Connection+Philosophy

toc = Our Beliefs =

1. PBL and/or achievement-based learning must be related to students' current and future real-world needs. 2. Educators must use essential state standards for real world learning/teaching. 3. Educators must use essential state standards for passing high-stakes tests. 4. Innovations in the learning environment must be continuous; there can be no stagnation of learning with staff, students, or administrators. "innovation" = working with NEW tools and ideas = constant learning isn't always successful, but the search must be on-going. ie, ADDICTED TO LEARNING 5. Environment and people must have freedom in order for innovations to occur. 6. There must be freedom of access to information for teachers and students == 7. Respect and trust must be maintained among colleagues (partnership with stakeholders) and students. 8. Stakeholder efforts must focus on every student as an individual. 9. It is understood that time and learning are unique, variable, and expected. 10. AYP, NCLB aren't relevant to students' learning needs. 11. There is an essential need to develop relevance, (rigor/challenge/struggle), and relationships within the environment. 12. Learning must be an individualized/personalized experience for both students and staff. 13. Students and families must be actively involved in the learning process. 14. There must be a change in community thinking which includes 21st Century skills (students' future reality, which is ever-changing) 15. Students and staff need to be able to learn, unlearn, and relearn as readily as needed.

=Shift Happens= media type="youtube" key="ljbI-363A2Q" height="355" width="425" //This is a video by Karl Fisch and modified by Scott McLeod; Globalization and The Information Age//

=A Vision of Students Today= media type="youtube" key="dGCJ46vyR9o" width="425" height="350" //This is a short video summarizing some of the most important characteristics of students today - how they learn, what they need to learn, their goals, hopes, dreams, what their lives will be like, and what kinds of changes they will experience in their lifetime. Created by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 students at Kansas State University.//

=We Think= media type="youtube" key="qiP79vYsfbo&hl=en" height="355" width="425" //A new book by Charles Leadbeater, 'We Think' explores the potential of the latest developments of the internet. This is a powerful way for people in education to begin viewing the power of creativity and the use of online networking.//