Week 1 - Leading 21st Century Schools: What School Leaders Need to Know

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mary Lawrenz on January 26, 2010 at 4:19pm

Relating to the changes and challenges discussed: As a result of a 1-1 district laptop initiative for students in Grades 6-12, our TRC Grant, and our Charter School Grant, our students and teachers in Grades 3-12 are fortunate to have access to technology. The primary grades have 4-6 desktop computers in their classrooms set up as mini-labs. The 1-1 initiative took place over a 2-year period, beginning with teachers and Grades 6-8 students, then Grades 9-12 students. Our challenge now is that the laptop initiative began 6 years ago, and each year we have more problems with the hardware. I totally agree with Stacy Smith’s comment that teachers and students are less apt to use the technology if it is not readily available in their own classrooms. Hoping to lengthen the life of our laptops, this is the first year that our students have not had their own laptop to carry from class to class and school to home. Instead, the machines are on carts. With the exception of the English class which has its own cart, technology use at the high school level has decreased from previous years, and I believe it is because the students don’t have their laptops with them. Computers, projectors, IWB’s, cameras, Web 2.0 tools, etc. have all contributed to our teachers changing the way they teach. It is a challenge when teachers have planned a lesson centered around the technology and it doesn’t work, which is happening more and more often. One of the greatest positive changes that I have seen is the collaboration that takes place among the faculty – and between the faculty and tech-savvy students. Teachers share resources, students share their expertise and we often hear, “I don’t ever want to go back to teaching without the technology!” I believe it is our job as leaders in our schools to do all that we can to ensure that teachers have the technology they need and that once it is in place it is reliable and works to their expectations. In our current budget crisis, I’m saddened to have to say that’s easier said than done.


Standards Impact: Like most of the replies, our school is very content standards-driven with an even greater emphasis on the tested indicators in reading and math…honestly, so much so that it worries me at times! Our staff has concerns that other curriculum areas suffer because of what we have to do to prepare our students for success on the assessments. Our teachers have implemented NETS standards without even knowing them. As an entire faculty, we have had no training on the NETS. This statement on page 10 really hit home, “Unfortunately, not all students possess the skills to do such things because our current assessment system doesn’t demand them.” It is true in our building – even if we don’t agree with the philosophy – what gets assessed, gets taught. Our TRC teachers are becoming familiar with the NETS and I’m sure at some point in the future, we’ll be asked to share that knowledge at an in-service. I truly believe the only way to incorporate all the standards is through PBL, and we have a few teachers moving in that direction now.


My Vision of 21st Century Schools: Throughout my teaching career (and it took some time!) I have realized that what I teach isn’t nearly as important as the who I teach and that we need to do all that we can to ensure that our students are productive citizens and independent learners. The fact that our world changes so rapidly with the information explosion and the fact that we are preparing students for careers that we don’t even know about helped get me to that point. My dream 21st Century School would be inviting with wide open spaces where students could meet and work together. Teachers would be available to guide students as needed. Technology is available for teachers, students, parents, and community members. There would be some “classrooms” available for students who need a more structured environment with greater teacher involvement. Students would progress after skill mastery without regard to age or grade level. Is this an environment that would help all students learn? Are our students today self-motivated and independent enough to be successful? When I take an honest look at our school population, I’m not sure; but I know that I would enjoy having the opportunity to work and teach in such an environment to see what a difference it might possibly make.

Permalink Reply by Kari Hinkle on January 28, 2010 at 12:12am

1. How can you relate to the changes and challenges?

I am the third grade teacher in a first year TRC classroom. One of the challenges I had at the beginning of the year was just becoming comfortable with the new technology in my classroom. My students know more about the technology and are so much more comfortable with it than I am. They have been very patient with me and have taught me throughout this year. I am being challenged to learn how to use the techonology and resources so that my students reap the most rewards.

2. How do standards impact changes and challenges in our school?

As I said above this is our first year to have TRC classrooms. We are lucky to have 1 to 1 laptops for grades 3-6. Our junior high also has laptops for their students. The high school has laptops that can be shared among the teachers. That provides a challenge for the high school students and teachers to utilize technology on a daily basis. It is important that we as educators provide the opportunities to technology and resources for our students so that when they leave us they have the tools they need to be successful in the technology world.

3. Vision of 21st Century Schools

My visions of 21st Century Schools is that the teachers are mainly facilitators guiding our students. HIgh school students could work at an accelerated pace to challenge themselves.

Permalink Reply by joyce frederiksen on February 3, 2010 at 3:28pm

Sorry I am behind...only 3 weeks behind. It has been quite crazy around here so just got the chapters read.
I will give a quick response here since everyone has already discussed this week.

Whenever I mention ISTE NETS most teachers have no idea what I am talking about.

I think Kevin Honeycutt's video is a very clear message that all teachers need to listen to for the vision of 21st century schools.
If you haven't seen it go to Youtube and search I need my teachers to learn.

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