This chapter opens with the voices of alumni, looking back on their experiences as students of Mission Hill and distilling the wisdom they gained from it. A short collection of the alumni voices below: I learned how to be a critical thinker. I learned how to play off my strengths. . . I had teachers who were here to care … Read More
Year at Mission Hill, Chapter 9: Seeing the Learning
“How do we know what students are learning?” So opens the narration of chapter 9, “Seeing the Learning.” Rather than simply reply on summative test scores to communicate whether or not students have “achieved,” the educators at Mission Hill create exhibitions in which students must present and defend their learning to a committee of teachers and peers. The complexity of … Read More
Year at Mission Hill Chapter 8: The World of Work
This chapter, “The World of Work,” offers a look at applying a school-wide theme through integrated projects. Teachers organize opportunities for authentic experiences based on the ideas and recommendations of the kids in an effort to allow students to “see their ideas actualized.” This practice for building student agency works because it helps them develop confidence in the value of their … Read More
5 Characteristics of Learner-Centered Teaching
Maryellen Weimer (whose bio includes: Penn State Professor Emeritus of Teaching and Learning and Editor-in-chief of Teaching Professor) addresses the wide spread use of the term “learner-centered” in her post, “Five Characteristics of Learner-Centered Teaching” on The Teaching Professor Blog at Faculty Focus. At the heart of her concern is this: “With widespread use comes a certain definitional looseness.” To … Read More
Gaming to re-engage boys in school
“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” -Ignacio Estrada The disengagement of boys in our education system has become such old news that — yawn — we barely register it anymore. Rather, we diagnose their need for stimulation as a hyperactive disorder and medicate it. We diagnose their disinterest in … Read More
Year at Mission Hill, Chapter 7: Behind the Scenes
Chapter 7 of this fantastic series delves into the fuel that keeps the fire going — questioning everything in relation to the whole child: Asking for help. Inquiry to inspire students’ voice. Shared inquiry about students. Building a community of curiosity, which changes teachers’ perspectives on teaching, learning, and their own empowerment as educators, empowerment they then pass on to … Read More
18 Myths of Education (Infographic)
Below is a provocative infographic from Open Colleges, an online university in Australia. What do you think about these? Agree? Disagree? Little bit of both? Share your thoughts in the comments. <img alt="" src="http://informed.s3.amazonaws.com/informed/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/600px_final the original source.jpg” /> An Infographic by Open Colleges
11 Characteristics of Meaningful Work
Note from the Editor: While this piece by Shawn Murphy is related to business practices and targeted to managers and business leaders, the parallels to education and student learning are striking. Teachers, curricula developers, and education leaders can find plenty herein to ponder, reflect on, and apply in practice. It was originally posted at Switch and Shift and is reposted here with … Read More
The Importance of Student Voice
The following is a guest post by Mark R. Boyer, Assistant Superintendent for Learning, Singapore American School. I was recently approached by a high school student who asked, “In order for student voices to be heard, should student evaluations of teachers be mandatory and used in the teacher’s performance review? Furthermore, is there a way to make sure that student feedback is … Read More
The Student Quest: Choose 2 Matter
If you ever have a chance to meet Angela Maier, you’ll know who she is immediately.While probably not the tallest person in the room, in a hall of 5,000 she may well be the most energetic. A former teacher turned consultant, author of two books, including “Classroom Habitudes” and now Chief Instigator, Angela has amassed a global, passionate network at … Read More
