School Transformation
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Many people sense that the current system of conventional
classroom teaching has run its course and no longer serves
students' needs or uses teachers' capabilities well. Many
educators, parents and students intuitively recognize there must
be a better way. Dr. Wayne Jennings and other innovative
educators believe there is a better way. For example, what would
school learning be like if you could continue the powerful,
natural curiosity and drive that 3- and 4-year-olds have in
exploring the world?
Discovering the Wonder of Learning
What would happen if you could extend the extraordinary drive
that infants have to master the environment and their sense of
pride in accomplishments? Imagine the possibilities of tapping
that deep motivation and creatively harnessing it as children
grow during their years in school.
What modern teaching principles and learning environments support and enhance the natural motivation of every child? We advocate exciting approaches that work at all ages to boost learning of all students.
We tested our ideas through more than $1,000,000 of new research on effective schools and design principles funded by the new American Schools.
The results: implementing systemic and comprehensive change
does bring dramatic increases in learning for all students. The
new design principles create a powerful environment where the
learning experience becomes child-centered and life-centered.
Modern Learning Principles
Learning teems with excitement when individualized to a person
and to his or her particular drives -- just like the strong
motivation forces of a 3- or 4-year-old to accomplish a new feat.
With the new principles,
teaching becomes person centered rather than group centered,as in
the conventional system. Instead of large group competitive
learning, the focus shifts to small teams where cooperative
learning heightens a sense of fun, sharing and discovery.
These ideas have gone beyond research and into actual pilot
projects with real students and real teachers in real school
environments. The performance outcomes support the concept and
research findings -- the new principles work. Dramatic increases
in learning are realized. The changes occur because of a shift in
approach, because of a reallocation of resources and because of
dynamic change in the system rather than incremental and
fragmented improvements in conventional teaching methods.
A Partner for Bold New Changes
You now have the opportunity to consider the benefits of
shaping educational initiatives through systemic change. This
type of approach is for a few select schools who have the desire
to boldly tackle new challenges and to act as the showcases for
their area. Designs for Learning acts as your partner and advisor
in working with the community and school systems.
We help you initiate support mechanisms to create and sustain
change. We provide the training and ongoing management to help
you stay on track. You learn how to establish benchmarks to
assess achievement from desired outcomes. You'll find out how to
reallocate funding and resources to make effective schools a
reality in your community.
Empower Learners, Liberate Staff, Excite Teachers
You'll see new ways to actively promote staff development and
job enhancement. You'll realize how the maximum, effective use of
technology empowers learners and staff while liberating
administrators. You'll discover that stake-holder decision-making
and accountability powerfully increase commitment and energy.
You can transform schools and the learning environment for rapid, dramatic, and exciting results. There is a new and better role for teachers, students, advisors, parents, and learners in this system.
Remember times when learning was stimulating and fun. We're making that kind of learning happen for all students. Let us show you a few of our success stories and we'll help write yours.
