Learning Conversations

In the midst of the provincial dialogue, supervision schedules, and numerous other distractions, it is easy to overlook some of the remarkable professionalism that continues to flourish.  Through a partnership between the Local Union and the District, SD #54 has been fortunate to bring in Faye Brownlie to work with teachers in what is,  "A Leadership Series: Current and Effective Teaching Strategies Across the Curriculum".

In the first session, Ms. Brownlie engaged 20 local teachers, including guests from Burns Lake, Moricetown and Terrace. It was fascinating to watch Ms. Brownlie integrate specific learning strategies across a very diverse group of educators, while adjusting for and respecting the various starting points of the individual educators on this journey.  However, regardless of starting point,  there are some key questions we ask ourselves as we use assessment to inform instruction.

• What can my students do?
• What is missing? (What do I wish they could do?)
• What do I need to teach?
• Is my teaching making a difference?

Across this group, across our District, and across the Province professional activities such as this do make a difference in teaching and learning. Ms. Brownlie referenced the McKinsey Report (2007) which states:

"The top-performing school systems recognise that the only way to improve outcomes is to improve instruction: learning occurs when students and teachers interact, and thus to improve learning implies improving the quality of  that interaction."

It is through the ongoing professionalism of our educators that we will continue to lead as a top-performing system.  Ms. Brownlie is back in Smithers on December 1st for an evening Pro-D session and will continue her work with this group of teacher leaders on December 2.

Leading Learning

Last week, our District had the pleasure of having Bruce Beairsto join our administrators group and present some of his thoughts on personalized learning. While I do not have the time or space to encapsulate his entire presentation, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the particulars that stuck with me.

As we try to get a handle on the how, what and why of change as part of the personalized learning agenda, it becomes necessary to answer the following question:  What is the most compelling reason for changing the way schools operate? As mentioned last week, the rate of change in the world should be compelling enough, but that aside, how are schools in their traditional structures (as Sir Ken Robinson might put it) preparing students for a future we cannot imagine? And if we cannot imagine IT, what skills prepare our youth to handle IT?

Fortunately, we are not alone.  Every jurisdiction is peeling this onion, and perhaps that is how we will get there, but unfortunately, there is no silver bullet.  We are not likely, as Bruce put it,  to "shrink wrap" this and send it out to a school near you.   And while the uncertainty creates unease, I think it makes sense and could be equally liberating. For if we believe we are preparing students to develop the skills they need to enter the unknown, an expectation of the shrink wrap solution would seem counterintuitive.

And what are these skills?  Bruce referenced several sources, such as Tony Wagner's Seven Survival Skills from his book, The Global Achievement Gap.

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Collaboration Across Networks
• Agility and Adaptability
• Ingenuity and Entrepreneurship
• Effective Oral and Written Communication
• Accessing and Analyzing Information
• Curiosity and Imagination

This is not to suggest the "3 R's" have lost their importance.  Indeed, as a foundation, they are more critical than ever.  However, they are also not sufficient, and doing more of the same will not better prepare our youth for an uncertain, rapidly changing world.