Category: Academics

Teachers’ Day

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” ~ Carl Jung

In Brasilia, Teachers’ Day is commemorated each with year with a designated holiday on October 15. In the spirit of this special day on conjunction with the October 5 World Teachers’ Day, it is fitting to celebrate and recognize the inspiring work of those passionate individuals who have chosen education as not only a career, but also a calling. A sincere thank you to all teachers for their efforts, day in and day out, to continuously seek ways to make a difference in the lives of students through deep levels of care, professionalism, commitment, and hope.

Teaching, at its essence, is about the ideals intrinsically associated with developmental relationships, which are, in turn, based on a profound belief and optimism for the future. It is the moral imperative of an educator to commit to an unwavering belief that all students are capable of reaching their potential and to an insuppressible hope for a better future. While these are indeed lofty goals, an educator’s prerogative is to accept nothing less than these ideals. Borrowing from Robert Browning, a student’s reach should exceed his or her grasp, or what’s education for?

Special Recognition of Teachers at the American School of Brasilia: Photo Essay
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Thank you, once again, to all teachers for inspiring students to reach beyond their grasp and for making a difference in the lives of others, recognizing it make take years, or even decades, for these differences to be fully realized. Is it too much to conclude that the ideals of teaching and learning, embodied through a hope for the future and belief in others, contribute to defining the very essence of our humanity?

“Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it and by the same token to save it from that ruin, which, except for renewal, except for the coming of the new and the young, would be inevitable. An education, too, is where we decide whether we love our children enough not to expel them from our world and leave them to their own devices, nor to strike from their hands their choice of undertaking something new, something unforeseen by us, but to prepare them in advance for the task of renewing a common world.” ~ Hannah Arendt

Featured image: cc licensed (CC BY-ND 2.0) flickr photo by Philippe Put: https://www.flickr.com/photos/34547181@N00/7035269431/in/photostream/

Mission-Driven Learning

“Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”
~ Friedrich Nietzsche.

The ‘why’ highlighted by Nietzsche is equated, in schools, to foundational documents, such as mission statements. These essential documents act as guiding principles for all facets of education, ranging from day-to-day instructional approaches, to business office and human resource decisions, to the building of new facilities, to educational program implementation, to co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and to long-term, strategic planning.

By way of example, I had the privilege of receiving an invitation to work with our Grade 3 classes on the development of a class mission statement. Once my introduction was completed, the outstanding Grade 3 teaching team led the students through a process to create a unique mission statement for their class. Through an effective and collaborative process, the students worked diligently to arrive at a consensus, which resulted in the following mission statement:

In third grade, it is our mission to explore new things, to make new friends, and improve ourselves so that we can solve problems and become responsible citizens of the world.

This statement will guide the learning and development of all Grade 3 students throughout the remainder of the year. Furthermore, it is no coincidence that the student mission statement expands on the tenets of our school’s overall mission. By design, everything at the American School of Brasilia (EAB) is framed and guided by the school’s key foundational documents.

EAB’s ability to provide our students with the best holistic education possible will be achieved through a partnership between students, parents, and the school, towards the realization of the ideals presented in the mission, vision, core values, and motto.

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EAB’s Foundational Documents

MISSION
The American School of Brasilia serves the International and Brazilian communities by providing a U.S. and Brazilian accredited pre-K through 12th grade program and International Baccalaureate Diploma in a culturally diverse atmosphere. Our English-language school develops and supports the whole child in achieving his or her own potential. Through a differentiated, innovative learning experience, we cultivate responsible and contributing citizens, leaders, and environmental stewards with a strong foundation of academic excellence.

VISION
At the American School of Brasilia, each student pursues an excellent academic program in a supportive and nurturing learning environment, whose rigor and relevance is evident through the five pillars of academics, arts, leadership, service learning, and activities. In an EAB education, our students are:
…provided a differentiated education, that optimizes academic potential;
…exposed to the arts, achieving proficiency in at least one area;
…provided the opportunity and support to develop as citizen-leaders;
…engaged in meaningful and sustainable service learning experiences;
…involved in co-curricular activities or sports.

CORE VALUES
Trustworthiness – Respect – Responsibility – Fairness – Caring – Citizenship

MOTTO
Celebrating Diversity and Cultivating Citizenship

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Documentos Chaves

O propósito do Bull-It dessa semana é destacar os documentos chaves da fundação da EAB que incluem declarações da missão e visão da escola, os valores fundamentais e, o nosso lema. Estes documentos essenciais funcionam como princípios orientadores para todas as facetas da EAB, que variam a cada dia, desde as abordagens institucionais, como no escritório de negócios, nas decisões do recursos humanos, com a construção das novas instalações, a implementação de programas educacionais, para as atividades co-curriculares e extracurriculares, e a longo prazo, o planejamento estratégico.
Por exemplo, eu tive o privilégio de receber um convite esta semana para trabalhar com os alunos da 3ª série sobre o desenvolvimento de uma declaração de missão. Uma vez que a minha introdução foi concluída, a excelente equipe de professores da 3ª série levaram os alunos através de um processo de criação a fazer uma declaração de missão única para a sua classe. Através de um processo eficaz e colaborativo, os alunos trabalharam diligentemente para chegarem a um consenso, o que resultou na seguinte declaração de missão:

Na terceira série é a nossa missão é explorar novas coisas, fazer novos amigos e melhorarmos a cada dia para que possamos resolver osproblemas e tornarmos cidadãos do mundo responsáveis.

