Course+Syllabus

__ The Global Achievement Gap __ Study Group

//Welcome to our discussion surrounding Tony Wagner’s book:// __The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need – and What We Can Do about It.__

We will be doing the majority of discussions of this book online, but will have 1 introductory meeting, and 2 ending meetings (one will be short, and one will be a little longer).

__ Final Product: __ The “final product” of this class will be starting our own PLN in District 67. I will explain what that will entail at our first meeting. You will be planning this awesome educational experience for you and your colleagues!

__ Expectations: __ Over the course of the next 6 weeks, we will be reading selections from our book, looking at videos and articles online, and discussing what we have read and found with each other __and__ others in the education field (after all 21st Century Learning is GLOBAL, and without geographical boundaries).

Each week, it is expected that: 1. You read the scheduled chapters, as well as any other articles, etc. online. 2. If there is an “assignment,” you complete it. 3. You post an initial answer to the discussion topic of the week, as well as respond to others at least twice. What you get out of this class is what you put into it! The more you discuss, the more you think, ergo (yay Latin!), the more you learn! 4. Record one “Take Away” and/or one “Look What I Did!” on the website each week. 5. We may have some guests in our discussion – please engage with them and learn from them!

__ Course Website: __ __ |http://theglobalachievementgapstudygroup.wikispaces.com/ __

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__ Course Schedule __ Reading: Chapter 1, “The New World of Work and the Seven Survival Skills” Guests: Media: Sir Ken Robinson RSA Video, Valedictorian Video Discussion Q: Participant Created Questions (Videos) What is Critical Thinking? Of the 7 Survival Skills, which one do //you// focus on most? Least? Why? What is the Purpose of School? Take Away/Look What I Did
 * WEEK #1: What is the Purpose of School? 2/14 – 2/20 **

Reading: Chapter 2, “The Old World of School” Guests: Media: The Wejr Board, High Achievers Test Video Discussion Q: What is one thing from the “Old World” of school we should keep? What is one thing we should get rid of? Self-Reflection: 7 Survival Skills Report Card Take Away/Look What I Did
 * WEEK #2: What needs to Change? 2/21 – 2/27 **

Reading: Chapter 3, “Testing 1, 2, 3” Guests: Media: “Must Try” Lesson Plan, 21st Century Learning Google Doc Discussion Q: Fill in our own Version of Google Doc In transforming your classroom, how will you start? Take Away/Look What I Did
 * WEEK #3: What does it mean to be a 21st Century Teacher? 2/28 – 3/6 **

Reading: Chapter 4, “Reinventing the Education Profession” Guests: Media: Global PLNs (Blogs, Twitter, etc) Discussion Q: Create a “course” for a teacher preparation program based on your reading that did not exist when you were being certified as a teacher. Why would we need this course? Begin to Create your own PLN using social media. Take Away/Look What I Did
 * WEEK #4: How do we prepare new educators/old educators for 21st C? 3/7 – 3/13 **

Reading: Chapter 5, “Motivating Today’s Students – and Tomorrow’s Workers” Guests: Media: RSA Animate “Drive” Discussion Q: How do we increase intrinsic motivation in school? Take Away/Look What I Did
 * WEEK #5: How do we make school a “place to be”? 3/14 - 3/20 **

Reading: Chapter 6, “Closing the Gap: Schools That Work” Guests: Media: School Websites from book, or from list Discussion Q: Using the examples from the book or from the list on the Wiki, discuss what you found most intriguing/interesting about these schools. Take Away/Look What I Did
 * WEEK #6: What does a 21st Century School look like? 3/21 – 3/27 **

Plan out 1st PLN Meeting!
 * LAST MEETING: TBD (week of 4/4 – 4/8) **