Outcomes and Support Systems

21st Century Student Outcomes

1. CORE SUBJECTS AND 21st CENTURY THEMES
Mastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is essential for all students in the 21st century. Core subjects include:

• English, reading/language arts

• World languages

• Arts

• Mathematics

• Economics

• Science

• Geography

• History

• Government and Civics

In addition to these subjects, schools must move to include not only a focus on mastery of core subjects, but also promote understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects:


Global Awareness
• Using 21st century skills to understand and address global issues
• Learning from and working collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures, religions and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and 
open dialogue in personal, work and community contexts
• Understanding other nations and cultures, including the use of non-English languages

Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy
• Knowing how to make appropriate personal economic choices
• Understanding the role of the economy in society
• Using entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career 
options

Civic Literacy
• Participating effectively in civic life through knowing how to stay informed and understanding governmental processes
• Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national and global levels
• Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions 

Health Literacy
• Obtaining, interpreting and understanding basic health information and services and using such information and services in ways that enhance health
• Understanding preventive physical and mental health measures, including proper diet, nutrition, exercise, risk avoidance and stress reduction
• Using available information to make appropriate health-related decisions
• Establishing and monitoring personal and family health goals
• Understanding national and international public health and safety issues
Environmental Literacy
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the environment and the circumstances and conditions affecting it, particularly as relates to air, climate, land, food, energy, water and ecosystems
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of society’s impact on the natural world (e.g., population growth, population development, resource consumption rate, etc.)
• Investigate and analyze environmental issues, and make accurate conclusions about effective solutions
• Take individual and collective action towards addressing environmental challenges (e.g., participating in global actions, designing solutions that inspire action on environmental issues)


2. LEARNING AND INNOVATION SKILLS 
Learning and innovation skills increasingly are being recognized as those that separate students who are prepared for a more and more complex life and work environments in the 21st century, and those who are not. A focus on creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration is essential to prepare students for the future.
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
Think Creatively
• Use a wide range of idea creation techniques (such as brainstorming)
• Create new and worthwhile ideas (both incremental and radical concepts)
• Elaborate, refine, analyze and evaluate their own ideas in order to improve and 
maximize creative efforts
Work Creatively with Others
• Develop, implement and communicate new ideas to others effectively
• Be open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives; incorporate group 
input and feedback into the work
• Demonstrate originality and inventiveness in work and understand the real 
world limits to adopting new ideas
• View failure as an opportunity to learn; understand that creativity and innovation is a long-term, cyclical process of small successes and frequent mistakes
Implement Innovations
• Act on creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution to the field in which the innovation will occur

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
Reason Effectively
• Use various types of reasoning (inductive, deductive, etc.) as appropriate to the situation
Use Systems Thinking
• Analyze how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex systems
Make Judgments and Decisions
• Effectively analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs
• Analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view
• Synthesize and make connections between information and arguments
• Interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best analysis
• Reflect critically on learning experiences and processes
Solve Problems
• Solve different kinds of non-familiar problems in both conventional and innovative ways
• Identify and ask significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions

COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION 
Communicate Clearly
• Articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written and nonverbal communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts 
• Listen effectively to decipher meaning, including knowledge, values, attitudes and intentions
• Use communication for a range of purposes (e.g. to inform, instruct, motivate and persuade)
• Utilize multiple media and technologies, and know how to judge their effectiveness a priori as well as assess their impact
• Communicate effectively in diverse environments (including multi-lingual)
Collaborate with Others
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams
• Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary 
compromises to accomplish a common goal
• Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value the individual 
contributions made by each team member 


3. INFORMATION, MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY SKILLS
People in the 21st century live in a technology and media-suffused environment, marked by various characteristics, including: 1) access to an abundance of information, 2) rapid changes in technology tools, and 3) the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. To be effective in the 21st century, citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills related to information, media and technology.

INFORMATION LITERACY
Access and Evaluate Information
• Access information efficiently (time) and effectively (sources)
• Evaluate information critically and competently
Use and Manage Information
• Use information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand
• Manage the flow of information from a wide variety of sources
• Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the 
access and use of information

MEDIA LITERACY 

Analyze Media
• Understand both how and why media messages are constructed, and for what purposes
• Examine how individuals interpret messages differently, how values and points of view are included or excluded, and how media can influence beliefs and behaviors
• Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of media
Create Media Products
• Understand and utilize the most appropriate media creation tools, characteristics and conventions
• Understand and effectively utilize the most appropriate expressions and interpretations in diverse, multi-cultural environments
ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) LITERACY 
 Apply Technology Effectively
• Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information
• Use digital technologies (computers, PDAs, media players, GPS, etc.), communication/networking tools and social networks appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information to successfully function in a knowledge economy
• Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information technologies

Information Meeting: November 17

We had a great group of around 60 people for our first formal Information Night November 17 scheduled from 7-8. There was so much discussion that a few of us finally left around 9:30 pm!