Esta declaração vai orientar a aprendizagem e desenvolvimento de todos os alunos da 3ª série durante todo o restante do ano. Além disso, não é por acaso que a declaração de missão dos alunos amplia os princípios da missão geral da EAB. Desde a sua concepção, tudo na EAB é moldado e guiado pelos documentos fundamentais da escola.
A capacidade da EAB para oferecer aos nossos alunos a melhor educação holística possível será alcançada através de uma parceria entre os alunos, pais e escola, e através da realização dos ideais apresentados na missão da EAB, visão, valores e o lema.

MISSÃO
A Escola Americana de Brasília atua nas comunidades internacional e brasileira, transmitindo uma educação credenciada pelos dois sistemas de ensino, o americano e o brasileiro, atendendo da Eduacação Infantil ao Ensino Médio. Além disso, oferece o International Baccalaureate – IB, expandindo uma atmosfera culturalmente diversa. Nosso sistema educacional, transmitido em língua inglesa, visa desenvolver as habilidades dos alunos como um todo, objetivando alcançar seu potencial. Por meio de experiências de aprendizagens diferenciadas e inovadoras, formamos cidadãos responsáveis e solidários, líderes ativos e defensores do meio ambiente, buscando atingir uma sólida base de excelência acadêmica.

VISÃO
Na Escola Americana de Brasília, cada aluno almeja um programa acadêmico de excelência, em um ambiente de aprendizado acolhedor e solidário, cuja seriedade e relevância se sustentam nos cinco pilares: formação acadêmica, artes, liderança, serviço comunitário e atividades esportivas e extracurriculares.
Na educação da EAB, os alunos:
• recebem uma educação diferenciada, que otimiza o potencial acadêmico;
• são incentivados às artes, atingindo proficiência em pelo ao menos uma área;
• têm oportunidade e apoio para se tornarem cidadãos líderes;
• envolvem-se em experiências significativas, sustentáveis e comunitárias;
• participam de atividades esportivas e co-curriculares.

VALORES ESSENCIAIS
Confiabilidade – Respeito – Responsabilidade – Senso de Justiça – Solidariedade – Cidadania

LEMA
Celebrando a Diversidade e Cultivando a Cidadania
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Photo Credits: Caira Franklin and Matt Hajdun, Grade 3 Teachers at the American School of Brasilia

Relationships and Learning

One of my highlights each week is the eighty-minute Leadership Class I teach to high school students every second day. A pedagogical foundation that I always hope to include in the class is the application of theoretical constructs to practical situations through experiential learning opportunities. It was during a meeting with students this week, to follow up on their collaborative project work, when they concluded that the key to the success of their project was their focus on relationships. The students were referring to their decision to structure and lead learning activities for the lower school students who arrive at school at 08:00 during the Professional Wednesday late starts. During their first classes, the Leadership Class students struggled to run effective activities. However, after some coaching and reflections, the classes gradually became more effective and engaging. I asked the Leadership Class students about the reason for their success. The students’ eyes lit up when reflecting on the question and quickly recognized that their newfound success was based primarily on the fact that they had established deeper relationships with the lower school students.

Fundamentally, effective teaching is dependent on the ability to build strong relationships that are based on trust, mutual support, and understanding. In fact, it can be argued that relationships are the single most important factor associated with effective teaching and learning. Extending this concept, it can also be claimed that a school community is only able to collectively support student learning at the highest level through the relationships that evolve in terms of a partnership among parents, students, and the school. It was, therefore, encouraging to see so many parents participating in this week’s parent-teacher coffees and the lower school assembly (an estimated 100 parents were in attendance!), in addition to the gracious and generous efforts of the PTO and the U.S. Embassy to host a teacher appreciation event.

The week of May 5-9 is designated as Teacher Appreciation Week at EAB, representing an important moment in the school year when we recognize the outstanding work of our teachers. EAB is fortunate to work with a talented and committed group of teachers who make a difference every day in the lives of our students. Recognizing that my opinion is obviously biased, I do see the work of teachers as a “calling” for those who have a passion for working with students. In Parker Palmer’s book, The Courage to Teach, he corroborates the concept of teaching as a “calling” through his statement, “good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher.” The focus of this week has been to celebrate the identity and integrity of each teacher at EAB and the passion, talents, and professionalism they correspondingly commit to EAB’s students. Please join me in celebrating and thanking our wonderful teachers.

