Key Questions for 21st Century learning:

• Has 'teaching to the test' created passive, coasting learners who are too dependent on teachers?
• Is the curriculum too content-heavy with no room for independent learning and creativity?
• How can we ensure that students develop transferable skills and competences that will enable them to be successful in the workplace of the future?
• Are we creating resilient, flexible learners with the emotional intelligence to achieve up to and beyond their potential?
• How can we make sure that all students 'Choose to Learn' and develop respect for themselves, each other and for learning?
• Why don't teachers use more brain-friendly learning technques to add value and motivate students?
• How can we introduce personalised learning for all our students?
• What do we need to consider about learning when Building Schools for the Future?

WANTED for the 21st Century global workforce:  Resilient, creative independent learners who have flexible skills and competences, who work well in teams and can lead themselves and others to perform up to and beyond their potential.

• Do we produce these learners now in our schools?
• If not, how can we?
• Should the curriculum be organised around subjects or skills?
•  How can we teach students emotional intelligence and self-management skills?
• Who should be teaching them – teachers, other adults, other students, on-line tutors?
• How can we ensure that we are developing creative thinkers?
• Is this quote still true for our students....?

‘Imagine oneself sailing on a ship across an unknown sea, to an unknown destination.  An adult would be desperate to know where he is going.  But a child only knows he is going to school… The chart is neither available nor understandable to him or her… Very quickly, the daily life on board ship becomes all important… The daily chores, the demands, the inspections, become the reality, not the voyage, nor the destination.’  Mary Alice White (1971)

What sort of school do we need in order to create learners who can survive in the fast-moving, globalised, personalised world of technological miracles we now live in?  To compete against the emerging nations our children need to learn to be flexible communicators and lifelong learners.  Schools need to refocus on learning if they are to prepare students to fulfil their potential and add value in the secondary years.  'Creating the Learning School' by Middlewood, Beere and Parker, (see the Publications page) sets out the changes we need to make to create the 'learning' school.

____________________________________________________________________________

Jackie Beere provides consultancy, training, coaching or support for teachers, leaders, students or support staff  in your institution to help you create a learning environment for the 21st Century.  The courses, based on the book, give a unique overview of a school that delivers education that will create independent, motivated learners.  You will have a chance to evaluate your own school or institution and plan for future developments.  Courses will include:

• Learning to Learn through Opening Minds - the competency-based flexible curriculum
• Brain-friendly learning in the classroom
• Self-evaluation through student voice
• Re-modelling the workforce for learning
• Developing emotionally intelligent learners
• Designing the learning school
• Personalising learning

The courses also include practical tasks and examples of best practice.  You will go away with an action plan to use for your own school or institution.

NOTE.  As an advanced skills teacher Jackie also offers coaching and consultancy in developing effective teaching and learning techniques for individuals or groups of teachers.