It’s called the Universal Design for Learning Project - which is piloting a model of assessing each student, then differentiating instruction for ALL students (rather than just special needs).

I’ve worked with one of the pilot schools and am going to an open house next week at another, to see how things are going.

Here’s a link for more info:
http://www.setbc.org/setinfo/bcudl/the_project.html

Enjoy!!

This is not too radical…it is the next logical progression for our schools. If we can’t get kids to be interested and ‘own’ their own learning…nothing we do will be successful.

pete

I think this concept requires that students ‘own’ their education fully. I envision students having a hand in creating their IEP with their teachers which would serve as a an outline and map for their learning. They would have to do much of their learning independently, collaboratively (learning communities), and only partially with teachers…who would have a difficult time preparing 125-165 individual lessons and activities each day.

pete

I’ve been feeling a theme developing for me and I’m pursuing it with vehemence in my district:

It takes a community to raise our children - not one of us has the solution by ourselves and we’ve been spending too much time individually (or as seperate groups) trying to fix it by ourselves.

Collaboration and a single unifying vision will take us to the next level.

So, what I’m working on is:

1) Bringing every discussion, every planning exercise, all data collection, every tech plan back to a comparison of how it helps us move toward the best intellectual, social and emotional learning environment FOR EVERY LEARNER. Does this proposal enhance or detract from that vision?

2) Building bridges between partner groups (teachers, administrators, school boards, support workers, District management, parents, community groups, etc…). When we all understand our roles in the system and the value we bring towards achieving our vision, then we can work together to find the REAL solutions that will work for everyone!

There is no ONE solution, no magic bullet.
We cannot do it ALONE.

The COLLECTIVE PASSION of educators and parents is more powerful than the bureaucracy that often stands in our way. Once we focus that passion, nothing will be able to stop us!

We can do this! I see it happening and it`s powerful!

I just wanted to make sure that you were invited to our education “Blogger Summit”. We hope you can make it and feel free to share this invitation with any other bloggers in the area that might be interested. The invitation is attached below.

Alex
ED In ‘08 Blogger Summit

——————————–

Strong American Schools is excited to announce the ED in ‘08 Blogger Summit. Conference details are as follows:

May 14th - 15th
Palomar Hotel, Washington DC
Registration is Free!

An opening reception is scheduled on the evening of Wednesday, May 14th. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served before the screening of a new documentary film on education, Two Million Minutes. A Q&A session with the filmmakers is set to follow.

Then join us for an all-day conference on May 15th. Nowhere else will you have an opportunity to meet and network with fellow education bloggers, participate in panels, attend workshops, and help tackle some tough questions on the state of education in America.

Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP today!

Register at http://edin08.com/bloggersummit/

Great philosophical question.

Doug Johnson’s suggestion of an Individual Education Plan for all students reminds me of the Summerhill School in England. Below is the header for their website:

“Where kids have freedom to be themselves…>

Where success is not defined by academic achievement but by the child’s own definition of success…>

Where the whole school deals democratically with issues, with each individual having an equal right to be heard…>

Where you can play all day if you want to…>

And there is time and space to sit and dream…>

…could there be such a school?”

http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk/
Too radical?

The SOMETHING could be ANYTHING. The point is just to do. I know of lots of teachers and administrators who spend so much time planning and worring about possible reactions that nothing gets done, or, when it does, the oppportunity for progress has passed. I’m part of the “jump in and get started and figure it out as you go along” party. If we sit too long, how many kids will be in and out of our schools while we are waiting for the perfect time or the perfect program?