Deeper Learning - Key to College & Career Success

Read how a small charter high school in an immigrant section of San Francisco promotes deeper learning in preparation for a portfolio defense needed to graduate.  The school offers opportunities for students to practice 21st Century skills, such as critical thinking, working collaboratively and developing a "learning to learn" mindset.  Leon, daughter of immigrant parents from Nicaragua, tells her story, one that is leading her to college, a path she never envisioned.  She and other graduates feel that deeper learning has prepared them better to meet educational and career paths after high school.

Deeper Learning Inspires Dreams of the Stage.  Peter Schurmann. 6.9.14. New America Media - Education
http://newamericamedia.org/2014/06/deeper-learning-inspires-dreams-of-the-stage.php

Our Students Need Time to REFLECT

Common Core requires us to provide deeper learning opportunities for students.  Our fast-paced society seems to demand speed everywhere and in every thing we do.  But how can we possibly expect our students to reach those deeper levels if we don't provide reflection time?  This article describes the author's experience in a class discussion. He quotes noted Paolo Freire's idea stating that reflection is an essential part of learning and of becoming an agent of change in the world.  Wonderful!  This is an important article for all teachers at all academic levels to read.  Have you experienced time to reflect yourself in teaching?  Describe your experiences below in Comments.

Let It Marinate:  The Importance of Reflection and Closing.  Joshua Block.  4.28.14.  edupopia
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/let-it-marinate-reflection-closing-joshua-block

Use Virtual Field Trips for Deeper Learning

Field trips offer students actual experience in what they are learning in book-based content in school.  Actual field trips may not be feasible because of budget concerns but a plethora of virtual field trips have come on the scene that teachers can use to enhance students' learning.  This article lists many possible avenues.  Check out the numerous resources and you'll be certain to find one to suit your purposes.

Engaging virtual field trip apps, resources.  Laura Devaney. 3.26.14.  eSchool News
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/03/26/virtual-field-trips-403/2/

Helping Your Students with Close Reading

Here is a list of strategies from Great Books Foundation to help students develop close reading.  I realize you know some of them but this list of comprehensive strategies may give you new ideas.  Great concise article.

Turn Every Student into a Close Reader.1.29.14. Great Books Foundation http://www.greatbooks.org/fileadmin/pdf/closereading.pdf

Think Time or Dead Air?

This excellent article gives teachers ideas to build in "think time" in lesson design.  So ofen silence is not "dead air" but golden as student minds process the material.  Excellent ideas for teachers to make connections.  Well worth your time to read.  Share your thoughts.

Planning for Processing Time Yields Deeper Learning.  Jessica Roake. August 2013 Vol 55. No. 8 ASCD Education Update
http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/aug13/vol55/num08/Planning-for-Processing-Time-Yields-Deeper-Learning.aspx

Who Should Do the Explaining - Teacher or Student?

All teachers want students to understand what they are learning.  Sounds simple doesn't it?  Kids can get the correct answers to many questions generated by teachers and by text, but do they understand why?  Can they explain their answers?  How to get deeper learning from our students probably means we as teachers need to do things a bit differently.  Habits form and are hard to break.  Excellent article for all of us.

Students Can Learn by Explaining, Studies Say.  Sarah D. Sparks.  6.5.13.  Education Week - Premium Article
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/31/33aps.h32.html?tkn=TLYF1ABUa%2FE2oUclnN0FfCDxKIacmub0qRg0&cmp=ENL-CM-NEWS2

A Dream School - Not Anytime Soon

This article is an excerpt from Will Richardson's new book, Why School: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere.  As you read his excerpt, I'm sure you'll see that his ideas about relevancy to real world application are very exciting.  However, this adventureous approach will never go over in our overly regulated educational buraracy and impossible to evaluate teachers and student achievement.  A dream it is and a dream it will stay, I'm afraid.
Your thoughts?  What would your dream school look like?

Should We Connect School Life to Real Life?  Will Richardson. 10.5.12. MindShift
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/10/should-kids-schoolwork-impact-the-real-world/

Concept Behind "Deeper Learning" Is Not New

An important paper funded by the William and Flora Hewlett, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur and Nellie Mae education foundations states that the term 'deeper learning' may be new, but its basic concepts are not.  "This type of education -- once available to only a few elite students --is now necessary for all."
The paper suggests 3 broad domains of competence:  Cognitive domain; Intrapersonal domain; Interpersonal domain.  These domains are compared with Conley's 4 categories: Think; Know; Act; and Go.
What is important to us as Title I teachers are strategies that move students to get to those places.  Here's a summary.....
Use multiple and varied representations of concepts and tasks

Encourage elaboration, questioning, and explanation

Engage learners in challenging tasks

Teach with examples and cases

Prime student motivation; and

Use "formative assessments

Will these help us?  We've talked about them in different contexts.  Comments please.

NRC Report Highlights Importance of Deeper Learning.  Tom Vander Art 7.26.12. Education Week
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/on_innovation/2012/07/nrc_report_highlights_importance_of_deeper_learning.html?cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS2