
These problems cannot be solved by the existing approaches – throwing
money at the problem, legislation and regulation, technological fixes,
applying specialized knowledge, media coverage and PR*
*Daniel Yankelovich, The New Pragmatism
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
BRICK
Brazil
Russia
India
China
Korea
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
Let us look from the other side
- Where the kids are!
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008

Generation Y—Millenials
25%+ of Americans
70 Million People



Value Diversity/Change
Techno-savvy
Want Work to be Meaningful
Key Word: Realistic
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
MULTI-GENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
• 4 Generations working side by side
• People at the heart of what teachers
do
• Generation Gap is widening
• Different values, experiences,
styles, and attitudes create
– Misunderstandings
– Frustrations
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
NATURAL BUT CONFLICTING OUTLOOKS
Traditionalists
Build a Legacy
Baby Boomers
Build a Stellar Career
Generation X
Build a Portable Career
Generation Y
Build Parallel Careers
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that
today’s learner will have 10-14 jobs . . .
By the age of 38.
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
COCA COLA VIRTUAL THIRST CAMPAIGN
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
SECOND LIFE “HANGING OUT TOGETHER”
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Dawn of a new era.
Soon, a bold challenge to the tired old
myths of luxury will be hitting millions of
TV screens across the land.
A new viewpoint.
A new way of thinking.
A new era.
On February 3rd, you will be sent an
exclusive preview of the Audi Super Bowl
commercial. You will have a chance to
witness the moment that will set the
nation talking.
The countdown has started.
Don't miss the moment of truth. Audi.
Truth in Engineering.
Stay tuned for news about this 'new
era'.ps.
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 didn’t
exist in 2004.
We are currently preparing students for
jobs that don’t yet exist,
using technologies that haven’t been
invented,
in order to solve problems we don’t even
know are problems yet.
(From the video “Did You Know?”)
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
BUT,
We Can’t Get There From Where We Are!!!!!
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
Where Are We?
•
Low expectations
•
Primitive standards
That is why Europeans see the first two years of US higher education as
High School Catch-Up!
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
Tenth Grade Science
Distinguished
Above
Mastery
Mastery
Partial
Mastery
Novice
assess error in measuring
energy conservation;
interpret calculations and
graphs of rate, force,
momentum, work and
time;
suggest a simple machine
to provide optimum
mechanical advantage;
measure calculate the
spring constant and
relate to its properties;
interpret
calculations
and/or graphs
of rate, force,
momentum,
work and time;
compare
calculated
mechanical
advantage of
similar simple
machines;
measure
calculate the
spring
constant;
relate
Newton’s Laws
of Motion to
rate, force,
momentum,
work and time;
calculate
mechanical
advantage of
simple
machines;
compare the
effect of
different
forces on
vibrating
systems;
define
Newton’s Laws
of Motion, rate,
force,
momentum,
work and time;
calculate
mechanical
advantage of
some simple
machines;
recognize
vibrating
systems;
state the three
Laws of
Motion;
calculate
mechanical
advantage of a
simple
machine;
recognize a
pendulum is
an example of
a vibrating
system;
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
Freshmen Class of 2007-2008
Science Graduation Requirements
Minimum Plan
(2 Credits)
Integrated Physics
& Chemistry (IPC)*
Biology
Recommended Plan
Distinguished
Achievement
Plan
(4 Credits)
(4 Credits)
1 Credit of:
Biology, or AP Biology, or IB Biology
2 Credits from:
Integrated Physics & Chemistry (IPC) or
Chemistry. AP Chemistry, IB Chemistry or
Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, IB Physics
The final science credit can be from the following electives:
(A) Earth and Space Science (B) Environmental Systems (C) Aquatic Science
(D) Astronomy (E) Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems (F) AP Biology (G) IB
Biology (H) AP Chemistry (I) IB Chemistry (J) AP Physics (K) IB Physics (L) AP
Environmental Science (M) IB Environmental Systems (N) Scientific Research and
Design (O) Engineering
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
•
No reinforcement of knowledge
•
No relevance to real world or the student’s aspirations
•
Still applying a “cookie cutter” approach – one size fits all
"This is not something that we teach in the 3rd
grade, check it off, and go on. It’s not a skill. It’s
habit. ..and it needs to be a part of almost every
conversation that we have in our classrooms.” David Warlick - 2 Cents Worth
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
What We Teach
What They Need
Design
How to take tests
Short-term cramming
Logic
Memorizing
Useless facts
Outdated Techniques
Problem-solving by recipe
Gaming the system
How to focus
Multiple
Intuition Perspectives
Curiosity
Fundamental
Concepts
Symbolics
Key Facts
Using
Metaphors
Ethics/Social
Implications
Wholistic
Thinking
Resourcefulness
Metacogintion
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
The Chasm
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
Standards
Implementation
Teaching
to TAKS
Skills Acquired
Teacher training/
preparation
Customized Access
MS
HS
HS
College
College
Workforce
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/content/RationalEdge/jul01/m_chasm_sf.jpg
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
We Cannot Make the Teachers
Responsible for Our Collective
Failures!