Among EAB’s greatest strengths are the relationships that are developed throughout the school community, which is representative of one of the most important factors contributing to student learning.

Relacionamentos e Aprendizagem

Um dos meus destaques a cada semana é a aula de oitenta minutos que eu dou para os alunos de Liderança do High School a cada 2 dias. A base pedagógica que sempre esperamos usar na aula é a aplicação de conceitos teóricos em situações práticas, através de oportunidades de aprendizagem experimental . Foi durante uma reunião com os alunos , esta semana, para acompanhar o trabalho deles de um projeto colaborativo, que chegamos a conclusão de que a chave para o sucesso do projeto era o foco nos relacionamentos. Os alunos estavam se referindo a sua decisão de estruturar e conduzir atividades de aprendizagem para os alunos do Lower School, que chegam na escola às 08:00 nas quartas-feiras quando ocorrem o desenvolvimento profissional. Durante suas primeiras aulas , os alunos da Classe de Liderança, se esforçaram para executar as atividades de forma eficaz. No entanto, após algum tempo de treinamento e reflexões, a turma tornou-se gradualmente mais eficaz e envolvente. Perguntei aos alunos da Classe de Liderança sobre a razão para o seu sucesso. Os olhos dos alunos se iluminaram como se refletindo sobre a pergunta e, rapidamente reconheceram que o seu sucesso recente foi baseado principalmente no fato de que eles tinham estabelecido relacionamentos mais profundos com os alunos do Lower School.

Fundamentalmente, um ensino eficaz depende da capacidade de construir relacionamentos fortes, que são baseados em confiança, apoio mútuo e compreensão. Na verdade, muito se tem discutido sobre os relacionamentos serem o fator mais importante associado a um ensino e aprendizado eficazes. Estendendo este conceito, também se pode afirmar que a comunidade escolar é capaz de garantir coletivamente um aprendizado no mais alto nível, a partir das relações de parceria que se desenvolvem entre os pais, alunos e escola. Por isso, foi tão encorajador ver tantos pais participando nos Cafés para Pais e Professores, desta semana, e na assembleia da Educação Infantil e Ensino Fundamental (aproximadamente, mais de 100 pais estiveram presentes!), além dos esforços graciosos e generosos do PTO e da Embaixada Americana em sediar um evento de valorização do professor.

A semana de 5 a 9 de maio é designada como a Semana da Apreciação aos Professores na EAB, que representa um momento importante no ano letivo quando reconhecemos o excelente trabalho dos nossos professores. A EAB tem sorte em trabalhar com um grupo talentoso e comprometido, que faz a diferença a cada dia na vida dos nossos alunos. Reconhecendo que a minha opinião é obviamente tendenciosa, eu vejo o trabalho dos professores como um”chamado” para aqueles que têm paixão por trabalhar com os alunos. No livro de Parker Palmer, “A coragem de Ensinar”, ele confirma o conceito de ensino como um “chamado”. Por meio de sua declaração, “um bom ensino não pode ser reduzido à técnica; o bom ensino vem da identidade e integridade do professor”. O foco desta semana foi celebrar a identidade e integridade de cada professor na EAB e a paixão, talento e profissionalismo com as quais eles se comprometem com os alunos.

Vamos celebrar e agradecer aos nossos professores maravilhosos.

Entre os pontos mais fortes da EAB, estão as relações que são desenvolvidas em toda a comunidade escolar, que são a representação de um dos mais importantes fatores de contribuição para a aprendizagem dos alunos.

Featured image: cc licensed (CC BY-ND 2.0) flickr photo by Hamed Parham: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hamedparham/3328144733

Creating Innovators

What does it mean to be an innovative school?  This is a question we have been wrestling with in relation to both EAB’s mission statement reference to innovation and our responsibility to offer a consequential educational program that keeps pace with societal changes.

The answer to this question will depend on the context of the discussion.  In a local context, many would consider EAB’s implementation, for example, of home learning and standards-based reporting in the Lower School, the move to one-to-one and BYOD devices in the Upper School, and the introduction of late-start Wednesdays to support professional development to be innovative.  While these are all very important and forward thinking initiatives in our local context, it can be argued from a macro perspective that these initiatives are not necessarily new and innovative.

To further address our question about innovation, EAB’s Leadership Team is currently engaging in a book study using Tony Wagner’s, Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World. The Team’s readings and reflections have led to a reframing of our question, from seeking to define what it means to be an innovative school to the question of, “How do we create the next generation of innovators?”  Through Wagner’s extensive study of high profile innovators who have achieved noteworthy success in our current society, he identified one key common theme among all of these individuals.  In every case, it was during the childhoods of the future innovators that the, “adults in their lives nurtured their creativity and sparked their imaginations, while teaching them to learn from failures and persevere.”

