Image via WikipediaToday, I took the time to watch and listen to a posting of a presentation done by Chris Lehman during the recent NECC (National Education Computing Conference) in San Antonio. First, a bit about Chris — He is principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philly, and an avid, practical leader of the use of Web 2.0 tools in teaching and learning. You can view the video of this session on the WeAreTeachers Tech Circle page at (check out Video Pods box there). Chris talks about the use of UBD (Understanding by Design) as a framework for all the curriculum planning and development done in his school. The real power of this approach is that they also train the STUDENTS in this method, so that the kids get right into learning, versus figuring out how to ‘game’ the grading system — an example of REALLY transparent learning!

The basic tenets of the UBD model are:
-Desired results (goals, objectives)
-BIG ideas (Why do we teach this topic?)
-BIG Questions (What is the central question this topic begs to answer?)
-Skills and Content (what is the ‘meat’ kids need to answer the big question?)
-Authentication of the learning (What tangible product should kids produce in order to demonstrate understanding? NOT what score should they get on a test!)

Chris further talks about testing as a ‘dipstick’ — a useful tool to check for understnding, but not an authentic way to ensure learning has occurred. Would love to continue this discussion — I encourage you to check out the video on the Tech Circle page in WeAreTeachers, as well as other videos posted there in the Video Pod box, and post any comments here!

Image via Wikipedia
I just returned from a wonderful (and EXHAUSTING) experience at NECC (National Educational Computing Conference) in San Antonio, Texas.  It was an uplifting, engaging, fascinating experience.  A reminder that the very best teachers are also amazing learners, and constantly working to improve their skills and their engagement with peers. I was utterly fascinated to watch teachers who have spent the last year teaching in ‘flat classrooms’ around the globe meet each other face-to-face for the first time.  Avid education bloggers, ‘twitterers,’ and consumers of on-line information were all around, and virtual communities and engagement morphed into real friendships and meaningful discussions and relationships.

Tonight at home in our new ‘analogue’ community, I also had a wonderful experience.  We have just moved (after 25 years in the suburbs!) into a new urban community.  This new and evolving space occupies a former city airport, and is built as a green, community-focused place.  Our home is a level 5 (LEEDS – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) home, and our yard, like all the yards in our neighborhood, is a tiny little space landscaped with Texas native, low water plants.  But right across the street we enjoy a 32 acre shared green belt, being designed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower folk.  And throughout the neighborhood are bike and walking trails, little lakes, and tons of shared green spaces.

The amazing thing is not so much the physical space but what is happening to the people who inhabit it.  Tonight, for example was ‘splash night.’  This is something a few creative parents thought of, and just organized and made happen.  Each Wednesday in the summer, the community picks a spot to gather, and someone brings a sprinkler, water toys, chalk, scooters, etc.  Someone else generally brings wine and beer for adults.  All the kids play in the water, while adults enjoy the conversation, and life in general.  And there are many, many other examples in our community of similar ad-hoc activities springing up weekly.

It occurs to me that this is amazingly like the virtual communities, non-conferences, NECC Un-Plugged, mash-ups I’ve seen or participated in recently.  There is no organizing ‘committee.’  The schedule is pretty random.  Most of the ‘planning’ is done on our community b-board online.  People just naturally volunteer to take on all the necessary roles to make the event happen.  Of course, there is sometimes some grumbling or suggestions for change or improvement, but overall, there is an amazing sense of shared purpose, values, and good old fashioned neighborly love.

Not unlike our discussions at NECC – this wonderful phenomenon is not about the physical place (or the technology).  Rather, it’s about the PEOPLE, and the community that the human experience represents when that community connects in meaningful ways.

So maybe – just maybe – what we are seeing with the growth of on-line community and engagement might also be happening in our ‘real’ worlds.  That is, us humans may be reaching out to one another – to share the human experience together, to learn to live more completely as a group versus as an isolated entity.

Now wouldn’t that be just loverly?

Peace, love, Woodstock to us all.