Lot's of ideas and support for the Proposal, and many questions to follow up on.

If you were there please comment on the evening from your vantage point in the comment box below.

Here are the Keynote slides from our presentation.

Board of Education Update

On Tuesday, November 15, we joined other schools in presenting our current progress in writing our Innovative Proposal due to AUSD December1. Here are the slides presented with our current update.

Survey Trends Comparison 2011

We now have survey results to compare regarding re-establishing 6th grade at Bay Farm.
 Here is a slide deck that shows you results and trends as we submit our Innovative proposal today.

6th Grade Research

This slide deck was shared at our November Information Night 2011 where we shared our progress so far with our development of our Innovative Proposal. some of the research cited was conducted by the district as they were developing the Master Plan.

Technology Integration Request

Recently we presented a technology integration request to our PTA for consideration as part of our Innovative Proposal Planning Year to pilot new technologies we would like to implement grade level or schoolwide. We are currently in discussion about the request. Here is the slide deck of our original presentation.

WebTools4Learning at Bay Farm

As we develop and implement our Innovative Proposal, we will be using a variety of learning tools that specifically support student learning. Below is a list of some of the tools that we are currently using in the Library Media Center and online at home. We intend to broaden and deepen their use as our students and teachers are provided more access through our Technology Infusion Initiative of the Innovative Proposal.

21st Century Support Systems Checklist

21st CENTURY SUPPORT SYSTEMS Checklist

The elements described below are the critical systems necessary to ensure student mastery of 21st century skills. 21st century standards, assessments, curriculum, instruction, professional development and learning environments must be aligned to produce a support system that produces 21st century outcomes for today’s students.

21st Century Standards

• Focus on 21st century skills, content knowledge and expertise

• Build understanding across and among core subjects as well as 21st century interdisciplinary themes

• Emphasize deep understanding rather than shallow knowledge

• Engage students with the real world data, tools and experts they will encounter 
in college, on the job, and in life; students learn best when actively engaged in 
solving meaningful problems

• Allow for multiple measures of mastery 


• Assessment of 21st Century Skills

• Supports a balance of assessments, including high-quality standardized testing along with effective formative and summative classroom assessments

• Emphasizes useful feedback on student performance that is embedded into everyday learning

• Requires a balance of technology-enhanced, formative and summative assessments that measure student mastery of 21st century skills

• Enables development of portfolios of student work that demonstrate mastery of 21st century skills to educators and prospective employers

• Enables a balanced portfolio of measures to assess the educational system’s effectiveness in reaching high levels of student competency in 21st century skills 


• 21st Century Curriculum and Instruction

• Teaches 21st century skills discretely in the context of core subjects and 21st century interdisciplinary themes

• Focuses on providing opportunities for applying 21st century skills across content areas and for a competency-based approach to learning

• Enables innovative learning methods that integrate the use of supportive technologies, inquiry- and problem-based approaches and higher order thinking skills

• Encourages the integration of community resources beyond school walls 


21st Century Professional Development

• Highlights ways teachers can seize opportunities for integrating 21st century skills, tools and teaching strategies into their classroom practice — and help them identify what activities they can replace/de-emphasize

• Balances direct instruction with project-oriented teaching methods

• Illustrates how a deeper understanding of subject matter can actually enhance 
problem-solving, critical thinking, and other 21st century skills

• Enables 21st century professional learning communities for teachers that 
model the kinds of classroom learning that best promotes 21st century skills 
for students

• Cultivates teachers’ ability to identify students’ particular learning styles, 
intelligences, strengths and weaknesses

• Helps teachers develop their abilities to use various strategies (such as 
formative assessments) to reach diverse students and create environments 
that support differentiated teaching and learning

• Supports the continuous evaluation of students’ 21st century skills 
development

• Encourages knowledge sharing among communities of practitioners, using face-to-face, virtual and blended communications

• Uses a scalable and sustainable model of professional development 


21st Century Learning Environments

• Create learning practices, human support and physical environments that will support the teaching and learning of 21st century skill outcomes

• Support professional learning communities that enable educators to collaborate, share best practices and integrate 21st century skills into classroom practice

• Enable students to learn in relevant, real world 21st century contexts (e.g., through project-based or other applied work)

• Allow equitable access to quality learning tools, technologies and resources

• Provide 21st century architectural and interior designs for group, team and 
individual learning

• Support expanded community and international involvement in learning, both 
face-to-face and online

School Board presentation of Proposal procedures and timeline

The AUSD School Board will be presenting an update to the proposal procedures Tuesday night and the link below outlines the major updates and timelines for our consideration.

Board Agendized topic

Leadership Meeting 2

At this Leadership meeting we will be spending time looking at:

• Innovative Proposal and Writing Criteria
• 21st Century Skills and P21 Framework Definitions
• 21st Century Learner
• Arizona Technology Matrix
• Technology Integration Pilot slides presented to PTA 
• Possible Calendars and Schedules

We will be looking at how to task the writing work ahead of us. We will also plan our Staff Development Day discussion with the staff and how to provide information and involve everyone in the development of our plan.

Online Resources for our Plan

Here are some information and resource links that will help us all to learn more about the national movement of  21st Century Skills,  technology integration, and how they are essential for our students' future success in an increasingly digital world.

Framework of 21st Century Skills

FAQ about the Partnership for 21st Century Learning

Standards for the 21st Century Learner

ISTE Standards for Students

The Mile Guide: Milestones for Improving Learning and Education

P21 Framework Definitions

Arizona Technology Integration Matrix (TIM)

Five Characteristics of an Effective @21st Century Educator

I've been talking about 21st century skills with my fellow educators for quite some time now, and with our Innovative Proposal, 21st Century Learning is the central focus. This article from eSchoolNews, offers five major characteristics that each of us should reflect on as we consider our students and the curriculum and insgtruction we provide. Are we truly 21st Century learners ourselves?
Do we model for our students the behaviors we would like to see in them?

Do we anticipate the future?
Are we life long learners ourselves?
Do we foster relationships with and between our students?
Can we teach and assess all levels of learners?
Are we able to discern effective and non-effective technology for learning?

Click here to read the five characteristics of 21st Century educators shared by eSchool News readers...

Leadership Meeting 1

At our first Leadership we reviewed the Proposal and Update and started discussing possible Theories of Actions for the Proposal.

Proposed Theories of Action

• If  provided 21st Century skills that extend the curriculum beyond the state standards, students will develop critical thinking and problem solving strategies at higher levels, become motivated and engaged in their own learning, and develop a world view that will better prepare them for their future in an increasingly digital and global world.

• If project based learning activities are developed and implemented school wide, then students will deepen their understandings of essential content beyond minimal standards to higher levels of learning.

• If we develop and implement a modified year round calendar, students will benefit from consistent and balanced year round learning.

• If the school day is extended, then academic performance will improve from increased opportunities to remediate, enrich and extend core learning.

• If  Bay Farm School is reconfigured to K-6, K-8, the students performance will increase as a result of fewer transitions and deeper learning relationships.

• If  technology is infused into our curriculum, then students will access, synthesize, and create new knowledge anywhere, anytime, extending their learning beyond the school day 24/7.

Here are some background information links that will help us all to learn more about the national movement of  21st Century Skills and how they are essential for our students' future success in an increasingly digital world.

Framework of 21st Century Skills

FAQ about the Partnership for 21st Century Learning

Standards for the 21st Century Learner

ISTE Standards for Students

The Mile Guide: Milestones for Improving Learning and Education

P21 Framework Definitions

Arizona Technology Integration Matrix (TIM)

P21 Mission Statement

Partnership for 21st Century Skills Mission

P21 Mission Statement
"To serve as a catalyst to position 21st century readiness at the center of US K12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leaders."

Twenty-First Century Children
Every child in the U.S. needs 21st century knowledge and skills to succeed as effective citizens, workers and leaders. This can be accomplished by fusing the 3Rs and 4Cs. 

There is a profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills they need in typical 21st century communities and workplaces.

To successfully face rigorous higher education coursework, career challenges and a globally competitive workforce, U.S. schools must align classroom environments with real world environments by fusing the 3Rs and 4Cs.

The 3Rs include: English, reading or language arts; mathematics; science; foreign languages; civics; government; economics; arts; history; and geography.

The 4Cs include: critical thinking and problem solving; communication, collaboration; and creativity and innovation.

As the 3Rs serve as an umbrella for other subjects and core content, the 4Cs are a shorthand for all the skills needed for success in college, career, and life.

To read P21 FAQ click here

21st Century Learning @ Bay Farm

19 years ago Bay Farm School opened as a school of choice with a technology focus. Over the years, through many years of budget cuts, we lost our K-6 configuration, single track Year Round calendar,and specialized schedules, and cutting edge technology integration.

But we now have a chance to launch our 20th year with an Innovative Proposal....21st Century Learning at Bay Farm! We are so excited!

We are working on our proposal right now. There are four major components:

• Configuration
• Calendars and Schedules
• 21st Century Learning
• 1:1 Technology Initiative 

These components are being developed using best practices and researched strategies within a process that involves students, teacher, parents, and our community.

Here's a link to our initial proposal.
Here's a link to followup additional proposal information.
Here's a link to our Survey results on grade level configuration.
Here's a link to our Theories of Action

Note: Bay Farm has formally requested permission to use 21st Century Skills content and logo for this proposal. We give full attribution to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

6th Grade Survey Results Spring 2011

This is a slide deck of the results from our family survey taken in Spring of 2011.