In opening a new school in the 21st

century, what is our mission?

Quite simply, it is to provide students with the necessary skills to adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing, interconnected world.

But, in order for our mission to

succeed, drastic changes need to be

implemented.

In the past, traditional classrooms looked like this:

Or this:

However, that type of learning environment is neither

relevant nor meaningful in today’s globalized age. What

is needed is a classroom that better meets the needs of

today’s digitally connected learner.

At ICHS, our classrooms must look like this:

Or, like this:

ICHS must not only embrace physical changes to meet

the challenges of today’s learner, it must also embrace a

curriculum that reflects current trends and research

related to secondary education.

Underlying the framework are the four C’s:

Critical thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Creativity

The framework suggests that they be fused with the 3 R’s -

- which I strongly believe we should all agree upon as well.

At this point you might be nodding

in agreement about the points that

I’ve been making, and yet, you

might be wondering about

methodology.

What methods of instruction might Mr. Hernandez have in mind?

At the heart of ICHS, student centered learning will be its

cornerstone. Students will be actively engaged in the

learning process; they will strive to make knowledge

relevant and meaningful to their lives.

Teachers will be encouraged to employ a variety of methods,

including, but not limited to:

Constructivism

Project based learning

Differentiated learning

Flipped classroom

Since ICHS is located in the lovely state of New Jersey, it will be

necessary for the school to also adhere to The New Jersey Core

Curriculum Content Standards. Each instructor, therefore, will be

responsible for knowing what the standards are for his/her subject

area and incorporating them into their lessons.

Regarding instructors, it is imperative that

ICHS employ teachers who wholeheartedly

embrace our philosophy of student centered

learning and who recognize the dynamic

shifts that technology has placed upon

today’s educational framework.

Consequently, ICHS must only employ

teachers who embrace the rapid changes

happening in today’s world - dynamic

teachers who are not averse to taking risks

in creating a stimulating, meaningful

learning environment for our students.

According to the wiki,

Educational Origami, today’s

teacher should have the

following characteristics:

The teachers ICHS employs will be

concerned not only about teaching their

subject area, but also about teaching

students how to learn, how to find and

process information in today’s

computerized age.

According to Educational Origami, today’s

learners are:

adaptive

information, media and technology savvy

communicators

immediate and instant

require instant gratification

creators and adaptor

Accordingly, we at International Charter High School must act to provide students with necessary skills to prepare them not only to pursue higher education, or, for a career. No, ICHS must provide them with the necessary life skills for living productive and fruitful lives in the 21st century.

I am confident and optimistic that if

we carefully follow the steps that I’ve

outlined in this presentation that we

can successfully educate our students

to meet the demands of an ever

changing, digitally connected world.