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education for the 21 st century impacting student achievement building team work critical thinking innovation 21 st century skills adva ncing technology proficiency classrooms for the future 2006­2010

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this is my 34th year of teaching and i have seen many initiatives throughout my career however i don t think that any one has ever made as profound an impact as that of the integration of technology into our classrooms teacher participating classrooms school districts abington heights sd abington sd albert gallatin area sd aliquippa sd allegheny-clarion valley sd allentown city sd altoona area sd ambridge area sd annville-cleona sd antietam sd apollo-ridge sd armstrong sd athens area sd austin area sd avella area sd avon grove sd avonworth sd bald eagle area sd baldwin-whitehall sd bangor area sd beaver area sd bedford area sd belle vernon area sd bellefonte area sd bellwood-antis sd bensalem township sd benton area sd bentworth sd berlin brothersvalley sd bermudian springs sd berwick area sd bethel park sd bethlehem area sd bethlehem-center sd big beaver falls area sd big spring sd blackhawk sd blacklick valley sd blairsville-saltsburg sd bloomsburg area sd blue mountain sd blue ridge sd bradford area sd brandywine heights area sd brentwood borough sd bristol borough sd bristol township sd brockway area sd brookville area sd brownsville area sd bucks county technical high school burgettstown area sd burrell sd butler area sd california area sd cambria heights sd cameron county sd camp hill sd canon-mcmillan sd canton area sd carbondale area sd carlynton sd carmichaels area sd catasauqua area sd centennial sd central bucks sd central cambria sd central columbia sd central dauphin sd central fulton sd central greene sd central york sd chambersburg area sd charleroi sd chartiers valley sd chartiers-houston sd cheltenham township sd chester-upland sd chestnut ridge sd chichester sd clairton city sd claysburg-kimmel sd clearfield area sd coatesville area sd cocalico sd colonial sd columbia borough sd columbia-montour avts conemaugh valley sd conestoga valley sd conewago valley sd conneaut sd connellsville area sd conrad weiser area sd cornell sd cornwall-lebanon sd corry area sd coudersport area sd council rock sd crawford central sd crestwood sd cumberland valley sd curwensville area sd dallas sd dallastown area sd danville area sd deer lakes sd delaware valley sd derry area sd derry township sd donegal sd dover area sd downingtown area sd dubois area sd dunmore sd east allegheny sd east lycoming sd east penn sd east pennsboro area sd east stroudsburg area sd eastern lancaster county sd eastern lebanon county sd eastern york sd easton area sd elizabeth forward sd elizabethtown area sd ellwood city area sd ephrata area sd erie city sd everett area sd exeter township sd fairview sd fannett-metal sd farrell area sd ferndale area sd fleetwood area sd forbes road sd forest area sd forest city regional sd forest hills sd fort cherry sd fort leboeuf sd fox chapel area sd franklin regional sd frazier sd freedom area sd freeport area sd galeton area sd garnet valley sd gateway sd general mclane sd gettysburg area sd girard sd glendale sd great latrobe sd great valley sd greater johnstown sd greater nanticoke area sd greencastle-antrim sd greensburg salem sd greenville area sd greenwood sd grove city area sd halifax area sd hamburg area sd hampton township sd hanover area sd hanover public sd harbor creek sd harmony area sd harrisburg city sd hatboro-horsham sd haverford township sd hazleton area sd hempfield sd hempfield area sd hermitage sd highlands sd hollidaysburg area sd homer-center sd hopewell area sd huntingdon area sd indiana area sd interboro sd iroquois sd jeannette city sd jefferson-morgan sd jenkintown sd jersey shore area sd jim thorpe area sd johnsonburg area sd juniata valley sd karns city area sd kennett consolidated sd keystone sd keystone central sd keystone oaks sd kiski area sd kutztown area sd lackawanna trail sd lakeland sd lake-lehman sd lakeview sd lampeter-strasburg sd lancaster sd laurel sd laurel highlands sd lawrence county ctc lebanon sd leechburg area sd lehigh career and technical institute lehighton area sd lenape avts lewisburg area sd ligonier valley sd line