Notes in July

Hope this blog post finds all of you enjoying our wet and wild summer we are having.  It is hard to believe July is knocking at our door.  I hope you have had some time to relax and rejuvenate. As always, this link will contain some important dates and upcoming events below - along with a link to the master schedule, so please keep scrolling!  :-) 

July Reflections: 
This week, I ran across this article on twitter called "The Future of Work" by Eric Sheninger.  He talks about how it is our duty as educators to prepare our students for this every changing world. Technology is changing the world we live in exponentially, so understanding the skills necessary for our students to succeed is a required step to ensuring we are offering a world-class education.

I believe that Perry Central Jr./Sr. High School is on their way to ensuring our students are ready for their Future of Work.  Integrating Project Based Learning, Industry Challenges, Student-Led Organizations, and other business/industry partner opportunities are all ways we are integrating authentic and purposeful learning that allows for rigor and engagement. 

This is a very exciting time in education.  We know the time for change is now! 

Below is a copy of Eric's article.  Please take a few minutes to read it!   

The Future of Work

The future of work should be on the top of everyone’s mind as it is smacking us right now in the face.  As I have previously written, we are in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution, where rampant innovation and exponential advances in technology are changing the societal landscape.  We are seeing professions being redefined or outright eradicated.  Here is a fact.  Millions of jobs are and will continue to be, lost as a result of artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and automation.  So, what does this all mean? Below is a synopsis from the World Economic Forum (WEF):

As technological breakthroughs rapidly shift the frontier between the work tasks performed by humans and those performed by machines and algorithms, global labor markets are likely to undergo significant transformations. These transformations, if managed wisely, could lead to a new age of good work, good jobs and improved quality of life for all, but if managed poorly, pose the risk of widening skills gaps, greater inequality, and broader polarization. In many ways, the time to shape the future of work is now. 

The WEF goes on to summarize five trends that everyone needs to know about to be ready for this paradigm shift.

1. Automation, robotization, and digitization look different across different industries
2. There is a net positive outlook for jobs – amid significant job disruption
3. The division of labor between humans, machines, and algorithms is shifting fast
4. New tasks at work are driving demand for new skills
5. We will all need to become lifelong learners

There is a great deal to unpack here.  To begin, let’s focus on the most critical overreaching element. Change is not only on our doorstep, but it is about to kick the darn door in.  As a parent, this terrifies me as both my children will be thrust into this world very soon. There is some good news, however.  In the midst of the 4th and eventually the 5th Industrial Revolution, there will be millions of new jobs.  Will our learners be ready?

The question above is meant as a catalyst for reflection.  The future of work requires new skills, and it is up to K-12 education to lead the charge in this area.  Skills are not enough, in my opinion.  Yes, we want learners to have the requisite skills to meet the needs and demands inherent in the 4th Industrial Revolution. More importantly, it is our duty and the role of education to ensure that they are competent. Here are some of the thoughts I shared on this in a previous post:

Competencies outline "how" the goals and objectives will be accomplished. They are more detailed and define the requirements for success in broader, more inclusive terms than skills do. There is also an increased level of depth that considers skills, knowledge, and abilities. To succeed in the new world of work, students will need to demonstrate the right mix of skills, knowledge, and on-the-job ability. A skill is a practical or cognitive demonstration of what a student can do. Competency is the proven use of skills, knowledge, and abilities to illustrate mastery of learning by solving problems. 

The image below outlines the critical competencies (left side) that students will need in the future of work and how educators can make sure they develop them (right side).

Empowering our learners to think critically and solve real-world problems is paramount. However, as the WEF notes, lifelong learning is a must for all of us, not just the kids we serve. To meet the demands and expectations for work now and in the future, we must commit to professional growth. It is vital to make the time to learn and grow as opposed to finding the time. If we rely on the latter, chances are it will never happen.  Lifelong learning can come in many forms, but in my opinion, the most practical and time-friendly option is the creation and use of a Personal Learning Network (PLN). Using social media allows all of us real-time access to the most relevant ideas and knowledge that can be immediately implemented into practice to prepare learners for their future better.

The time is now to move the needle on needed change. The longer we wait, the greater the risk for those we serve – our kids. 

Reflections from June

Greetings!  Hope all of you are having a great summer!  We have had a lot of great Professional Development already at Perry Central.  I hope you are excited as I am about launching into a new school year!   As a way to reflect, I am going to share the highlights of what I have learned so far this summer!   Please feel free to respond and share to the blog so we can all learn together!

