College and Career Readiness

What are we trying to achieve?

College and career ready graduates who are prepared to be productive citizens and

leaders in an increasingly globalized and competitive society.

What does that mean?

60% of college graduates cannot find full-time work in their

chosen profession.Forbes Magazine

“We do not have an unemployment crisis in Michigan . . . We

have an employability crisis!”

THERE ARE 4,500 MANUFACTURING JOBS IN

MICHIGAN TODAY THAT WE CANNOT FILL BECAUSE WE

CANNOT FIND PEOPLE WITH THE APPROPRIATE SKILL SETS TO FILL

THEM.

21st Century SkillsInterdisciplinary ThemesGlobal AwarenessFinancial LiteracyCivic LiteracyHealth Literacy

Life and Career SkillsFlexibility and AdaptabilityInitiative and Self-DirectionSocial and Cross-Cultural SkillsProductivity and AccountabilityLeadership and Responsibility

Learning and Innovation Skills Creativity and InnovationCritical Thinking and Problem SolvingCommunication and Collaboration

Information, Media and Technology SkillsInformation LiteracyMedia LiteracyICT Literacy

Learning is changing, so . . . teaching is changing.

1. Blended Instruction/Flexible Attendance2. Moodle – Online Classroom Environments3. Web Presence4. Online Learning – e20205. Flipped Instruction/Mastery Learning6. Early/Middle College7. Non-traditional approaches – CPCA

Relevance . . .

Relevance . . .RELEVANCE!!!

What does that mean for us?

Innovation

Collaboration

Self Reflection Ongoing Revision

Experimentation

Courage

Challenge

Change

Creativity

Data review

Teaching and learning are changing . . . So, homework is changing.

There is no correlation between the amount of homework given and student achievement.

Students in Finland and Japan are assigned less homework, but still outperform US students (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development 2004)

Research indicates that homework can increase the achievement gap as students with strong family support systems have access to more resources outside of school (Scott-Jones 1984).

Homework is effective in increasing student achievement when struggling students receive additional support from the teacher (Muhlenbruck and colleagues 2000).

What Marzano says . . .The amount of homework assigned should increase as

students get older.Homework should be specific, targeted and age

appropriate (if the student cannot do it on his/her own, it should probably be done in class)

Parental involvement should be kept to a minimum and should be directed by the school (tell parents what their involvement should be). Research has shown some negative effects when parents help students.

The purpose of homework should be identified and articulated to the students and parents.

If homework is assigned, there should be feedback (teacher comments are more powerful than grades).

Reasons for HomeworkPractice – to increase accuracy, fluency, and speed (if

appropriate). Practice should only be sent home once the students have mastered a concept, otherwise you risk widening the achievement gap or reinforcing inappropriate skills.

Preparation for new learning. Should be age appropriate and promote independence.

Enrichment. This is an area where there is an opportunity for increased parent involvement.

ALL HOMEWORK SHOULD SERVE TO EXCITE STUDENTS ABOUT LEARNING

Questions?

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

-Theodore Roosevelt