mountain sd littlestown area sd lower dauphin sd lower merion sd lower moreland township sd loyalsock township sd mahanoy area sd manheim central sd manheim township sd marion center area sd marple newtown sd mars area sd mcguffey sd mckeesport area sd mercer area sd meyersdale area sd middletown area sd midd-west sd mifflinburg area sd millcreek township sd millville area sd milton area sd minersville area sd mohawk area sd monessen city sd montgomery area sd montour sd montoursville area sd montrose area sd moon area sd morrisville borough sd moshannon valley sd mount carmel area sd mount pleasant area sd mount union area sd mountain view sd mt lebanon sd muhlenberg sd muncy sd nazareth area sd neshaminy sd neshannock township sd new brighton area sd new castle area sd new hope-solebury sd new kensington-arnold sd newport sd norristown area sd north allegheny sd north east sd north hills sd north penn sd north pocono sd north schuylkill sd northampton area sd northeast bradford sd northeastern york sd northern bedford county sd northern lebanon sd northern tioga sd northern york county sd northgate sd northwest area sd northwestern lehigh sd northwestern sd octorara area sd oil city area sd oley valley sd oswayo valley sd otto-eldred sd owen j roberts sd oxford area sd palisades sd palmerton area sd palmyra area sd panther valley sd parkland sd pen argyl area sd penn cambria sd penn hills sd penn manor sd penncrest sd penn-delco sd penns valley area sd pennsbury sd penn-trafford sd pequea valley sd perkiomen valley sd peters township sd philadelphia city sd philadelphia city sd philadelphia city sd philipsburg-osceola area sd phoenixville area sd pine grove area sd pine-richland sd pittsburgh sd pittston area sd pleasant valley sd plum borough sd pocono mountain sd port allegany sd pottsgrove sd pottstown sd pottsville area sd punxsutawney area sd purchase line sd quaker valley sd quakertown community sd radnor township sd reading sd red lion area sd reynolds sd richland sd ridgway area sd ridley sd ringgold sd riverside sd riverside beaver county sd riverview sd rochester area sd rockwood area sd rose tree media sd saint marys area sd salisbury township sd salisbury-elk lick sd saucon valley sd sayre area sd schuylkill haven area sd schuylkill valley sd scranton sd selinsgrove area sd shade-central city sd shaler area sd shamokin area sd shanksville-stonycreek sd sharon city sd for the future sharpsville area sd shenandoah valley sd shikellamy sd shippensburg area sd slippery rock area sd smethport area sd solanco sd somerset area sd souderton area sd south allegheny sd south butler county sd south eastern sd south fayette township sd south middleton sd south park sd south side area sd south western sd southeast delco sd southeastern greene sd no 2007 southern columbia area sd southern fulton sd southern huntingdon county sd southern lehigh sd southern tioga sd southern york county sd spring cove sd spring grove area sd springfield sd springfield township sd spring-ford area sd state college area sd steel valley sd steelton-highspire sd sto-rox sd stroudsburg area sd sullivan county sd susquehanna community sd susquehanna township sd susquenita sd tamaqua area sd titusville area sd towanda area sd trinity area sd tri-valley sd troy area sd tulpehocken area sd tunkhannock area sd turkeyfoot valley area sd tussey mountain sd twin valley sd tyrone area sd union area sd union city area sd uniontown area sd unionville-chadds ford sd united sd upper adams sd upper darby sd upper dublin sd upper merion area sd upper moreland township sd upper perkiomen sd upper saint clair sd valley view sd wallenpaupack area sd wallingford-swarthmore sd warrior run sd warwick sd washington sd wattsburg area sd wayne highlands sd weatherly area sd wellsboro area sd west allegheny sd west branch area sd west chester area sd west greene sd west jefferson hills sd west mifflin area sd west perry sd west shore sd west side avts western wayne sd westmont hilltop sd whitehall-coplay sd wilkes-barre area sd wilkinsburg borough sd william penn sd williams valley sd williamsburg community sd williamsport area sd wilmington area sd wilson sd windber area sd wissahickon sd woodland hills sd wyoming area sd wyoming valley west sd wyomissing area sd york city sd york county school of technology york suburban sd yough sd

