School Improvement Network's New and Upcoming Content

The PD 360 platform hosts the world's largest library of differentiated professional development videos for educators. The PD 360 library is regularly awarded for its quality and scope, having recently earned the Tech & Learning "Best Upgraded Product" in 2011. Common Core 360's growing library is also made with the same award-winning quality, depth, and training for educators integrating the Common Core State Standards. Our new Livebook content, and our ongoing courses, show the same commitment to quality and research-based learning.

We at the School Improvement Network are committed to bringing you the newest, most relevant professional development on an ongoing basis. Our content development specialists are constantly creating new-up-to-date videos and adding them to our library. For example,

1,197 minutes of new content were added to our library in 2011, spread out over 239 new segments.
Overall, our library consists of 1,705 segments and an astounding 16,044 minutes.

Our educational experts and client development specialists are constantly interacting with our clients to make sure that we identify current professional development needs and develop programs to meet them. Click the links below for up-to-date information on the different types of professional development we offer.

PD 360 Content
Observation 360
Common Core 360
Lumibook
Online Courses

New PD 360 Content

May 6, 2013 

Teaching Strategies

This program presents thirteen 1-3 minute segments that feature examples of effective classroom practices from teachers around the country.

Elementary

Segment 1: Songs to Reinforce Math Content - 1:44

Kindergarten teacher Carol Stafford at Altruria Elementary in Shelby County, Tennessee, uses songs to activate and reinforce math content as her students learn to decompose the number five. Songs in this segment define the number-sense concept of “decompose” and remind students how to spell, add, and subtract the number five.

Segment 2: Group Work: Talking Chips – 1:09

Fourth grade teacher Comeshia Williams at Northaven Elementary in Shelby County, Tennessee, uses “talking chips” to promote participation and help students take turns during group work.  

Segment 3: Assessment: Peer Evaluation – 1:18

Fifth grade teacher Yvonne Copprue McLeod at Harriet Tubman Elementary in Newark, New Jersey, provides her students with a rubric to help them evaluate each other’s work. Student groups assess each other’s collaborative essays and respond to questions about the characterization of the protagonist in the short story “Iditarod Dream.”

Segment 4: Whole Brain Teaching: Mirror – 1:53

Fourth grade teacher Sharlene Kreager at Central Elementary in Artesia, New Mexico, and kindergarten teacher Carol Stafford in Shelby County, Tennessee engage students in direct instruction and review using “mirror,” a Whole Brain Teaching method. The mirror strategy requires students to imitate the teacher’s actions and/or words. As they do so, students engage their motor memory, and are better able to engage and retain important content knowledge. 

Segment 5: Classroom Cheers – 1:05

Elementary school teachers from around the United States demonstrate their use of classroom cheers, which contribute to a positive learning environment by encouraging students to celebrate each other’s efforts.

Segment 6: Attention Getters – 1:05

Elementary school teachers from around the United States demonstrate various chants, call backs, rhymes, and sayings to quickly gain student attention during classroom activities.

Segment 7: Group Work: Collaboration Skills – 2:10

Fourth grade teacher Comeshia Williams at Northaven Elementary in Shelby County, Tennessee, guides her students as they develop effective collaboration skills by reviewing criteria for successful group interaction. After a class activity, students reflect on their collaboration skills using these criteria.

Segment 8: Warm-Ups: Letters to the Class – 1:37

Two elementary school teachers use mail, or letters to the class, to introduce the learning target of a math lesson. The letters appeal to the students’ imagination and create a setting for problem-based math instruction. 

Secondary

Segment 9: Formative Assessment: Whiteboards – 1:08

Secondary teachers from around the United States formatively assess student learning using whiteboards.  Whiteboards are an effective, informal way to determine each student’s level of mastery and provides an opportunity for teachers to clarify any break downs in understanding new content. 