Creating-InnovatorsThrough his research, Wagner goes on to identify a fundamental pattern: “A childhood of creative play leads to deep-seated interests, which in adolescence and adulthood blossom into a deeper purpose for career and life goals.  Play, passion, and purpose: These are the forces that drive young innovators.”  Wagner’s emphasis on the three mainstays of play, passion, and purpose leads us, in turn, to the ideals associated with intrinsic motivation, which is really the crux of this conversation.

Creating Innovators Video Summary

Therefore, how can an educational program lead students to become driven by intrinsic motivation rather than external rewards?  Examining this question from a systems perspective, Wagner highlights the three main stages in the evolution of learning: (1) memorization-based, multiple-choice approach, (2) project-based learning where the problem is already determined, (3) design-based learning, where students learn how to define and frame problems.  The process of defining a problem and then working through innovative and creative solutions has a significantly more profound impact on student learning than the expectation to recall and repeat answers.

Though it was not by my intentional design, it as during one of the recent high school leadership classes I teach at EAB that students naturally exhibited the power of design-based learning. While using the issue of homework to develop debate and communication skills, the students far exceeded the original scope of the project as they decided to extend the activity, formally challenge the school’s current homework policy, and draft their own policy statements.  The prominent feature of the activity was how the students’ discussions evolved from one of entertaining and engaging exchanges (play), to a heated debate over the value of homework (passion), to a determination to influence the school’s current policy to better meet the needs of students and teachers (purpose).  The resulting policy statements, which were researched and debated, were innovative, creative, insightful, and clearly illustrated how students, when presented with the opportunity to define a problem, can demonstrate the ideals of intrinsic motivation, self-direction, and lifelong learning.

To be clear, the students’ initial policy statements failed to address several key homework issues, but this was okay.  It was the process of learning from their mistakes and the perseverance to improve that was most important.  Wagner’s research stresses that the companies recognized as innovative leaders are also the same companies that celebrate failure.  He goes on the emphasis that the word failure should be replaced with iteration, as the key to innovation is to continuously learn from experimentation and mistakes through several iterations.

Returning to the question of “How do we create the next generation of innovators?” education must move away from the false dichotomy that an instructional approach is based on either telling students or letting students learn on their own.  Instead, there must be a balanced approach where students are exposed to new ideas and have some freedom to choose their learning focus while also receiving guidance and support from teachers. To achieve this goal, Wagner suggests the following three steps: (1) Convert most classroom experiences into collaborative problem-solving events led by facilitators (vs. instructors) who engage learners to think and understand the relevance and context of what they learn.  (2) Tailor learning to the individual learner’s experience and competence level based on the results of a pre-test and/or assessment.  (3) Dramatically reduce or eliminate instructor-led slide presentation lectures and begin using a blended learning approach that incorporates virtual and constructive simulations.

It is through these focus areas that the American School of Brasilia will ensure that the evolution of our educational program continues to evolve and embody the ideals associated with an innovative school.

Featured image: cc licensed ( CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ) flickr photo by Orwell Kowalyshyn: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79414198@N02/7313476952/in/photolist-c9gtUd-fuF1BJ

Book Cover Credit: Tony Wagner and Scribner

 

Professional Learning Community

EAB’s mission statement ends with the phrase, “we cultivate … a strong foundation of academic excellence,“ which serves as a mantra to guide all programmatic decisions, pedagogical approaches, and professional development strategies. Arguably, the professional development component has the strongest correlation with academic excellence and student achievement. To that end, EAB has made a commitment to embracing professional development ideals within the context of a learning community. Since the start of school in January, EAB’s teachers have dedicated themselves to trainings, meetings, and workshops, including a full day of internal professional workshops, where more than 50 teachers shared their expertise, to committing 16 hours one weekend to mathematics professional development, to Professional Wednesdays, to after school and evening trainings, among others.

?????????????????????????In last week’s Bull-It, I referred to the work of John Hattie, whose book Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement, which has provided educators with a deeper understanding of what works in education. In the article Know Thy Impact: Teaching, Learning, and Leading, which summarizes the main ideas of Hattie’s work, the author presents eight mind frames that should underpin every decision made by the school. One of the most important outcomes of this research is a summary of the meta-analysis of teaching effects  that includes the influences and effect sizes related to student achievement. To say the least, the list has provided for rich conversations among educators.

Returning to our discussion about professional development at EAB, the focus of the faculty’s work has been on a continuous improvement approach to effectively address the key items in Hattie’s list. By way of example, one of EAB’s school-wide goals for the next two years is assessment, which is also one of the foci of today’s professional half day. One of the reasons for EAB’s focus on assessment is due to Hattie’s meta-analysis, which lists formative evaluation, a key component of assessment, as having the most significant effect related to student achievement.

Based on current research in education, professional development at EAB is designed such that the focus is on the areas that represent the greatest potential to positively impact student learning.

