Thermostat or Thermometer Which Are You?

Are you setting the climate or simply reflecting it?

Characteristics of iY Generation Born since 1990 Low empathy Slack-tivists Technology is an appendage Self-absorbed Ambiguous about future (80% plan on moving home after college) OMG Postponed maturation (Desire privileges & responsibilities of growing up, but none of the consequences!)

SNL How well prepared are our students for college and life after college?

SCENE Their world is full of…. Speed Convenience Entertainment Nurture Entitlement Consequently they assume: Slow is bad Hard is bad Boring is bad Risk is bad Labor is bad These characteristics build virtue

Greatest Needs 1.Emotional Intelligence (40% LESS empathetic than 20 years) – Self awareness (They are not as important as they’ve been told they are.) – Self management (Parents over manage.) – Social awareness (They fail to see how they impact those around them.) – Relationship management (It’s all about ME.) Face time is reduced (easy to be mean on FB & Text) Too much screen time (destroys empathy)

2. Character Development Use images to spur discussion and lessons 10% skills 90% character It’s what's under the water that sinks the ship

3. Strengths Discovery Find ways to help them discover their primary strengths and gifts Help them know their weaknesses and how to improve them. Everybody is NOT good at everything! Everybody should not get a trophy or an “A”, these are earned. You can’t just SHOW UP! It’s OK to say, “No”. It’s OK to fail. It’s how you recover from those failures that is important. If you do not turn in an assignment on time then there should be a penalty. As a school we need a plan. Life is full of consequences! The sooner they learn that, the more likely they are to grow up as responsible, healthy adults. School should be a safe place to experience failures and learn how to recover.

4.Leadership Perspective – “Leadership is about disposition and not position” (servant leadership) – Having a vision, prioritizing your agenda and seeing the big picture – Every grad NEEDS leadership skills.

Now that we know these are the needs, what is our role in helping to meet these needs? EPIC Teaching

Experiential – learn through authentic experiences – Be the “guide on the side” not the “sage on the stage” Participatory (They are used to thinking that their input is important) Image Rich – Use images to anchor content – It is the language of the 21 st century Connected – Group problem solving to satisfy their need to be connected socially and technologically (Use technology in a redemptive way; not just for technology's sake)

The Best Practice is to Put Them on ICE: Images – Intentionally and thoughtfully select images that hook students – Use powerful and age appropriate images (Science can use discrepant events) (Remember kids are immune to shocking images) Conversations – Images lead to the conversations about the content Experiences – Conversations lead to the experiences

Best Practices Problem-based learning – real life problems; authentic experiences Student-driven learning – teacher is Webmaster not the downloader of information – Student determines/chooses path to the learning (Students have been raised being asked their opinion on family matters. Use this to your advantage.) Experiential learning – create experiences, then reflection, then teaching (addresses “Why do I need to know this?”) Right brain learning – innovation, skill-based creativity and critical thinking skills (future jobs)

Experiential Learning The four parts of learning are: Concrete Experience: An experience that involves emotions, perceptions, intellect and action. Reflective Observation: When you reflect on an experience to identify the principles. Abstract Conceptualization: When you are able to identify the rules or principles in an experience. Active Experimentation: Seeking further opportunities to repeat the experience in order to perfect learning.

Problem Based Learning t/MainMenu.cfm?tsele1=2&tsele2=116 t/MainMenu.cfm?tsele1=2&tsele2= Based-Learning-Lesson-Plans.html Based-Learning-Lesson-Plans.html

Investigate & Create With your grade level subject area for : List any problem based activities you already use Discuss these with your team Identify areas in which you need to include some problem based learning activities Research problem based learning activities using the Internet (links on wiki) Identify 3 or more of which could be most valuable Find a place in your plans to incorporate one of these learning experiences Commit to implementing at least one of these new experiences Post your plan to the wiki