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Although a bit dated, this seems like a great example of the type of library we want to create.  Combine this physical space with inspiring, practical Professional Development and we're going to cook!

There are four big benefits of flex models: Competency-based: Students progress based on demonstrated mastery; they use cohort groups and teams when and where they are helpful. Customized experience: Flex models make it easy to customize the experience for each student. Portable and flexible: Students can take a flex school on the road for a family vacation or for a work or community-based learning experience. Productive operations: Flex models have the potential for more productive staffing and facilities solutions.

Lacks detail about HOW flex learning actually works, but the basic concept is appealing.

Google Doc folder containing: Printable Matrix for resources and attributes, Content Curation Digital Gallery - Editable Google Doc 5 Attributes of Content Curation - Infographic 5 Attributes of Content Curation - Clarification/Criteria 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon Curation - Game for thinking about linking

The 5 Attributes of Content Curation are … Seeking, Sorting, Synthesizing, Socializing, and Sharing. *Seeking is when students Identify, Investigate, Explore, and Inquire into an idea or question. *Sorting is when students Collect, Organize, and Contextualize those pieces that they discover. *Synthesizing is when those students then make Connections between information and ideas, when they Make Sense of these things and go on to Innovate and Create NEW information and ideas. *Socializing is when students Communicate, Collaborate, Revise, and Peer Assess as part of the LEARNING process. *Sharing is when students Propose ideas, solutions, and brand NEW questions. It is when they Publish and Present these things that show again as Dr. Wagner says…"What they can do with what they know."

Great clip on what it means to be knowledge-ABLE...and Content Curation.

"Writer and educator Mike Martin has been thinking about the future of schools and is looking forward to the Rowland Foundation's School Transformation Conference at UVM this week, where educators will consider the importance of innovation. (Martin) Estonia is one of the European Union's smallest countries, but it's where Skype comes from."

Nice piece on VPR by 2009 fellow Mike Martin.

""If you're not standing on the edge, you're taking up too much space." Littky

What an ideal #VTed school should look like according to students from across the state.

The Rural Trust's Global Teacher Fellowship program will be awarding up to 25 fellowships in 2014 to support the professional and personal development of rural teachers. The awards (up to $5,000 for individual teachers and $10,000 for a team of two or more teachers) support teachers' participation in self-designed summer learning experiences and a two-day place-based learning institute in the fall following their summer experience. This fellowship is a stand-alone grant not meant to supplement other grant funds for larger projects. Teachers are encouraged to center their learning in an international travel and study experience, out of which they develop interdisciplinary, place-based learning curricula aligned with their specific state and local content standards.

There are a number of Rowland fellows that might be able to use this to supplement / expand their existing work.

Another piece that puts the focus of Innovation on People rather than Programs. My personal belief is that #EdReform should start and end with empowering PD which is Personal and Purposeful. With that, what if schools modeled their PD on the Rowland Foundation's model of #EdReform? What would it look like if PD were not determined and delivered but instead supported and shared? What if PD were about providing resources and teaching teachers to be data collectors, researchers, developers of innovation? 2 year Action Research cycle? What if every teacher in a school spent a school year coming up with a hunch, collecting data, researching ideas around their hunch...then spent the second year testing it out/implementing it in the classroom, more data collection, presenting outcomes to their peers, and collecting feedback for reflection and refinement?

"What has proved to matter is...the building of knowledge and innovation skills, which are much harder and take longer to get in place and maintain. Leading-edge competency in one's area of practice is indispensable; practice at turning ideas into reality is a must." "...while learning is hard work, and the value is not quantifiable, it is the only way to remain valuable in an economy that thrives on innovation. The more you invest in your people's knowledge, the more innovation you can expect to reap."

This 23 slide screen-cast features 3 videos and explains Mike McRaith's 2013 Autumn Research as a Rowland Fellow. It can serve as a good starting place for anyone interested in building perseverance and grit into school culture.

The education wide-ranging ideas - presented in snapshots from principals, professors, policy makers, students, and others - really speak toward the Rowland community's drive toward shaking up the status quo in education. My personal favorite: scrap business-as-usual twelfth grade in favor of universal pre-school.

"...when we encourage entrepreneurship, we're actually trying to get people to the place where they care enough and where they are confident enough to stand up and try to make things change."

IMHO, the transformation of education isn't about "Innovation" as much as it is about creating Educational Entrepreneurs. And...IMHO, that is what the Rowland Foundation allows for and supports. The question is how do we convince more school and district leaders to do the same? Answer that question first and innovation will follow. Innovation is the Product Of rather than the Means To EdReform

I'm looking forward to seeing Sir Ken at the Rowland Foundation Conference this week! In this interview, I like how he debunks some commonly held myths about creativity. Huge implications for teachers and 21st Cent. Skills...