U.S. Innovative Teachers Forum
Updated: October 31, 2007
Rewarding 21st century learning teams
The 2007 U.S. Innovative Teachers Forum recognized and rewarded learning teams practicing the elements of 21st century learning in their own professional learning and then incorporating these skills into the student learning environment.
The 2007 Forum, supported by the National Staff Development Council and the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, brought together 22 exemplary K-12 learning teams for two days, September 27-28, 2007, on the Microsoft corporate campus in Redmond, Washington.
The Forum provided learning teams with the opportunity to share expertise and engage collaboratively with their peers from around the country.
For information on content from the 2007 Forum and updates about future Forums please subscribe to the Innovative Teachers Newsletter.
Focusing on teaming and the elements of 21st century learning
Education thought leaders, classroom teachers, students themselves, and a large majority of Americans in a recent nationwide poll* all believe that our rapidly changing, global society has redefined the skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century. In order for today's students to acquire these skills and be competitive in a still-evolving global economy, learning environments within schools must become seamless and emulate the characteristics and behaviors of the outside world. Furthermore, a learning environment which is conducive to enabling students to acquire 21st century skills must not only exist for the students but also for the educators tasked with preparing the students, as they themselves must be well versed in and practicing these skills as professionals. Given the norm in U.S. education where teachers are working alone in isolated classrooms, (behavior attributed to our factory-era schools), how are educators expected to acquire these skills, let alone infuse them into their teaching and learning with their students?
Microsoft, the National Staff Development Council, and the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future support the growing consensus that teaching, even good teaching, is better when teachers have the support of their colleagues and opportunities for continual reflection, inquiry, problem solving and learning together. Groups of teachers engaged in this kind of work on a regular basis are the learning communities that make good schools great and enable sustained professional growth for educators in the 21st century.
*The Partnership for 21st Century Skills
About the 2007 U.S. Innovative Teachers Forum
An independent panel of nationally recognized education leaders selected 22 learning teams, based on team applications, to participate in the Forum. Up to three teachers plus a principal or vice-principal from each team was invited to attend the Forum. The Forum was held on the Microsoft corporate campus in Redmond, Washington, September 27-28, 2007.
Two learning teams out of the 22 attending the U.S. Forum were selected to represent the United States at the Microsoft Worldwide Innovative Teachers Forum in Finland in late October 2007.
Each learning team was reviewed on the following criteria, which demonstrate practicing the elements of 21st century learning in their own professional learning and then incorporating these skills into the student learning environment:
21st Century Learning Teams Part I: About the Team | 5 points |
21st Century Learning Teams Part II: Goals and Team Time | • | Team goals | | • | Common norms, agreements and learning beliefs | | • | Team meeting time, duration and frequency | | • | Team communication tools and strategies |
| 10 points |
21st Century Learning Teams Part III: Teamwork in Action | • | How does the team organize its work to stay focused on student achievement? | | • | How does the team use best practice strategies to foster professional growth and student achievement? |
| 20 points |
21st Century Learning Teams Part IV: Team Success | • | How has the team directly contributed to improved student achievement? | | • | What has been the most significant team learning thus far? | | • | How has the team impacted the school structure and culture? | | • | What are other indicators of success? | | • | Team challenges and solutions | | • | How does the team demonstrate 21st century skills? | | • | Anything else that your team would like to share |
| 15 points |
Implementing 21st Century Projects Part I: Project overview | 5 points |
Implementing 21st Century Projects Part II: Project Development | • | Idea source and design steps | | • | Concepts/themes | | • | Essential questions | | • | Core subject area integration | | • | Standards | | • | 21st century content | | • | Learning and thinking skills | | • | Life skills |
| 20 points |
Implementing 21st Century Projects Part III: Project Implementation | • | Student learning strategies | | • | Required resources | | • | Information and communication technology | | • | Implementation steps | | • | Implementation tips |
| 10 points |
Implementing 21st Century Projects Part IV: Project Results | • | Assessment strategies | | • | Student products/performances | | • | Students' most significant learning |
| 10 points |
Implementing 21st Century Projects Part V: Project Artifacts | • | Student work samples | | • | Project descriptors and rubrics | | • | Other key project files, links, etc |
| 5 points |
Total Value | 100 points |
If you have questions about the Innovative Teachers Forum, please send e-mail to teachers@microsoft.com.