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classrooms for future the at the start of a new school year in the fall of 2006 the pennsylvania department of education unveiled a list of more than 100 high schools selected to be part of a new education initiative classrooms for the future cff those schools formed the vanguard of a movement within the commonwealth to profoundly affect the way teachers teach and students learn by re-tooling the classroom environment in its first three school years cff met with amazing success statewide participation grew from those first 103 schools in just 79 school districts to 543 schools in more than 450 districts why because word spread that it in fact works classrooms for the future by the numbers 8,100 classrooms supplied with teacher and student computers electronic white boards projectors speakers wireless access and multimedia tools over 145,000 computers installed professional development 20,000 teachers coaches and administrators participated in the 21st century teaching and learning on-line course series for professional development of the 27,985 total enrollments 1,203 teachers completed the courses for graduate credit more than 1,500 administrators participated in professional development activities more than 600 coaches participated in coach boot camps and vendor training to learn about coaching and 21st century teaching and learning e mbr ac ingtec hn ol ogy

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wow what an experience it was to teach last week with my laptop the smart board and the students on their own laptops i m teaching 39 years and i have not had such a tremendous sense of accomplishment teacher helping students develop higher order thinking skills create evaluate analyze apply understand ­ describe explain knowledge ­ remember bloom s taxonomy revised based on an apa adaptation of anderson l.w krathwohl d.r eds 2001 classroom for the future te ac hers ar e t facilitators t guides t co-investigators in a students are t producers t apprentices t co-explorers

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what is classrooms lapt o ps i n clas srooms for the future classrooms for the future is a simple concept really it is built on the premise that education in the 21st century should incorporate teaching strategies to engage students in new more challenging ways including the use of relevant computer-based technology state-of-the-art classroom tools such as laptops interactive whiteboards and video cameras have been available for years however studies found that they were under-utilized in high school classrooms primarily because teaching models and technology professional development were in short supply cff was launched in 2006 as a three-year $200 million project since then it has reached some 20,000 teachers and 500,000 students through cff english math science and social studies classrooms receive internet connected laptop computers for teachers and every student along with interactive whiteboards digital cameras printers and scanners each school is encouraged to have a district leadership team to ensure effective implementation an instructional technology coach is assigned to every participating school most importantly cff provides teachers and administrators with new opportunities for professional development with the help of instructional technology coaches assigned to every participating school they learn to use more effectively the technology available in the classroom at the same time they facilitate development of critical skills in their students such as collaboration problem solving creativity and innovation when i enter the classroom i get excited because i know that we can really learn everything about anything in this classroom i feel that i make more progress about learning in this class than any other class having the computer available to me has given me the chance to use what i already know about computers and helps me do better in class i want to spend more time on projects and possibly bring up my grades students i ns t r uct ionalt echnology coach education innovation technology