- President Obama
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
http://headrush.typepad.com/
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
GIVE UP THE OLD THEORIES OF LEARNING
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
NEW THEORIES OF
LEARNING
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
Cook and co-founder Cristina
Videira Lopes (Second Life:
Diva Canto), a computer
science professor at the
University of California at
Irvine, have designed a series
of automated programs, called
“bots,” to search through both
Second Life and OpenSim.
The results of their searches
are indexed and made
searchable to users, in much
the same way Google does for
the World Wide Web.
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
PART III - Next Steps
Understanding Global Environment,
Responding to it, and
Strategizing for Sustainability
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
PVAMU
RHS
WSSU
WSPA
A VISION:
TSU
Jones HS
And Collective Action
CSU
Coppin
Academy
Future Sites
With A Shared Vision,
Diverse Approaches,
Globally
Competitive
Educational
Reform
SU-BR
Capitol
Academy
Networked Partnership
Towards A Common
Goal
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
PARTING THOUGHT
We don’t consider a patient cured when his
sprain has healed or he’s been restored to a
minimal level of functioning. The patient is cured
when he can again do the things he loves to do.
- Dr Stanley A Herring
http://www.bartleby.com/63/63/2963.html
We can paraphrase this statement for education!
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
•
Teen Second Life is an international gathering place for teens 13-17
to make friends and to play, learn and create.
•
In Second Life, teens can create and customize a digital self called
an "avatar," fly through an ever-changing 3D landscape, chat and
socialize with other teens from all over the world, and build
anything from skyscrapers to virtual vehicles.
•
It’s more than a videogame and much more than an Internet chat
program – it’s a boundless world of surprise and adventure that
encourages teens to work together and use their imaginations.
•
Second Life is developed by Linden Lab, a company founded in 1999
and provides the technology but the Second Life residents
themselves are the ones who really help shape the world and make
it unique.
•
Teachers will be brought in for special educational projects as well.
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
•
Real-time 3D StreamingAll content—objects, textures, audio, video and motion—is
streamed to you in real-time at DSL/Cable modem (or higher) bandwidths.
•
No zoning or waiting for areas to download.
•
Streaming positional audio creates a rich aural landscape that conveys distance
and direction.
•
Share your favorite video; if you can convert it to Quicktime, you can play it inworld.
•
Endlessly Expandable Landscape Second Life exists on a scalable server grid
running Linux, capable of supporting thousands of simultaneous Second Life
Residents.
•
Each server represents a unique geographic region—so the world can grow
infinitely in any direction, just by adding off-the-shelf Linux boxes.
•
Infinite Avatar Customization - Create your look from scratch with high-resolution
character meshes. Using over 150 unique sliders, change everything from your
foot size to your eye color to the cut of your shirt.
•
Cost-effective Thin Client One 20Mb download delivers persistent desktop access
to Second Life—no CD to buy, no 1GB downloads.
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
•
Cost-effective Thin Client One 20Mb download delivers persistent desktop
access to Second Life—no CD to buy, no 1GB downloads.
•
Everything resides on the Second Life server grid—so all you need on your
computer is a small, easily updateable viewer.
•
Intelligent Compression An advanced compression system intelligently sends
you thousands of objects per second.
•
Objects that are large, in front of other things, or in motion appear first.
•
Smaller details and textures fill in while you’re not looking.
