21st Century Schools presents . . .

Designing the 21st Century Classroom  - a two-day Professional
Development Experience from our Summer in the City Series!

Read about this workshop below.  Also see these links:   Schedule
- Dates and Locations, Register, and Workshop
Details.

Education in the New Millennium Students today live, learn and play in a media-saturated society, in a world of “infotainment” and spectacle. For many students the curriculum is not relevant, and they become disengaged from learning. Rapid developments in technology have brought many exciting changes to life in the new millennium, presenting new challenges for schools. Multiple new literacies are required to navigate the “forest of signs and symbols” of our globalized media culture. (Douglas Kellner, UCLA) Globalization and immigration have created a society of increased diversity. Old and new social issues demand an informed, concerned and empowered citizenry.  Standardized testing mania has made meaningful curriculum an endangered species.

21st Century Schools is an Austin, Texas based educational consulting firm specializing in professional staff development and curriculum design. 21st Century Schools presents a critical approach to curriculum, instruction and assessment. Learn how you can meet the needs of students, bring your classroom into the 21st century, exceed the standards and maintain a meaningful and authentic curriculum. In addition to on-site consulting for your campus, we organize single & multi-district educational conferences, and we offer thematic regional workshops throughout the year. Summer in the City Series We have selected cities rich in early American history for this summer series! Explore places you don’t have time to visit during the school year, and return to school in the fall with treasures of history. Please join us for our Summer in the City series as we present Designing the 21st Century Classroom—a two-day professional development experience!  Cities this year include Shreveport, New Orleans, Boston, New York City, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Houston!
The “Whole Teacher” We take pride in our goal to meet the needs of the “whole teacher”. We believe that professional staff development should be not only a time of learning, but of renewal. Efforts are made to hold workshops at locations offering opportunities to visit historical sites, explore exciting cities, visit theme parks with the family, relax in the quiet beauty of a wilderness retreat or enjoy the grandeur of a gothic mansion; we seek out the most unique and luxurious venues. Our workshops are much more than a rushed event at a generic hotel —they are an experience!
Special Guests   FDNY, NYPD and crew member of the John J. Harvey fireboat!	Terrorism and Heroism - As a current event that created abrupt, significant and ongoing changes in our world, an event of living history, the chance to meet and talk with fire and police department members who were at the WTC on September 11 is an opportunity to not only create new meanings, but to experience this major historical event on a personal level. We meet history face-to-face. Educators can then translate this new knowledge into development of meaningful classroom experiences for their students. See our web site for ways to address 9-11 in the classroom on multiple levels. Members of the New York City Fire and Police Departments who were at the WTC on 9-1l will attend both New York workshops to share their experiences and thoughts with you. We will also offer a slightly later starting time one day to allow you the opportunity to visit Ground Zero. Meet living history face-to-face in New York City. Please visit our web site for additional information, and join us in making history in New York! www.21stCenturySchools.com/September_11.html Also see www.21stCenturySchools.com/911_in_the_Classroom.html
Designing the 21st Century Classroom - about the workshop . . .
Media & Multiple Literacies With the rapid changes in our society due to developments in technology, we are presented with challenges and opportunities to acquire and use new skills and literacies. From our media-saturated culture to the Internet, to new social issues, students and teachers can experience exciting new ways to learn and teach using the multiple literacies and multiple forms of media and technologies available today. Discover how to engage students by implementing curriculum and instruction through multiple forms of media as students learn media analysis, critique and production. Engaged in Learning through Community In addition to new skills required for life in the 21st century, many schools are facing the challenge of students’ lack of engagement in learning . Connect the curriculum to the world, and it becomes meaningful. Watch students become engaged in learning again when you design and deliver that curriculum through local, national and global community connections in the classroom of the 21st century. Raise Test Scores Endless drills and worksheets are not the answer. You do not have to abandon relevant and motivating curriculum to devote time to test prepping. In fact, research indicates higher test scores when curriculum is integrated and meaningful. Watch test scores rise when students are engaged in authentic learning. Buy that plane ticket and join us in the city this summer for two days of exciting professional development in the lap of luxury! Register today!
What You’ll Do Have fun and work hard as you experience learning the same way your students will; participate in a variety of groups while learning classroom strategies experientially; gain new perspectives as you collaborate with other educators; design authentic assessments for individual, small group and whole group learning. Develop a unit designed for your classroom reflecting the goals, needs and interests of your students, campus and community. Analyze and apply current educational research and best practices in education as you design your 21st century classroom. What You’ll Learn Curriculum Design— interdisciplinary, thematic, project-based, research-oriented unit design Authentic Assessment Design - design and use of rubrics and performance based assessments Aligning to and exceeding state and national standards Multiple Literacies needed for living and learning in the 21st century Strategies to develop Self-Directed, Independent and Interdependent Student Learning How to take your classroom Global - use the Internet to create collaborative projects and conduct authentic research, nationally and internationally. Student Motivation — connecting to community - local, national and global Classroom Organization and Management Addressing Diversity and Social Issues— the “Isms” - Racism, Classism, Sexism, anti-Semitism and religious oppression, Linguicism, Ableism, Ageism Media Literacies— learn how to use multiple forms of media to motivate students, implement the curriculum and for assessment as students learn Media Analysis, Media Critique and Media Production skills!
What You’ll Take With You ! I. 21st century project-based unit that you have designed for your classroom II. Certificate for Professional Staff Development III. Designing the 21st Century Classroom, a toolkit containing all this and more: Yearly Curriculum Planning Guide Sample Units—various themes and grade levels Themes Bank - jump-start your curriculum planning with this bank of possible themes Classroom Strategies - from physical room arrangements to student grouping and activities Guide to the Global Classroom Unit and Lesson Design Tools Media Literacy - Ideas & Resources Authentic Assessment Tools Recommended Resources Multiple Intelligences Inventories & Lesson Ideas Current research & best practices in education Schedule Now for 2003-2004 Now is the time to reserve your dates for planned professional staff development at your campus or district. We can bring you one of our workshops, or we can work with you to develop a unique professional development plan tailored to the needs and goals of your district and community. Call Anne Shaw, Director of 21st Century Schools, to discuss your needs for the upcoming school year and to reserve your preferred dates. See our web site for additional information. Call 512-837-7026 or email Director@21stCenturySchools.com Free eNews - subscribe to our free monthly enewsletter at www.21stCenturySchools.com/Subscribe.html
Registration Form
Please complete the registration form online, or fax or mail it to 21st Century Schools at the address below. You may also register online. Payment in full is due by the date of the workshop. Be sure to visit our web site to find information on the hotel where the workshop is being held and to obtain schedule details. You will also find information on things to see and do in each city. Register Early and Save - fully paid registrations received six weeks prior to the workshop receive a $20 discount. Registration accepted on a full-payment, first-come, first-served basis only. Confirmation mailed 48 hours after receipt of registration. Refer to our web site for complete registration information, including terms, registration deadlines, online and credit card registrations. www.21stCenturySchools.com/Register.html
21st Century Schools 12349 Metric Blvd., #913 Austin,  Texas  78758 Phone  512-837-7026 Fax  512-837-7026 Director@21stCenturySchools.com
Follow these links to the complete Summer in the City schedule and additional information for this workshop, Designing the 21st Century Classroom.