Professional Learning Communities

This morning I had the good fortune of observing a professional learning community (PLC) with the high school English Department. PLC's are a time when teachers meet and discuss student achievement, curriculum and classroom instruction. PLC's are a powerful tool to help our teachers provide the best education possible by focusing on what is important....student learning. In this morning's PLC, the teachers were discussing the merits of certain vocabulary curriculum as well as organizing training for writing strategies. All teachers at the Penn-Trafford School District participate in some sort of PLC. What a great way for me to start my day by sitting with teachers and talking about the "good stuff".

Data Transmission Through a Lightbulb...Implications for Education?

Every once in awhile I will share a video with you when I believe the video speaks to changes in education at our local level and a national or global level.  This is one of those videos.  The speaker has developed technology where an ordinary light bulb can transmit data (think wireless). The implications for education are enormous.  The availability of information will only become easier and the methods in which we connect with students will only expand in the future with technology such as this.  School systems must take advantages of these new methods of delivery and the new ease in which information will be shared.  I mention the word "repurposing" a lot when I discuss education.  Using that word is my attempt to shift the narrative of education away from what we "do" currently and what we "know" currently. Education must help students become critical "engagers" in their communities and our society.  The future will demand these skills and our school system has the moral obligation to prepare students for that task.

 Harald Haas: Wireless data from every light bulb | Video on TED.com

Some Thoughts on the Future of Education at Penn-Trafford

The first few days of school have flown by and everything is great!  I have spent some time in almost every school greeting teachers and students as they have entered the door.  I want to thank all of the teachers that have engaged me in conversations about their work, the school district, and most importantly the kids.  I have learned that the business department has quite a few dual enrollment options for our students (more on that on a later blog).  I have discussed what Kindergarten kids know when they enter school and what they are expected to know when they leave Kindergarten.  I have talked about the history, art and math curriculum in the middle schools.  Now, this may sound not too exciting for you, but for me it is “good stuff”!  I will continue to be very visible in the school buildings throughout the year but it is especially imperative that I engage in these conversations in the next few months as I learn about the school district.

As I learn more about the inner workings of the school district, I cannot help but start to think of the future; not only the future of Penn-Trafford, but also the future of public education in general.  Although there are many challenges that we face both locally and nationally, I am very optimistic about the future of education.  Locally, Penn-Trafford is poised to have an opportunity to reshape the “look” of education for generations.  Many of you know that the school district is considering a building project in the upcoming years.  Although the Board has not made any decision about the specifics of the building project, the building project is an opportunity for the school district to revolutionize what education looks like for our kids.  The history of Penn-Trafford tells us that the buildings that are remodeled or built new will be used for generations.  After all, this community and school district are very frugal and will get the most out of any buildings that are built. 

Fortunately for the school district as we enter into this process, education and our society are in a time of significant change.  We will see the most significant changes in education in the methods that we use to educate our kids.  For example, the biggest change will be in how students are taught.  In the future, most students will be taught in a “blended” format where some instruction is done face to face and some in an online format.  This is already being done, but will only expand exponentially in the future.   Schools will also start to “mass customize” learning experiences for students.  Students will have a personal education plan that will be tailored to their specific interests and needs. Some students will have the opportunity to take classes much in the same way they are delivered now, while others will be in a more collaborative “blended” approach with their student peers.  Our challenge as educators at Penn-Trafford is to make sure that buildings that we construct will be able to accommodate the blended approach and the collaborative teaching methods that will come to dominate in the future.  When will “the future” come?  I don’t know.  I do know that we will prepare for the changes and we will be ahead of the curve.  After all, as Will Rogers said, “Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.”