C21 Canada, a leading non-for-profit organization enters the next phase in its journey to nurture 21st century skills and competencies in schools across Canada by promoting an accelerated change in teaching and learning practices and their systems.
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In Parkland School Division, Innovation Week is an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful learning experiences, to pursue their own learning interests and to develop the skills and thought processes to become lifelong, passionate learners. Students take on the role of innovator, taking the lead in their learning, while the teachers facilitate the process by guiding, questioning, encouraging and focusing. Click to read more.
In creating these types of learning experiences for students and staff, Parkland School Division gives form to the Learning and Technology Policy Framework’s vision of students using technology to create and share knowledge and honours its own vision of being “a place where exploration, creativity and imagination make learning exciting and where all learners aspire to reach their dreams.”
Tim Monds, Superintendent
Parkland School Division
Gordon Dirks was appointed Minister of Education on Sept 15, 2014. His vision for public education in Alberta will ensure that every student has equal access to the highest quality education. Minister Dirks brings a wealth of real world leadership to the role, having served as Chair of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), and as an educator.
The Minister has had a lifelong commitment to public service as a former public school teacher, principal, university instructor, post-secondary college president and a father. He is a strong advocate for parental choice in schooling.
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The World Economic Forum recently released an insightful report that addresses the global skills gap. It is clear that education systems need to become more nimbal in meeting the emerging needs of students in the 21st century.
“These gaps are clear signs that too many students are not getting the education they need to prosper in the 21st century and countries are not finding enough of the skilled workers they need to compete.”
— World Economic Forum Report
New Vision for Unlocking the Potential of Technology
We are please to share this report and look to further dialogue with Canadian educaiton stakeholders to further support innovation and change leadership across the various education systems in Canada.
Robert Martellacci,
Co-Founder and Vice-President C21 Canaada
by Chris Kennedy,
Superintendent of the West Vancouver School District
While we can all come up with shopping lists of what is important to be covered in school, and the skills, attributes and activities that are crucial in the modern classroom, we have been intentional in West Vancouver to talk about a limited number of ideas.
We continue to come back to our focus on inquiry, self-regulation and digital access. Of course, this is not all we do, but these three ideals are unifying – ensuring we are more than just a group of independent contractors that share a school parking lot. We like these three areas of focus because they connect to a K teacher and a grade 12 teacher and then are as applicable in art as they are in science. Of course, they look different at different levels, in different schools and in different classes – and this is good – we celebrate this diversity.
One approach is trying to do the same thing in every class in every school – hoping to standardize a 21st century education. Our approach is to hold to some key principles and then network students, teachers and schools together as we go down the innovation path together. I regularly try to celebrate this journey on my blog at www.cultureofyes.ca .
