How+can+educators+bridge+the+gap+between+the+content+of+today's+lesson+and+the+stimulating+world+that+is+available+to+our+students+in+the+21st+century?


 * ESL 21 – Education Sub-Committee **  ** NOTES from 11/29/2010 Brainstorming Session **   ** QUESTION: “How can educators bridge the gap between the "content of today's lesson" and the stimulating world that is available to our students in the 21st century??” **   (transcription and summary by Nelson Chu)
 * __SUMMARY POINTS:__**
 * In summary, it will be critically important to not only develop **__NEW Content and Resources__**, but also to Align the **__Assessment__** of both students and faculty (especially faculty) with the goals of “21st Century Learning” (“relevant learning”).
 * In terms of CONTENT, some key themes are evolving:
 * Project-Based, Realistic, Relevant, and Impactful group learning experiences tend to engage students far better than traditional lectures
 * INTEGRATION of subject matters is part of this project-based learning. This integration will require coordination across traditional disciplines. Integration of Content AND Skills is key.
 * Groups of students should be created and often recreated along several different attributes, such as: Skills, Gender, Interests, Time of Day, etc – in order to get the best out of the students
 * The RESOURCES that must be leveraged will be diverse and different:
 * “non-linear resources”
 * Build a library of resources and projects that can be drawn upon and built upon
 * __SPECIFIC COMMENTS THAT WERE WRITTEN:__**
 * Build a library of resources, projects, curriculum connection.
 * Look for non-linear resources (or create and share)
 * Learn to assess and grade with purpose and clear expectations
 * Model learning and risk taking
 * A problem gives context to inspire relevance for the content
 * Align **__Assessment__** of students and faculty with **__Goals__** of “21st Century Learning” (e.g., group/project learning assessment versus individual standardized tests).
 * Project-Based, **__Realistic, Relevant__** and Impactful Group Learning is key to keeping students motivated, curious, and energized
 * Collaboration and integration **__Across Disciplines__** is important for success. (less is more!)
 * Not an Either/Or situation è INTEGRATION of “skills” and “World” – the Skills Are the World!
 * Dynamic and “Real Time” Creation / re-creation of learning groups (e.g., Skills, Genders, Interests, Time of Day, etc. used to create and re-create learning groups)
 * Stop Thinking “vs.” and start talking “and” --- content and skills integration