Session+8

=8.1 - Opener= media type="custom" key="10031035"

=8.2 - Teacher Conversations= Unfortunately, I find that our district needs a lot of improvement in this area. While we are certainly encouraged to collaborate, at least in my experience, we are not provided with the time or resources to do so. We do not have common planning time, and meetings are dominated by other business. When we do have time built in to collaborate, as with the English Department’s Vertical Teams and Inquiry Groups, I find it incredibly valuable and always come away with new ideas that benefit my teaching practice. For most of the year, however, it takes great effort and personal initiative to find these opportunities. Again, I would welcome the opportunity to collaborate more with other teachers. I would especially like the chance to have more choice in how and with whom we collaborate so that we can build on common needs, interests and goals. Currently, I accomplish this by meeting with my colleagues outside of school or after school hours or via email, etc.
 * How does your school/district currently support and or encourage collaboration between teachers?
 * How much do you seek to collaborate with teachers and how do you accomplish this?

Collaboration is important in teaching no matter what, and probably more so in seeking to implement a 21st century classroom. Implementing a 21st century classroom involves teachers innovating and learning new skills, and while it is possible to accomplish these things on our own, I can speak from experience in saying that it helps to have others – with different strengths and unique ideas - along for the ride.
 * To what extent do you think collaboration is of growing importance for teachers seeking to implement a 21st century classroom?

These ideas certainly apply to student conversation. As we established in the previous session, student collaboration is extremely valuable, and we need to make it a priority to give them the skills, time, and resources to collaborate and communicate in a variety of ways.
 * In what ways, if any, do you see the thoughts in this article applying to student conversation?

= = = = = = = 8.3 - Innovation in Education =

//"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew//." **Abraham Lincoln**

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Reflections on the Lincoln quotation and Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talk can be found in the Discussion tab. = =