Comunidade de Capacitação Profissional

A missão da EAB termina com a seguinte frase, “nós cultivamos … uma base sólida de excelência acadêmica”, que serve como um mantra para orientar todas as decisões programáticas, abordagens pedagógicas e estratégias de capacitação profissional.Indiscutivelmente, o componente da capacitação profissional tem maior correlação com a excelência acadêmica e o desempenho do aluno.

Com essa finalidade, a EAB assumiu um compromisso significativo de abraçar os ideais da capacitação profissional no contexto de uma comunidade de aprendizagem. Desde o início das aulas em janeiro, os professores da EAB tem se dedicado aostreinamentos, reuniões e oficinas, incluindo um dia inteiro de workshop profissional interno, onde mais de 50 professores compartilharam a sua experiência durante 16 horas em um fim de semana para seu desenvolvimento profissional em matemática,além dos treinamentos às quartas-feiras , depois da escola e os treinamentos que acontecem  à noite, entre outros.

No Bull-It da semana passada, eu falei sobre o trabalho de John Hattie, cujo o livro: A Visible Learning: A????????????????????????? Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement , forneceu aos educadores um grande entendimento sobre o que funciona na educação. No artigo Know Thy Impact: Teaching, Learning, and Leading, que resume as principais ideias do trabalho de Hattie, o autor apresenta oito convicções que deveriam basear todas as decisões tomadas pela escola. Um dos resultados mais importantes dessa pesquisa é um resumo da meta-análise dos efeitos do ensino, que inclui as influências e tamanhos dos efeitos relacionados com o desempenho do aluno. No mínimo, a lista previu conversas valiosas entre os educadores.

Voltando à nossa discussão sobre a capacitação profissional na EAB, o foco do trabalho do nosso  corpo docente foi em uma abordagem de melhoria contínua para enfrentar de forma eficaz, os principais itens na lista de Hattie. A título de exemplo, um dos objetivos da EAB para os próximos dois anos é o tema avaliação, que foi também um dos focos da nossa capacitação de hoje.Uma das razões para o foco da EAB nesse tema deve-se à meta-análise de Hattie, que lista a avaliação formativa, um componente-chave de avaliação, como tendo um efeito mais significativo relacionado ao desempenho do aluno.

Com base em uma pesquisa atual em educação, a capacitação profissional na EAB é projetada de tal forma que o foco está sobreas áreas que representam o maior potencial para impactar positivamente a aprendizagem do aluno.

Opportunities and Challenges

It is not hyperbole to state that educational systems and pedagogical approaches are in the throes of a revolution.  While most of us accept the premise that we are in the midst of a historical transformation in education, the challenge is to make sense of these changes while also seeking to find our own footing in the constantly shifting technological and societal sands.  I have no doubt that historians will look back at this time as a watermark moment in the evolution of schools, pedagogy, and learning.

These reflections were sparked by an article about education that I recently reread called, 21 Things that Will be Obsolete by 2020. The common theme linking the 21 declarations is the pervasive influence of technology, not as an extension to support learning but as a foundational platform and tool that will be as common as working with paper and a pencil.

In a typical 21st century learning fashion, I casually clicked on a seemingly interesting link that took me to another essay called, Three Trends That Define the Future of Teaching and Learning. This author argues that three key trends – collaborative, tech-powered, and blended – will frame the transformation of education.  There are compelling arguments in support of this claim, especially the concept of blended learning, where teachers embrace students’ online and connected proclivity towards the learning process.

While writing this article, I clicked on yet another link with the title, How Does Multitasking Change the Way Kids Learn?  I read the article, somewhat self-consciously, acknowledging that my multitasking at that moment may not have been the most efficient use of my time. You see, the article seeks to answer the question of whether or not our brains are able to effectively multitask.  As with all similar research, the article is unequivocal in concluding that we are not capable of effectively multitasking beyond the simplest activities.  The research has also clearly concluded that multitasking leads to a series of negative outcomes while doing schoolwork.

So, what does this all mean?  As with any large-scale transformative experience, there are currently more questions than answers in the field of education.  While this is an exciting time, there is also a degree of trepidation among educators and parents alike.  The elements of education that will become obsolete by 2020 are the same elements that were the foundations of the education of today’s adults.  To say the least, it is a challenge to manage current changes while also overcoming our past to establish educational programs for an unknown future.

EAB is committed to embracing this time of change through innovative and creative approaches to teaching and learning.  The focus on the implementation of collaborative, tech-powered, and blended teaching trends is central to our professional development discussions.  The impact of technology on student learning, including issues related to multitasking, is an area that continues to influence our instructional practices and curriculum development.  Likewise, it is within these new paradigms that we seek ways to continue to successfully work with students in the areas of service and leadership, while also developing skills associated with conflict resolution, decision making, empathy, communication, and character building, among others.

