THE INITIATIVE TO CHANGE CURRENT EDUCATION METHODS

MANIFESTO

We ARE an ever-growing technological community: Every day tens of thousands of people connect through their computers and mobile devices to read the news, play games, surf the Internet, and download music and movies. In a world where nearly 1 in every 13 have Facebook, (many checking it before rising from bed in the morning), why are we still using the same classroom techniques brought into the classroom in the 70s, 80s, and 90s?
Our learning community is drastically evolving: The way we think, learn, behave, and work changes dramatically every day. Why hasn’t education changed and evolved as well?
We need to evolve in order to keep students motivated and engaged: We have identified the need and implemented the changes necessary to help our students learn better, and retain the spark of interest needed to push self-motivation!
It is up to us to inspire creativity and self-directed learning: We want to empower students to show their originality and knowledge, all while speaking to them in languages they understand: Multimedia and the Web. Through discovery and implementing new ways of teaching, we could inspire the creativity of the next Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Larry Page or Sergey Brin to create something new, exciting and special.

Principles:

Number 1

Expanded Digital Literacy

A digital learning environment, where teachers and students learn technology in an easy-to-use and scalable format that simplifies the educational process and produces accessible, multi-modal results across the curriculum spectrum.

Number 2

Enabling Standards Mastery

The way we think, learn, behave, and work changes dramatically every day. Why hasn’t education changed and evolved as well?

Number 3

Promoting independent problem solving

Creating an adaptable and innovative learning environment for all learners, regardless of age, gender, culture or learning style. Students are encouraged to be independent, inventive problem solving and lifelong learners

Number 4

Demonstrating the Understanding of Curriculum Objectives

Encouraging students to express independent and creative thought, and be competent and confident problem solvers. Project-based teaching and learning strategies facilitate such development, and open possibilities for designing new curricula to meet educational objectives.

Number 5

Fulfilling the UDL Principles

Fulfilling the UDL Principles of “Multiple Means of Representation” in order to give diverse learners options for acquiring information and knowledge; “Multiple Means of Action and Expression” to provide learners options for demonstrating what they know; and “Multiple Means of Engagement” to tap into learners’ interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation.

Number 6

Enhancing Formative and Summative Assessments

Enhancing the connections among curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods. Glogster EDU will increase the efficiency of summative assessments and expand the scope and nature of formative assessments.

Number 7

Providing Differentiated Instructional Activities

A differentiated format to promote a positive balance between acquisition of factual knowledge, the mastery of concepts and skills, and the imaginative use of Multimedia and relevant Internet resources.