A MultiSchool Project Focused on the Video Shift Happens

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A Multi-School Project Focused on the Video
Shift Happens

• Lisa Heasley
• lheasley_at_lcvt.tech.pa.us
• Andrew Tommelleo
• atommelleo_at_lcvt.tech.pa.us
• Dan Perna, Ed.D.
• dperna_at_jamesdanielassociates.com

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Four groups of students

• Bloomsburg High School, Bloomsburg, PA
• Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical
  School, Bloomsburg, PA
• Lawrence County Career and Technology Center, New
  Castle, PA
• Moshannon Valley High School, Houtzdale, PA

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The structure

• Two teams.
• Two students from each school on each team.
• Students met face to face one time.
• Students did all work via technological media.
• Students were required to develop all work
  deadlines, progress reports on their own.
• No teacher assistance except guidance.

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The Shift Happens Project

• What should American high schools be doing with
  students to prepare the students to meet the
  challenges highlighted in Shift Happens?

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The parameters

• Parameter One All participants will view Shift
  Happens.
• Parameter Two Participants will meet regularly
  via technological devices to devise a
  presentation that articulates an idea in
  reference to the research question.
• Parameter Three Teams will develop a public
  presentation to be presented in May, 2009.

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First task

• A written statement of no more than five pages
  will be given to members of the public viewing
  the presentations in May, 2009.
• The structure of the written document will
  include
• One succinct statement that defines what the team
  believes American high schools should do to meet
  the challenge of Shift Happens. The statement
  must be phrased with We believe
• The written statement must include numerical data
  that will support or back-up
• All ideas presented by the team must have some
  form of supportive qualitative (verbal
  information) or quantitative (numerical
  information) data to support their statement. At
  least two of the points made by the team must
  have quantitative data to support the idea.
• Somewhere in the five pages there must be a
  pictorial or graphic model of the systematic
  change the team is proposing.
• The written statement must outline a minimum of
  three and not more than seven steps a high school
  must take to make this change.

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Second Task

• A graphic production will be used as part of the
  public presentation given in May, 2009. The
  presentation and production must meet these
  criteria
• The presentation must be at least 15 minutes and
  not more than 25 minutes in length.
• The presentation must include the We believe
  statement.
• The presentation must include some data why the
  team believes this.
• The group must tell and show how they worked
  together.
• The presentation must include the step by step
  process that schools should use to meet the
  belief.
• The presentation must include pictorial and
  graphic information.
• All team members must have some role in the
  presentation.
• The team must be prepared to answer questions at
  the end of the presentations.

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Required Administrative Support and
Administrative Defined Logistics
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Administrative Logistics

• We saw it as important.
• We informed teachers of the project and time.
• We informed parents about the shift in priorities
  for students involved.
• We informed news media.

ANDY
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Required Teacher Time and Acceptance of the
Project
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Teacher Logistics

• Easy to coordinate.
• Gave up lunch to meet with kids.
• Had the technological tools to use through a
  Pennsylvania Classrooms For the Future grant.

LISA
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Value

• Project based is valuable
• Other students wanted to be in the program.
• Students talking about the challenges of working
  with people outside their comfort group.
• Placed students in front of people who they do
  not know.
• Risked Facing real authority (state level
  educators) in the presentation.
• Learned the need to take charge.

ANDY and LISA
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Challenges that kids faced

• Finding agreed upon meeting times
• Appeared to need an adult leader
• Accountability from each member
• Needed more teacher facilitation

LISA
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Presentation

• Both groups presented a written document.
• Both groups presented an oral presentation
  including Power Point and video.

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Concepts to change the project

• Have kids do it in a school. Then have two
  students chosen to work with inter-school groups.
  Make it an intra-school competition first.
• Have teacher guide the use of more technology.
• Provide a set of parameters that defines what
  technology must be used.
• Get samples on video of work they were doing.
  Show us what you did.

LISA, ANDY, DAN
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Ideas from the papers

• The first change that we recommend is a major
  revamp of the required school curriculum. We feel
  that the need for such a radical reform extends
  beyond high schools.
• The principles of computer ethics should be
  taught early and constantly in order to ensure
  that students will know how to use electronic
  devices responsibly.
• We propose that a massive Classes on Demand
  system be created which gives students access to
  the daily lessons of the classes in their
  schools.

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Students Ideas for Schools

• Students feel that the technology they use in
  school is too limited.
• Schools should leverage technology to provide
  students with a wider range of experiences.
• Students should spend less time physically in a
  classroom with greater opportunity for online
  access to educational opportunities.

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Students Ideas for Schools

• Students should have the chance to use personal
  laptops and other devices in the school setting
  with a higher level of trust.
• Some way should be established to help kids with
  a genuine need so that their families can afford
  a personal laptop and bring internet access to
  the home.
• Schools should provide full access to coursework,
  teaching, and testing outside the traditional
  classroom.

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Students Ideas for Schools

• The cost of providing technology should be
  lessened through increased use of free and
  open-source software.
• All of the students involved indicated they would
  be willing to do coursework on their own time if
  they had the opportunity.

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Students Ideas for Schools

• Wanted more opportunities for interaction.
• Wanted more variety of course work including
  online.
• Wanted to be challenged with things like Kindle.

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Would you accept the schools of India and China?

• Would you be willing to spend the time in school
  that Indian and Chinese students spend?
• Would you be willing to give up
  extra-curriculars?
• Deflect the question about number of days by
  mentioning less days in Finland.
• Would not commit to longer days.
• School needs more technology.

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Questions Lisa Heasleylheasley_at_lcvt.tech.pa.us
Andrew Tommelleoatommelleo_at_lcvt.tech.pa.usDan
Perna, Ed.D.dperna_at_jamesdanielassociates.com