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cff has engaged our faculty and students like nothing before the professional development we have experienced is excellent i have seen excitement return to many classrooms that were dull teachers are learning alongside their students school superintendent classrooms for future the in the 21st century high school students live comfortably with technology cell phones enhance voice communications by adding image and data transfer applications personal computers employ high-definition graphics and high-speed internet connectivity to facilitate social networking and online research as well as casual browsing through an endlessly captivating virtual marketplace classrooms for the future was created to help schools adapt instructional techniques to complement learning and prepare students to thrive in today s digital environment students who have grown up with technology are often more adept at finding a popular new recording online and downloading it to their ipod than they are at searching the racks of a retail mall store and they can be frustratingly difficult to reach with traditional teaching methods today s youth spend as much or more time at a computer screen as they do watching television they work fearlessly with interactive software and communication applications while many young people adopt technology more easily than adults they often do not know how to use the tools to think more deeply about a topic to present effectively or to solve problems cff offers a practical approach to helping educators find and utilize research-based technology-enabled instructional strategies that engage students in rigorous authentic and student-centered activities in short teachers are creating new ways to thrill to inspire and to capture the imagination of our students why goals improve teaching and learning in english math science and social studies t change classroom practice t change student-teacher relationships t increase student engagement t increase student responsibility for learning t develop 21st century skills in students t increase academic achievement.

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an opportunity and a responsibility high school students are poised to enter one of two paths onward to the global marketplace or toward continuing their education at a higher level either path will lead them to highly competitive environments increasingly served by technology we have the opportunity and the responsibility to prepare our students for the future cff is designed to help today s educators give our children 21st century skills for success as they move forward with their lives teaching with technology expectations classrooms for the future is about giving students power to learn cff equips core curricular classrooms with instructional technology and works with teachers to ensure they make the most effective use of the technology at hand but that s not the best part ultimately it s seeing students learn to take control of their learning in powerful ways technology is simply a tool at first the tool is the focus as teachers and students become accustomed to new equipment unfamiliar software and intriguing web-accessible tools once the novelty is gone the challenge is to make sure that instructional technology is employed frequently and seamlessly integrated with teaching and learning cff helps schools support the educational process with timely professional development for teachers and administrators instructional technology coaches work with teachers in each building constantly demonstrating the wisdom of transforming teaching styles from lecturing to facilitating student-driven work ultimately cff teaches students that they can learn exciting new things outside of the classroom throughout their lives c oac h boot c amp

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instead of promoting experts with little classroom experience to tell teachers how to teach cff embeds experienced teachers with their colleagues to work on constructing effective learning units i cannot wait to get to school in the morning and work with the teachers classrooms for the future is changing the dynamics of education in pennsylvania instructional technology coach i can only say this about the cff initiative wow wow and wow our teachers agree that this initiative is important to the education of our students and wholeheartedly realize that it must not only continue but be expanded these teachers have access to information that they could only have dreamed about previously classrooms for the future is the future of education teacher i want my kids to enjoy learning i want to learn with them just as they learn with and from me the 21st century is here and the pressures and opportunities are boundless as we move forward teacher critical elements for succe ss t leadership involvement at both district and school level t a close relationship between curriculum and technology leadership t policies and procedures in place in the school that allow teachers and students to maximize web 2.0 tools t an energetic instructional technology coach released during the day to work with teachers.

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classrooms measuring the impact of for the future an in-depth evaluation was conducted by a team from the pennsylvania state university during the fall and spring each year of the program from 2006­2010 the study which included pre and post data from teacher and student surveys as well as data collection from classroom visits in all participating schools indicates cff is having a positive impact specifically there is evidence that participating schools have made desirable changes in some important areas classroom organization classrooms are transforming from the traditional rows of desks designed to promote teacher-to-student information flow to ten percent more classrooms reporting clusters of three to five desks the result more collaboration and group work teacher activity pre 18 11 7 6 35 22 teacher activity teachers are spending more time interacting with small groups and individual students and significantly less time 13 lecturing the whole class educational goals there are significant increases in the use of activities requiring higher-order thinking such as project and problem-based learning authentic learning and peer teaching at the same time a greater focus on developing the identified 21st century skills was observed skills including visual literacy collaboration e-communication social or personal responsibility and planning prioritizing and managing work teaching activity associated with student achievement teachers are employing techniques that have been shown through prior research to increase student achievement smart classroom student activity and level of engagement students are spending less time in lectures they spend more time working independently and in groups working on reports projects or presentations geared toward real world products student engagement and interest is enhanced by building understanding through these activities and they spend significantly less time off task technology use as expected increasing numbers of students are using computers throughout their class time teacher attitudes more and more teachers see the value of technology in the classroom most report feeling better prepared to teach and that they re working harder and longer seventy-two percent also report that the cff coaches have been valuable particularly for three services · suggesting ways to incorporate technology into teaching content · helping teachers learn to operate computers networks and software programs · providing professional development instructional coach teachers and administrators indicated through interviews that the instructional coach was the key to success of the program too often new instructional strategies or technologies are provided for teacher use and they go unused unless there is sympathetic knowledgeable support to assist them in getting started teacher activity post 18 17 6 22 26 12 l whole group lecture/instruction l leading a whole class discussion l working with a small group l working with individual students l walking observing and interacting with students l working at desk or other professional work not involving students http cff.psu.edu/public/home.html

