We believe curriculum becomes rigorous when students are pushed not only to know information but also to apply and demonstrate their understanding of that information. We believe that requiring students to reflect on and analyze their thinking and learning might be the most challenging task you can require of a teenager.
I think this is compelling reading for anyone in the social sciences. What are the implications for a nation like outs in which 30% of our young adults do not graduate from high school?
This is the Paly Voice, an online newspaper produced by the students of Palo Alto High School. Just a cursory glance says a lot here about the depth and the savvy of these students. Great example to follow.
The Gen We video. intrigueing stuff. I wonder what the reaction would be if we showed this to high school teachers? Would they see the same ideasl in their students?
Doug Johnson's article from 10 years ago about how to create engagin research projects with students. This should be required for every high school English teacher.
Consider letting students create teacher PD as part of their technology education program.
Move
towards a model of embedded professional development. Binge
professional development that happens in one day rarely creates
sustainable, system wide change. Move toward embedded programs like
the 23 things that involve teachers in their own pd and requires them to research, reflect, and use the tools.
Do kids learn to think by reading great literature, doing difficult math and learning history, philosophy and science? Or can they tackle those subjects on their own if schools simply teach them to problem-solve, communicate, use technology and think creatively?