Training and Assessment Innovation

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Spend five minutes in Jussi Hietava’s fourth-grade math class in remote, rural Finland, and you may learn all you need to know about education reform – if you want results, try doing the opposite of what American “education reformers” think we should do in classrooms.

Instead of control, competition, stress, standardized testing, screen-based schools and loosened teacher qualifications, try warmth, collaboration, and highly professionalized, teacher-led encouragement and assessment.

At the University of Eastern Finland’s Normaalikoulu teacher training school in Joensuu, Finland, you can see Hietava’s students enjoying the cutting-edge concept of “personalized learning.”

Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:

http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=Finland

http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=Personalized+Learning

In a blog post, Bill Gates explores personalized learning.

Toyota had this idea many years ago - creative thinking time - what teachers have always wanted ...It actually does work!

I chose this resources because I was interested in the concept of "teacherpreneurs". The opportunity to be afforded the time to engage in policy development and leadership roles is certainly terrific. I've always felt the influence from the ground level (teachers) is seldom felt. Instead, influence remains with the research community and union organizations. Of the specific points described in this article is that "The best teacherpreneurs lead from the middle". Teachers respond to others who are dealing with the same pressures and stresses associated with teaching. 

I scooped this article because more and more the topic of teacherpreneurs is coming up.  I like the idea of teachers as leaders, and even helping with policies.  It will be interesting to see if this expands more in the future. I hope that teachers reading this article watch this course of study/action closely and take part in it when they can, as we need more teachers to move into leadership and even into advocacy roles for education.

This article shares regards to learner choice and voice and their importance in effective student learning today.

Reading this article about giving learners voice and choice, and especially the quote from John Dewey, reminded me of former Georgetown School of Foreign Service Dean and legendary philosophy Professor Jesse Mann! And then I smiled! 

I fully support the idea that giving the learner voice and choice over what is learned is the strongest way to promote knowledge and understanding. This type of learning/educational interaction places the student in the driver’s seat of responsibility and places the instructor as just one more critical resource whom analyzes needs along with the student, designs an education plan that aligns and addresses individual strengths and weakness in the educational design, then facilitates that plan and assesses success.

Download the NMC Horizon Report: 2017 Higher Education Edition at http://go.nmc.org/2017-he. The New Media Consortium (NMC) and EDUCAUSE Learning Initiativ.

Reaffirming a humanistic approach to education Education alone cannot hope to solve all development challenges, but a humanistic and holistic approach to education can and should contribute to achieving a new development model. In such a model, economic growth must be guided by environmental stewardship and by concern for peace, inclusion and social justice.

The ethical and moral principles of a humanistic approach to development stand against violence, intolerance, discrimination and exclusion. Regarding education and learning, it means going beyond narrow utilitarianism and economism to integrate the multiple dimensions of human existence.

This approach emphasizes the inclusion of people who are often subject to discrimination – women and girls, indigenous people, persons with disabilities, migrants, the elderly and people living in countries affected by conflict. It requires an open and flexible approach to learning that is both lifelong and life-wide: an approach that provides the opportunity for all to realize their potential for a sustainable future and a life of dignity.

This humanistic approach has implications for the definition of learning content and pedagogies, as well as for the role of teachers and other educators. It is even more relevant given the rapid development of new technologies, in particular digital technologies.

Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2015/11/27/unlearning-the-old-relearning-learning-to-learn-howto/

This is not too a difficult question to address, because innovative teaching is good whether or not technology is used. A bad teacher does not suddenly become a good teacher just because technology is included into the mix. Nor does a good teacher need to always use technology to maintain their effectiveness. But before we discuss this question any further, we should define 'innovative teaching.' What is it, and how do we know a good, innovative teacher when we see one?

For me, innovative teaching is often invisible, and the teacher is very much peripheral, to the most important factor - the student and their learning. Good teachers instinctively know when to intervene and most importantly, when to get out of the way. Teaching is not so focused on instruction today (and nor should it ever have been), but is increasingly about facilitation, and considers the student holistically. Innovative teaching focuses on creating conducive environments within which good learning can occur. Innovative teachers are excellent at supporting students, and are also adept at creating engaging content and new experiences. A good teacher observes and measures progress without causing any stress to the learner or interruption to learning.

Innovative teachers are instinctive about student challenges such as lack of understanding, loss of focus, low engagement or demotivation. They strive to find new ways to keep students on task, motivate them to do their best, and encourage them to succeed. Innovative teaching is where good teachers are inventive and creative - where they continue to discover and devise new methods and content to ensure that students always get the best learning experiences. But consider that invention and innovation are not the same. Invention requires a creative individual, whereas innovation requires a courageous community (see for example Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory, 2003). Therefore, innovative teachers also need courage to embed their new methods and content, especially if it runs counter to the culture they work within.

Learn more / En savoir plus / Mehr erfahren:

http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=innovation

http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=Rise+of+the+Professional+Educator

Do you know the answer to the next simple question? "What do you know about web 2.0 technology?" What's so interesting about this video, is the simple fact that none of these so called digital natives are familiar with the term web 2.0.

A survey of schools around the world reveals what schools could look like, trends in personalized learning, the role of teachers and challenges to exciting techniques.

Learn more:

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/learning-path-for-professional-21st-century-learning-by-ict-practice/

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https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/education-collaboration-and-coaching-the-future/

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https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/privacy-in-the-digital-world-shouldnt-we-talk-about-it/

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A survey of schools around the world reveals what schools could look like, trends in personalized learning, the role of teachers and challenges to exciting techniques.

Learn more:

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/learning-path-for-professional-21st-century-learning-by-ict-practice/

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https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/education-collaboration-and-coaching-the-future/

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https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/privacy-in-the-digital-world-shouldnt-we-talk-about-it/

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These strategies are the essential foundation of what all good teachers do.  Every article and book that I have read about school improvement and effective teaching seems for focus on these same strategies.  We know it...but do we do it?  WITH FIDELITY?  I think that is often where it breaks down. These strategies need to be a part of EVERY lesson...EVERY day. They become highly effective when they are implemented consistently and intentionally.  With all teachers are required to do, it is easy to lose focus on intentionally using these effective strategies.

This is probably the best resource I have found for a pre-service and graduate teacher. As the title says it outlines the top ten evidence based teaching strategies and clearly describes each strategy and how and why they are effective. Very useful resource!.

Which of these strategies could you incorporate into your therapeutic groups?  How do you think they might be helpful? 

When you observe students in classrooms, do you see evidence of these practices?