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i was so proud of how they conducted themselves and how prepared they were for the event they felt special and it showed in their faces their teachers faces and their principal s face thank you again for all the support that allowed so many changes to take place inside our school and most of all for giving us this wonderful opportunity today cff coach classrooms for the future student capitol day in action now an annual event this day provides selected cff students with an opportunity to share their work and talk with legislators about what they are doing in their classrooms here are some examples of projects featured windmills for power windmills for power is an interdisciplinary math and english project in which students first wrote about windmills then gathered data from a local windmill farm and calculated the power output of the windmills they then created persuasive video infomercials for and against windmills as an alternative source of power world genocide awareness this social studies project involved students working collaboratively to research write about and present what they found on a genocide in the world students used primary sources and firsthand accounts to write letters from the point of view of a genocide victim the age of the universe students combined physics and calculus skills to use data collected with a simulated telescope for calculating the movement of five separate galaxies they used a computer spreadsheet to record their calculations and create graphs illustrating distance and velocity appealing to younger students sophomore chemistry students created story books about the elements of the periodic table using cartoon characters in a fictional plot and weaving science facts into a story intended to appeal to fifth graders senior communication arts students edited the stories and offered suggestions printed copies were sent to the fifth graders who provided feedback via google forms virtual classes with the governor during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years the governor made effective use of the commonwealth s video conferencing network paiunet to conduct four virtual classes with cff students each session involved 10 to 13 schools in preparation for their interactive video conference sessions students researched the topic of discussion from a common wiki prepared questions for the governor then discussed the topic with him via video conferencing technology this unprecedented opportunity for pennsylvania students motivated many to become more involved in civic activities in their communities flip the switch annual open houses or showcase days are held by cff schools to enable legislators board members and other community members to visit classrooms and see how classrooms for the future is changing education practices the events have been enormously successful as community leaders learn about cff and its impact on student motivation teacher enthusiasm and student achievement.

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what s next classrooms for the future transforms into 21st century teaching and learning to sustain the program there must be · a clear shared vision for 21st century educational practices · committed leadership at both district and school levels · continuation of the instructional technology coach position pde is launching a new instructional coach endorsement credential · utilization of the professional development courses provided free of charge through pde s 21st century teaching and learning series · ongoing technical support · replenishment of appropriate instructional equipment through state-wide contracts to provide cost effective purchasing of equipment · support from the pennsylvania general assembly and the public for 21st century education to continue funding for coaches · strong leadership from the pennsylvania department of education for the use of technology in instructional practices professional development courses included in the 2lst century teaching and learning series · the need for change · authentic teaching · differentiated teaching · inquiry based learning · project based learning courses are available free of charge at http pa.professionaleducational.org i u 25 c ol l abor at i on

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for more information 21 s t c entur y teac hing and learning w ith technology p ennsyl vania department of education 33 3 market street h arrisburg pa 17126 717-214-9393 h ttp www education state.pa.us

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