If parents and teachers are to model the ideal of life-long learners, then there is no better time to do so than now, especially in the context of a transformative moment in the history of education.  Our students count on the continued partnership and commitment among parents and teachers to embrace new challenges and focus on a continuous learning model that seeks to provide the best educational program possible.  It is these challenges that make our collective work so important and exciting.

Oportunidades e Desafíos

Não é exagero afirmar que os sistemas de ensino e abordagens pedagógicas estão no meio de uma revolução. Enquanto a maioria de nós aceita a premissa de que estamos no meio de uma transformação histórica na educação, o desafio é dar sentido a essas mudanças e ao mesmo tempo tentar encontrar o nosso próprio pé nas areias tecnológicas e sociais em constante mudança. Não tenho dúvidas de que os historiadores olharão para trás neste momento como um momento marcante na evolução das escolas, pedagogia e ensino.

Estas reflexões foram desencadeadas por um artigo sobre educação que eu reli recentemente chamado, 21 coisas que estarão obsoletas em 2020. O tema comum que liga as 21 declarações é a ampla influência da tecnologia, não como uma extensão para apoiar a aprendizagem, mas como uma plataforma fundamental e uma ferramenta que será tão comum como trabalhar com papel e lápis.

Em uma forma de aprendizado típico do século 21, eu cliquei casualmente em um link, aparentemente interessante, que me levou para outro ensaio chamado: Três Tendências que Definem o Futuro do Ensino e Aprendizagem. Este autor argumenta que as três tendências principais – colaboração, tech-powered, e harmonização, vão enquadrar a transformação da educação. Existem argumentos convincentes em apoio desta afirmação, especialmente os conceitos de ensino harmonizado, em que os professores adotam o processo de aprendizagem dos alunos, online e conectando as tendências.

Enquanto escrevia este artigo para o Bull-It, eu cliquei em mais um link com o título: Como a Multitarefa Muda a Maneira Como as Crianças Aprendem? Eu li o artigo, um pouco autoconsciente, reconhecendo que a minha maneira de realizar várias tarefas, naquele momento, não foi o uso mais eficiente do meu tempo. O artigo procura responder se o nosso cérebro é ou não é capaz de realizar várias tarefas de forma eficaz. Tal como acontece com todas as pesquisas semelhantes, o artigo é inequívoco, mostra a conclusão de que não somos capazes de, efetivamente, desempenhar várias tarefas, além das atividades mais simples. A pesquisa também conclui claramente que a multitarefa leva a uma série de resultados negativos, em relação a fazer um trabalho escolar.

Então, o que isso tudo significa? Como acontece com qualquer experiência transformadora em larga escala, atualmente existem mais perguntas do que respostas no campo da educação. Enquanto este é um momento emocionante, há também um certo grau de ansiedade entre os educadores e pais. Os elementos da educação que se tornarão obsoletos em 2020 são os mesmos elementos que foram os alicerces da educação dos adultos de hoje. Para dizer o mínimo, é um desafio gerenciar as mudanças atuais e ao mesmo tempo superar nosso passado para estabelecer programas de educação para um futuro desconhecido.

A EAB está empenhada em abraçar este momento de mudança por meio de abordagens inovadoras e criativas para o ensino e aprendizagem. O foco sobre a implementação das tendências pedagógicas colaborativas, “tech-powered”, e ensino harmonizado são fundamentais para as nossas discussões de desenvolvimento profissional. O impacto da tecnologia no aprendizado dos alunos, incluindo questões relacionadas à multitarefa, é uma área que continua influenciando as nossas práticas de ensino e de desenvolvimento curricular. Da mesma forma, é dentro desses novos paradigmas que buscamos formas de continuar a trabalhar com sucesso dos alunos nas áreas de serviço e liderança, além de desenvolver competências associadas à resolução de conflitos, tomada de decisão, empatia, comunicação e construção de personagem, entre outros.

Se os pais e professores querem moldar o ideal de alunos aprendizes ao longo da vida, então não há momento melhor para fazer isso do que agora, especialmente no contexto de um momento de transformação na história da educação. Nossos alunos contam com a parceria contínua e compromisso entre os pais e professores para abraçar novos desafios e se concentrar em um modelo de aprendizagem contínua, que visa proporcionar o melhor programa educacional possível. São estes os desafios que tornam o nosso trabalho coletivo tão importante e emocionante.

Featured image: cc licensed ( CC BY NC SND 2.0 ) flickr photo by Dean Terry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/therefore/4101567511/

Learning Mathematics

Erma Anderson’s professional development work with our faculty this week left me with three reflections about the learning of mathematics and the Common Core.

Number Sense

Let us start with a quick math quiz.  Quickly answer the following question relying only on your sense of numbers (i.e. do not calculate the exact value):

If you are “one billion seconds “old, then you have lived for approximately 31 years.  How long have you lived if you are “one million seconds” old?