•
Display any number of textures at any resolution, streamed to you with
progressive wavelet compression. Cross-platform Portability Second Life has
been created with industry-standard cross-platform technologies, including:
OpenGL, UDP networking, Linux servers, and Ogg-Vorbis compression for
audio.
•
Realistic Weather System A cellular automata-based weather system
provides wind, cloud formations, and a day/night cycle. Enjoy beautiful
sunrises or sunsets—no two ever look the same!
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
OUR MOTTO
“Empowering Every Student to be
Globally Competitive
and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an
Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD - ENGLAND
“TEACH TOPICS NOT SUBJECTS”

It makes the curriculum more relevant by introducing topics such
as global warming and how to buy a home or open a bank account.
 Teachers will have more freedom to introduce catch-up classes for
slow learners, and more taxing programs for high-fliers.
 Youngsters will be given their own personalized learning plan,
tailored to help them study at their own speed
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD - EUROPE
The Bologna declaration, made in June 1999 in Bologna by the higher-education
ministers from 29 European nations (now signed by 40 nations), commits their
governments to reforming their university systems to create a so-called European
Higher Education Area by 2010.
The declaration has four ambitions.
(i)
Improve the quality and effectiveness of the education provided by
Europe's universities, particularly so that graduates are more employable.
(iii) Promote mobility of students, especially graduates.
(v) Make European universities more attractive in the emerging global market
for students.
(vii) Extend the notion of a European "identity" from politics and economics into
the cultural and educational spheres.
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD - U.S.
Baccalaureate School for Global Education, Astoria, N.Y
• A documentary called Loose Change uses 9/11 footage and interviews with
building engineers and Twin Towers survivors to make a compelling case that
interior explosions unrelated to the impact of the airplanes brought down the
World Trade Center on that fateful day.
• The students dive into a discussion about the elusive nature of truth, followed
by a discussion about what we know and how we know it - typical of a theory
of knowledge class, a required element for an IB diploma.
• "If truth is difficult to prove in history, does it follow that all versions are
equally acceptable?"
• Throughout the year, the class will examine news reports, websites,
propaganda, history books, blogs, even pop songs.
• The goal is to teach kids to be discerning consumers of information and to
research, formulate and defend their own views.
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD - U.S.
Farmington High School, Michigan
• The engineering-technology department functions like an engineering firm.
• The teachers act as project managers.
• A Ford Motor Co. engineer acts as a consultant.
• Students work in teams.
• The principles of calculus, physics, chemistry and engineering are taught
through activities that fill the hallways with a cacophony of nailing, sawing
and chattering.
• The result: the kids learn to apply academic principles to the real world,
think strategically and solve problems.
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD - U.S.
Henry Ford Academy, A Public Charter School, Dearborn, Michigan
•
Depth over breadth and the ability to leap across disciplines are exactly
what teachers aim for at the Henry Ford Academy.
•
10th-graders in Charles Dershimer's science class began a project that
combines concepts from earth science, chemistry, business and design.
•
After reading about Nike's efforts to develop a more environmentally
friendly sneaker, students had to choose a consumer product, analyze
and explain its environmental impact and then develop a plan for reengineering it to reduce pollution costs without sacrificing its
commercial appeal.
•
Says Dershimer: "It's a challenge for them and for me."
“Empowering Every Student to be Globally Competitive and
Empowering Every Teacher to be an Enabler of Relevant Redesign”
Annual Peer Learning Network Meeting, Houston, November 16-18, 2008
ACTIONS AROUND THE WORLD - U.S.
Seattle's John Stanford International School
• Generally, the scores on state tests are at or above average, although those
exams barely scratch the surface of what Stanford students learn.
• Before opening the school seven years ago, principal Karen Kodama surveyed
1,500 business leaders on relevant languages, skills and disciplines.
• Even first-graders at Stanford begin to use PowerPoint and Internet tools.
• "Exposure to world cultures was an important trait so that instead of circling
back to the Pilgrims and Indians every autumn, children at Stanford do
social-studies units on Asia, Africa, Australia, Mexico and South America.
Courses offer an international perspective, so a lesson on the American
Revolution will interweave sources from Britain and France with views from
the Founding Fathers.
• Students actively apply the lessons by video-conferencing with sister schools
in Japan, Africa and Mexico, by exchanging messages, gifts and joining in
charity projects.