Reply to comment

Here is a GREAT video clip (5:16) by Principal Chris Lehmen from the 3-year old SLA (Science Leadership Academy) about many of the things we are talking about in II09.

Chris speaks fast ... so be forewarned!

SLA is an inquiry-driven and project-based school. a one-to-one school in the SDP in the old school district office.  Check out the SLA Mission Statement.  SLA does some very intersting things in that school ... all of which are possible because the system lets them define themself with no holds.  SLA started from scratch so there was no preconditions of "this is the way we do it here."  SLA interviews prospective students on the phone, then in person, with your future 4-year teacher advocate in attendance.  SLA is not a neighborhood school as students come from he SDP from all parts of the city.  They do not  recruit the smartest, they do recruit the students that show a genuine interest in their own learning (hum).  It is not classified as a magnet school, but then again they pick their students.

Hey, did Chris say dip-sticking (at 3:31 mark)?  :)

 

On January 29-31, 2010 try to attend Educon 2.2 at SLA.  It is amazing!  I have been to Educon 2.0 and 2.1 the previous 2 years.  Educon is about technology, but how learning is accomplished and facilitated with technology.  Many of he top people and contributors about inquiry-driven and project-based classrooms and tech in education come to this un-conference here in our own back yard!