Many people find the answer to be shocking, highlighting some of the challenges we face associated with number sense.  When we speak of budgets, populations, and exponential growth in the billions, do we really have a sense of what the numbers mean?

To answer the question above, “one million seconds” equates to 11 days, as compared to a billion seconds equating to 31 years.  Extending this example, “one trillion seconds” is approximately equal to 32,000 years!  These numbers hopefully put the concept of a trillion dollar debt into a different perspective.

Students usually do not develop a strong sense of numbers by blindly following algorithmic procedures or memorizing formulas without developing a deeper sense of the numbers they work with during their studies.  While algorithmic procedures the memorization of formulas have their place in mathematics, it is only through a deeper conceptual knowledge of mathematics that an enduring understanding of mathematics will be achieved. If more people learned mathematics this way, perhaps there would be less of a negative stigma highlighted by adults and students and their learning of mathematics.

Ways of Knowing

To achieve enduring understandings, mathematics must be taught in a manner that requires students to interact with concepts in a variety of manners, including visual, contextual, algorithmic, procedural, and theoretical, among others. The common theme, however, is that the learning must ensure a strong conceptual understanding.  By way of example, if you ask adults to state the quadratic formula, few of us will be able to do so correctly.  However, if these same adults understood where the quadratic formula comes from and how to derive it from first principles, then the likelihood of being able to correctly state the quadratic formula is very high.  We must move from memorization, as the focus, to strong conceptual understandings.

Teaching of Mathematics

During a conversation with Erma Anderson, we discovered that we both experienced a similar “learning” moment at the start of our respective teaching careers. We both majored in mathematics at university and graduated as mathematicians before choosing a career in education.  While teaching our first calculus classes, we, like so many other teachers, came to a stark realization. While we could always “do” mathematics very well, our deeper conceptual understanding of the subject was questioned, for the first time in our careers, through the challenge of teaching the conceptual understanding of calculus.  Whether teachers admit it or not, most educators go through a similar experience as it is one thing to be able to “do” mathematics but quite another to be able to explain your understanding of these same concepts. Our responsibility as teachers is to continuously seek ways to better understand our subjects while also finding ways to effectively work with students so that they develop their own deep and meaningful conceptual understandings.

This is an exciting time at EAB as our teachers are dedicating a significant amount of time and energy towards the ongoing development of a strong mathematics curriculum and, in parallel, the ongoing development of our collective teaching practices.

Featured image: cc licensed ( BY NC SA 2.0 ) flickr photo by Tom Magliery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mag3737/6266477735/

 

Celebrating History and Building for the Future

In August of 1961, EAB opened its doors for the first time and offered classes to a small group of students in an apartment in 113 Asa Sul. A few years later, the construction of the school’s first building, located at EAB’s current site, was completed. It was this move, in part, to a permanent facility that provided EAB with the facilities and resources to develop into an internationally recognized American school serving the American, Brazilian, and international communities.

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EAB 1961

The fact that EAB has been in existence for approximately the same time period as its host city highlights a unique aspect of the relationship EAB has with Brasilia. What also makes EAB special is the large number of families who are enrolling a third generation of their children at the school, demonstrating their long-term commitment to EAB and the deep connection families have with the school. The same can be said of the international communities and the 52-year relationship embassies and institutions have developed with EAB during this time period. It is also striking to note the large number of EAB alumni who return to work at the school and continue as members of this very special community.

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Students celebration EAB’s 52nd Birthday

The long-term relationship between EAB families, alumni and teachers has been fostered, in part, through identification with the school’s mission. During the last 52 years, EAB’s mission has guided our community and provided a framework for the development of the holistic educational program that EAB is known for in international and local school settings. The ideals of the current mission will continue to act as a compass to guide the future development of academic programs, facilities, and hiring processes.

MISSION: The American School of Brasilia serves the International and Brazilian communities by providing a U.S. and Brazilian accredited pre-K through 12th grade program and International Baccalaureate Diploma in a culturally diverse atmosphere. Our English-language school develops and supports the whole child in achieving his or her own potential. Through a differentiated, innovative learning experience, we cultivate responsible and contributing citizens, leaders, and environmental stewards with a strong foundation of academic excellence.

Borrowing a phrase from Isaac Newton, it is only by standing on the shoulders of those who worked so hard before us to establish EAB as a school of distinction that we are able to better foresee the future to ensure EAB is a leader among the best schools. While we will continue to celebrate EAB’s rich history, our school must not only adapt to the ever-accelerating societal changes that will influence the learning process, but also anticipate future societal changes that will impact education such that EAB is at the forefront of the innovation curve. This is certainly easier said than done but it is the only acceptable way forward. It is the very least we must do for the sake of our children and future generations.

