How do people measure integrity, critical thinking, or creativity?
That is precisely what Lee Watanabe Crockett, a Vancouver-based author of Mindful Assessment, plans to address during a day-long seminar with local teachers on the province-wide Pro-D Day on Friday, Oct. 20.
As an artist and consultant with a business background, Crockett is said to bring a valuable outsider鈥檚 perspective to the occasionally insular field of Kindergarten through Grade 12 education.
鈥淎s much as we want to be open to new ideas,鈥� said Crockett, 鈥渋t鈥檚 hard to step outside of that and see what鈥檚 possible.鈥�
This unique outlook has made him an in-demand consultant during recent curriculum changes in New Zealand and Australia. These changes are similar to those being rolled out in B.C., where the focus is shifting from content to competencies.
Alongside literacy and numeracy skills, students are expected to think critically, collaborate with their peers, and much more.
These aspirations for student learning require an approach to teaching that up-ends traditional methods.
鈥淚n a content-based world, direct instruction can work, but ineffectively,鈥� Crockett said.
鈥淵ou cannot develop competencies through direct instruction鈥攖hey鈥檙e thinking processes that require students to be at the centre of learning,鈥� he added.
In an age of increasing automation, these particularly human skills of collaboration, creativity, and integrity will be what is required from 21st century workers, community members, and global citizens, Crockett insisted.
To prepare students for this changing world, educators should seek to re-frame their notions of classroom roles.
鈥淲hat I would really hope is that they learn to move the responsibility of the learning from the teacher, where it has been, to the student, where it should be,鈥� Crockett said, 鈥渢hat they will start to relinquish the illusion of control and produce capacity in their students to be capable, life-long learners.鈥�
This approach is modeled in Crockett鈥檚 seminars, which focus on hands-on, collaborative learning between participants.
鈥淚 look to challenge thinking and provide opportunities to grow and transform professionally,鈥� he said. Ultimately, he hopes teachers will see these changes as an exciting opportunity to transform instruction in a way that improves both student experience and outcomes.
Lee is co-author of Understanding the Digital Generation, The Digital Diet, Living on the Future Edge, and the bestseller Literacy Is Not Enough.
鈥淚 hope they walk away feeling optimistic about the future and more empowered to handle the shift not only inwhat the government expects of us as educators, but what students demand of us as learners. I hope they willwalk away with the toolset to address that and the mindset to embrace it with joyful curiosity.鈥�
While Crockett will be working with educators at the 91原创 Events Centre on Friday, guests are also welcome. The seminar is $50 for 91原创 School District staff and $150 for other guests 鈥� including a catered lunch. The event runs 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Registration is available at thinklangley.pdplace.com.