E-Learning Conference:  Buddy Berry - "School on Fire"
   
     First of all, I want Perry Central Jr./Sr. High School to be a school on FIRE!  Anyone else?  I was so inspired by his presentation and ideas on how to increase student engagement and inspire students to work hard and be prepared for the 21st Century!  We will be taking a team to Eminence High School in July and I cannot wait!  Below are a few things that stuck in my mind:

   * Surprise and Delight - When we add a surprise and delight activity to our school or classroom it builds loyalty and make our students fans of learning! Surprise and Delight can be as simple as a surprise jean day or a dance party in the gym! Providing students with choice/autonomy is also important. The goal is to have one surprise and delight lesson a week!   Who is ready to get creative with a lesson?  (If you google your standards or google surprise and delight ideas - you will get many things to choose from!)
  * "See a Problem, Fix a Problem" - Dr. Berry said that in his school they encourage adults and students to be creative thinkers and find solutions to their problems!  Blue Lobster ideas are creative ways to fix problems and they celebrate creative thinking.  Encouraging our students to be problem solvers utilizing creativity and innovation will only help launch them into a successful future!
* Make it Meaningful - Dr. Berry encourages 5 meaningful moments in a year.  This could be a passion based learning opportunity, project based learning, community service, etc.  This reminded me of the Industry Challenges that we are working on integrating in our CTE classes.  Providing students with the opportunity to think critically in a team setting and present that back to an authentic audience helps all students be successful at much needed professional skills.

Many of you have been in conversations where we have talked about Ron Clark. I believe Dr. Berry's ideas are in line with Ron Clark's theories.  I look forward to moving in this direction with you! 

Jim Sporleder Training

The Perry County United Way brought Jim Sporleder to Perry County for a Community event last week.  Mr. Sporleder is a former principal and author of the book Trauma Informed Schools.  His presentation was wonderful as it helped validate strategies we have already implemented, but also helped us find a balance between trauma informed care and consequences. (I think we have all been grappling with this.)   Our admin team met, after listening to Mr. Sporleder, to discuss the best way to move forward at Perry Central.  I can't wait to share with you some of our thoughts in the near future! 
Here are a few quotes from Mr. Sporleder that stuck with me.  I hope you enjoy them:
* A caring adult relationship creates the trust, safety and resilience that can launch our students forward.
* We think kids should know better when they make mistakes, but when they live in toxic environments they really do not know - so we must teach them!
* It is important to set boundaries and consequences when students mess up - but here are some important mindsets to remember:
    - When you hold them accountable by punishing, you are trying to get them to do something out of fear.  It creates a You against Me situation.
    - When you use discipline strategies (instead of punishing strategies) you are saying that you are going to coach them/ you are going to walk with them through the fire and help them.  This creates a Me with You situation.
* Student's healing starts when their voices are heard/ feelings are validated.

If you are interested in looking at his book, please let me know!  We also plan to revamp our ISS room and how it is utilized.  More on this in the future as well!

Summer Updates: 

Rethinking Spaces:   We will be making a few changes this summer!  (Maybe this is the Surprise and Delight section of this blog!)
       Innovative Spaces:  We will be moving Bo Gibson to the FLEX room to teach his classes. ISS will be moved to the extra Day Care space and FLEX will move to Adam Stowe's room, who will move into Bo's room!  (Did you get all of that!  ;-))  We will be utilizing Bo's new room and the ISS room to create an innovative space for students to utilize the 3D printers, vinyl cutter, t-shirt maker, robotics stations and more!  We are excited about this move!
    Nurse's Office:   Ms. Susan will be moving to the old elementary teacher's lounge in the elementary.  This is going to provide her more space and access to younger students and showers for students to use.  The current nurses office will be our new teacher's lounge/meeting room!

Commodore Manufacturing:  Mr. Craney has 30 students that are working extremely hard in summer Commodore Manufacturing!  They are producing product much faster than anticipated!  When you ask students about their experiences, they look at you with a smile and tell you how fun it is!  Even though they are leaving hot and dirty, their hearts are very happy!  Thanks to Josh for leading this effort.

3D Printing Training - CTE teachers involved in the 3D Printing project, Justin will be here on the 12th to offer a one day training.  We will plan to meet from 8:00 - 2:00 that day.  I will provide lunch!

Problem-Based Learning Training - Through a CTE Grant, we will be hosting the Buck Institute July 22, 23, & 24 at Perry Central.  We would LOVE to have anyone interested to sign up to attend.  The first 22 people that register will for sure earn $200 for attending.  As we move into Industry Challenges and more conceptual learning across curricular areas, this type of training will prove to be valuable.   Please know we would love any and all to attend!  This training is also opened to other schools in the area, so bring your friends! 

New Cell Number - Just a reminder, I have a new cell phone number.  812-719-1937  I will be in and out all summer, so please feel free to contact me via cell phone if you have questions.


Upcoming Dates:

English Curriculum Meeting - Wednesday, July 19th at 9:30 a.m. High School Library

Back To School Retreat - July 31, August 1st

Back to School Night - August 1st    5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

7th Grade Orientation - July 31st   5:30 p.m. meal/Program at 6:00 p.m.