Vision+Statement+Draft


 * How Do We Plan to Close the Gap? 21st Century Student Learning & Life **

On February 10, 2010, at a specially called session of the Board of Trustees concerning the topic of 21st Century Education, the Board overwhelmingly voted to charge the school administration and faculty with continuing to explore and develop Westminster’s strategies for 21st Century teaching and learning.


 * ** Figure 12 Results from February 10, 2010 Board Meeting Quick Poll ** ||

In order to fulfill such a strong charge, the self-study sub-committee for 21st Century Student Learning and Life recommends utilizing another tool from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills - The MILE Guide (Milestones for Improving Learning & Education). Aligned with the 21st Century Framework (the “rainbow” and the “ripples”), the MILE Guide provides a navigational system by which Westminster could further examine and study itself as an educational community moving forward in terms of what students most need in this century.

More than anything else, this current self-study process revealed to the sub-committee for 21st Century Student Learning and Life a compelling need to further educate the various constituencies of our community about what is meant by “21st Century teaching and learning” and why it is good for students. Additionally, the study exposed a desire for our school to gain a better understanding of how we measure up relative to a standard or benchmark of 21st Century teaching and learning and how we can grow as a community of learners.

More specifically, then, we recommend a concise set of action steps that fit into two primary categories, which grow naturally out of the structure used in this report: 1) 21st Century Teaching and Learning – Defining More Precisely What “It” Is and Why “It” Is Good for Students, and 2) 21st Century Teaching and Learning – Creating a Plan for Faculty Assessment and Professional Development.

//21st Century Teaching and Learning – Defining More Precisely What “It” Is and Why “It” Is Good for Students // >
 * Select a standing committee for 21st Century Student Learning and Life that coordinates with the school administration, the strategic planning committee, the education and student life committee, the academic leadership team(s), the division guidance committees, PAWS, the department for marketing and communications, etc. to outline a systematic educational plan for our community to learn more deeply about the area of 21st Century Student Learning and Life. Develop a concise vision statement for 21st Century Student Learning and Life at Westminster. Formulate a plan for using the MILE Guide as a navigational tool.
 * Example of related work: The committee should coordinate the continuing development of the 21st Century Exemplars as an online resource for Westminster faculty, and perhaps for other schools. Engage in a “curriculum dig” in order to take a closer look at everything we currently use to promote learning. How can expand upon what we already use? Where are the areas to exploit? Continue to promote current – and explore additional – courses/programs that exemplify 21st century learning. For example, Discovery, Urban Edventure, Philanthropy 101, Synergy 8, international exchange programs and SYA, organic garden, School for the Common Good, American Studies, Campus Conservation Corps, etc.
 * Example of related work: In October 2010, the school is sending a team of 8-12 people to the Solution Tree event entitled, “21st Century Learning Summit.”

Utilize existing groups and future groups to examine and explore PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, INTEGRATED STUDIES, and BALANCED ASSESSMENT – three specific dimensions of 21st Century Student Learning and Life.
 * Example of related work: Understanding opportunities for increased and enhanced student-centered instruction and teacher-guided methodology, including student-led lessons and student contributions to rubrics.


 * Example of related work: Continue to examine the prescribed role of high-stakes standardized testing such as the AP and its effect on our curriculum and instruction.


 * Example of related work: Integrate developing work on balanced assessment. In 2010-11 the Elementary School will introduce a new report card system that focuses on learning targets and student progress. Continuing from 2009-10, the Center for Teaching is sponsoring three assessment study groups, one in each division.


 * Example of related work: Continue to utilize the Glenn Institute for making more and better connections with the community, as well as to integrate service learning.


 * Example of related work: Studying and applying appropriate uses of instructional technology to individualize student learning and leverage tools for better understanding our increasingly digital lifestyles.


 * Employ a communications and community education plan in order to inform and “retrain” various constituencies about the ways that Westminster is changing while maintaining educational excellence.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">21st Century Teaching and Learning – Creating a Plan for Faculty Assessment and Professional Development //

· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Leverage the Faculty Assessment and Annual Review Plan to promote faculty learning and development in 21st Century teaching and learning. Use the Goals and Self-Assessment, Peer Observations, Administrative Feedback, etc. to align teaching practices with Westminster’s strategic vision for 21st Century education.

· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Utilize platforms such as Professional Learning Communities and Critical Friends Circles to facilitate more time for teachers to work together for innovative learning and planning of 21st Century methods.

· <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Strategically plan for large-scale and small-group professional development opportunities in 21st Century education, including better use of existing faculty meetings, conference attendances, etc.

o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Example of related work: Faculty Summer Reading List 2010 includes books focused on the topics of 21st Century Student Learning and Life. Faculty Forum 2010 will provide various opportunities to continue defining a common vocabulary and set of values for 21st Century Student Learning and Life.

· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Research what other schools are doing.

o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Example of related work: Ask our college counselors to gather information from admissions offices pertaining to how colleges weigh/interpret "non-traditional" coursework & assessment. o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Visit other schools, similar to Westminster, in order to observe how they are preparing their students for life in a less traditional manner and preparing them for colleges that may or may not be continuing with traditional approaches.