5 minute read
On the Road with Dr. K
CONSULTANCY SERVICES
ST CENTURY LEARNING INTERNATIONAL
21st Century Learning is uniquely positioned to provide across the spectrum review and consultancy services to school Boards and leadership teams. Using technology to support learning and teaching in schools requires a holistic approach that merges the underlying infrastructure with best practice in sta professional development and supported by a suitably focused support structure.
CHECKLIST
Our ICT Best Practice checklist provides a framework by which to reflect upon and audit a school’s ICT readiness.
SHARED VISION FOR LEARNING
BUILDING & SUSTAINING CAPACITY
IMPLEMENTATION & CHANGE MANAGEMENT PLANS UBIQUITOUS ACCESS
STUDENT VOICE
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP & CULTURE OF INNOVATION
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Review and Planning:
Development and review of strategic technology plans Planning assessment schemes for technology initiatives Development of 1:n technology infusion programs
Acquisitions and Implementation: Student Information Systems Learning Management Platforms www sites and Intranets
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Hands-on personalised training Group training for teachers, admin or support sta
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Every school is at a dierent place on their journey and often has unique requirements, so why not contact us for a personalised consultation.
Contact one of our Directors for further information:
Justin Hardman : jahardman@21c-learning.com Graeme Deuchars : gdeuchars@21c-learning.com
Campus Development >> Elementary Engineering and Design
By Julie Lemley
dents an ability to develop technical skills and use the design process throughout their schooling.
Science Club
Design thinking, makerspaces, tinkering, and STEAM have become part of education jargon in the recent past. However, they are not trendy buzz words that will fade away in a couple of years: these are important components of all school curricula and spaces. Design thinking and the process of making enhances student learning in numerous ways. Students consolidate their understanding of content with hands-on application, develop critical problem-solving skills, improve collaboration and management skills, and develop technical skills, including using hand tools, digital drawing, sewing, and coding.
When design and engineering curricula are evident in a school, they are usually only articulated in the secondary school. In many elementary schools, this important content area is often left to “open makerspace time” or sees individual teachers adding projects that incorporate the design process and materials in their individual classrooms. Often, elementary teachers integrate many great STEAM concepts in their classes, but the skills and processes of a robust design or engineering curriculum aren’t articulated across the grade levels like other curriculum strands. This is an area that can improve in many schools. Elementary-aged students love to learn through hands-on application and are keen to create; this can provide stu
At the International School of Beijing (ISB), we are continuing the evolution of our elementary design curriculum, including our own ISB design process, as well as a scope and sequence of skills which aligns with our secondary school. In the past two years, we have adopted Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) which help spark design thinking through the process of engineering. We are also implementing Engineering is Elementary, to help develop a scope and sequence for engineering design. Ideally, we want to go beyond simply designing from the mindset of an engineer, and only through the lens of science, to understanding how the design process applies across all subject areas.
While we are still developing our design and engineering curriculum from Pre-K to Grade 12, we have already designed and equipped an incredible new Elementary Design Lab for teachers to use with their classes. This is a safe, well-resourced space, supplied with facilitators who help co-teach and embed more design thinking and technical skills into the curriculum. Our vision is to provide a space that allows students and teachers to explore the critical thinking and learning that is a natural outcome of the ISB design process.
In developing our design and engineering programs at ISB, we are learning, adjusting, and fine-tuning as we go. We developed our ES Design Lab before we had a set elementary school design and engineering curriculum. The ES Design Lab has been purposefully designed to be flexible and open; allowing students the freedom to define its potential. We feel that providing a well-resourced space to showcase the thinking and creativity of our youngest designers will be just the sandbox necessary to develop the great thinkers, problem solvers, and makers of the future.
We would love to collaborate with other schools and programs. If you are doing great design thinking, STEAM, and/or engineering work with your students, connect with us and share with the whole EARCOS community so we can together provide the best experiences for all of our students and teachers.
Julie Lemley is the Design Facilitator for International School of Beijing. Previous to working in Beijing, she taught MYP Design in Japan and Peru and has also worked as a EdTech Integrator. @JulieLemley | #learnisb | Jlemley@isb.bj.edu.cn
Facilities
On the Road with Dr. K... L-R Ms. Kitty Wo Board Chair at Punahou, Dr. K, Debbie Berger Trustee and Dr. James Scott President of Punahou. Paula Hodges (Academy Asst. Principal), Jadie Geil, Nick Kapule, Wendi Kamiya (I.T., CIO), Ke’alohi Reppun (Co-Director Kuaihelani Hawaiian Learning Center), Lorelei Saito (7th grade Social Studies), and Todd Chow-Hoy (Junior School Asst. Principal)
Seisen International School Graduation
Dr. K and Collete Rogers with the sisters from Seisen International School
Dr. K participating in the “Senior March” at St. Mary’s International School celebrating their graduation.
Dr. K, Mrs. Kikuko Nomo, Mr. Hideo Nomo, and Yoshitaka Nomo. Yoshitaka Nomo’s father Mr. Hideo became the first Japanese citizen to join an American major league team in 1995. The LA Dodgers and Red Sox!
Simon Mann Headmaster of British School Manila with his office staff Erwin and Runah.