Barry Dequanne
Head of School

Celebrando a História e Construindo para o Futuro

Em agosto de 1961, a EAB abriu suas portas pela primeira vez e ofereceu aulas para um pequeno grupo de alunos em um apartamento na quadra 113 da Asa Sul. Alguns anos depois, a construção do primeiro prédio da escola foi concluída no local onde agora fica a EAB. Em parte, foi essa mudança para uma instalação permanente que deu a EAB as instalações e recursos necessários para crescer e se tornar uma escola americana, internacionalmente reconhecida, que atende à comunidade americana, brasileira e internacional.

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EAB 1961

O fato de que a EAB existe há quase o mesmo número de anos que a cidade onde foi construída, destaca o aspecto único da relação da EAB com Brasília. O que também torna a EAB especial é o grande número de famílias que estão matriculando a terceira geração de suas crianças na escola, demonstrando seu longo compromisso com a EAB e a conexão profunda que essas famílias têm com a escola. O mesmo pode ser dito sobre as comunidades internacionais e a relação de 52 anos com embaixadas e instituições que cresceram com a EAB nesse período de tempo. Também é impressionante notar o grande número de ex-alunos que retornam para trabalhar na escola e continuam como membros dessa comunidade tão especial.

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Alunos Celebrando o 52º Aniversário da EAB

Essa longa relação entre as famílias da EAB, ex-alunos e professores foi estimulada pela identificação que as pessoas têm com a missão da escola. Durante os últimos 52 anos, a missão da EAB guiou nossa comunidade e promoveu a estrutura para o desenvolvimento do programa educacional holístico pelo qual a EAB é reconhecida nas comunidades internacionais e locais. O ideal da missão atual continuará a servir de bússola para nos guiar até o desenvolvimento de futuros programas acadêmicos, instalações e processos de contratação.

MISSÃO: A Escola Americana de Brasília atende às comunidades internacional e brasileira, em um ambiente cultural diverso, oferecendo um programa credenciado de educação dos Estados Unidos e do Brasil, do ensino infantil até o ensino médio, e Diploma de Bacharelado Internacional. Nossa escola de língua inglesa desenvolve e apoia a criança como um todo para que ela possa atingir todo o seu potencial. Através de uma experiência diferenciada e inovadora, nós cultivamos cidadãos responsáveis e contribuintes, líderes e administradores ambientais, com uma base sólida em excelência acadêmica.

Pegando emprestada uma frase de Issac Newton, digo que é somente nos colocando de pé nos ombros daqueles que trabalharam com tanto empenho antes de nós para estabelecer a EAB como uma escola de distinção que poderemos vislumbrar o futuro e assegurar que EAB seja líder entre as melhores escolas. Enquanto continuamos a celebrar a rica história da EAB, nossa escola deve não somente se adaptar às contínuas mudanças sociais que agora acontecem em um ritmo acelerado, mas também deve antecipar futuras mudanças sociais que vão impactar a educação, de tal forma que a EAB continue a frente da curva da inovação. É muito mais fácil falar do que fazer, mas é a única forma aceitável de continuarmos em frente. É o mínimo que podemos fazer pelo o bem das nossas crianças e pelas gerações futuras.

Atenciosamente,
Barry Dequanne
Diretor Geral

Technology’s Impact on Writing

The August 5th edition of Education Week highlights the impact of technology on the development of student writing. The research presented in the article Digital Education: Teachers Say Tech Helps Student Writing, But Encourages Shortcuts indicates that the majority of teachers feel that technology encourages students to share their writing, leads to greater degrees of collaboration, and increases creativity and personal expression. In summary, the use of technology and the internet has clearly led to an increase in student writing, editing and publication. However, teachers did raise concerns that digital tools increase the likelihood of students taking shortcuts and making careless errors, such as poor spelling and incorrect grammar usage.

According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, the general conclusion is that technology does ultimately contribute to improved student writing, though there are several concerns that need to be carefully addressed by teachers to ensure the quality of student writing is maintained.

Featured image: cc licensed ( CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ) flickr photo by palo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paloetic/6381538651/

The Rule of Law and its Enemies

Each year, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) presents the Reith Lectures. The most recent version of these lectures featured the economic historian Professor Niall Ferguson. BBC’s website describes the focus of the lecture on exploring, “the role of man-made institutions on global economic growth and democracy, referencing the global economic crisis and financial regulation, as well as the Arab Spring.” This four-part podcast will appeal to those interested in reflecting on the impact of our institutions. The podcast can be access through the following link: BBC’s Reith Lectures: Niall Ferguson

A note about podcasts: I regularly listen to podcasts when running, walking my dog, cleaning, and during other activities. This blog will periodically highlight podcasts of interest that are connected, on some level, to the academic pillar. It is important to note that am not endorsing any specific view point but rather sharing podcasts that challenge our thinking, hopefully along the lines of the International Baccalaureate’s Theory of Knowledge class.

Featured image: cc licensed ( CC BY 2.0 ) flickr photo by Control Arms: http://www.flickr.com/photos/controlarms/5861481206/