Segment 10: Skills Practice: Snowball – 1:18

High school algebra Carrie Bala in Heber, Utah, uses the unique and engaging “snowball” method of distributing practice problems that her students have created to other students in the class.

Segment 11: Differentiation: Algebra Tiles – 1:04

Ninth grade ECE algebra teacher Dwan Williams at Westport Middle School in Louisville, Kentucky, uses manipulatives called Algebra Tiles to differentiate instruction for his class. Students are able to deepen their understanding of concepts by using algebra tiles to visually represent and solve algebraic equations.

Segment 12: Reading: RATE Method – 2:05

Twelfth grade teacher Christy Reasons at Germantown High School in Shelby County, Tennessee,helps her students analyze an excerpt from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Society and Solitude.” Using the RATE method, students read, annotate, and think about the text. They then “encode,” or explain their understanding of and connections to the text, as they discuss it in groups.

Segment 13: Math Tasks – 1:38

Seventh grade teacher Dawn Barson and eighth grade teacher Travis Lemon, at American Fork Jr. High in American Fork, Utah, assign their students math tasks to solve in class. Math tasks present real-world mathematical problems that allow them to strengthen their content knowledge and skills.

April 2, 2013

We are pleased to announce the addition of two new programs under the PD Video “Student Centered Learning” folder.

Innovation Lab Network: Introduction

The Innovation Lab Network (ILN) is a network of nine states that engages schools, districts, and state education agencies to identify new designs for public education. The purpose of the ILN model is to empower individual students to thrive as productive learners, workers, and citizens. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) supports ILN-affiliated states in developing six critical attributes in their schools:

1.     World-class knowledge and skills

2.     Comprehensive systems of support

3.     Personalized learning

4.     Performance-based learning

5.     Anytime/anywhere learning

6.     Student ownership of learning

The following program features New Hampshire and its partnership with ILN.  The following segments highlight the collaboration between teachers, school leaders, district, state, and national officials to support innovations that will transform education within New Hampshire.

Innovation Lab Network: New Hampshire

Segment 1: Moving Forward

This segment serves as an introduction to Manchester School of Technology (MST), an innovative four-year high school program that embeds rigorous academic standards into career and technical educational courses. MST demonstrates the educational attributes promoted by the ILN through its innovative, personalized approach to preparing students for college and career.

Segment 2: Supporting Competency-Based Learning

This segment explores MST’s competency-based instructional model, in particular the collaborative practices educators use to embed academic standards into career and technical courses.  This segment features courses in design communications, cosmetology, and integrated history/ELA.

Segment 3: Student Success in an Integrated Curriculum

This segment showcases the unique opportunity for MST students to pursue a dual pathway of traditional academic subjects and career and technical training. MST students are able to graduate from high school having accumulated hours towards licensure in fields such as nursing, cosmetology, and electrical work, which provides a head start towards a career as well as higher earning potential for students who will work while attending college.

Innovation Lab Network: Wisconsin

The Innovation Lab Network (ILN) is a network of nine states that engage schools, districts, and state education agencies to identify new designs for public education to empower individual students to thrive as productive learners, workers, and citizens. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) supports these states in the development of the following six critical attributes in their schools

1.     World-class knowledge and skills

2.     Comprehensive systems of support

3.     Personalized learning

4.     Performance-based learning

5.     Anytime/anywhere learning

6.     Student ownership of learning

This program features Wisconsin as a member of ILN, and highlights the collaboration between teachers, school leaders, district, state, and national officials to support Asa Clark Middle School in Pewaukee, WI, and Waukesha STEM Academy in Waukesha, WI as part of Innovation Lab Network.

Segment1: Innovation Lab Network

This segment serves as an introduction to CCSSO and the Innovation Lab Network (ILN), outlines ILN’s six critical attributes, and includes interviews with chiefs from several states and classroom examples from Wisconsin schools highlighted in the program.

Segment2: Personalized Learning in a Math Learning Center

This segment explores the innovative math learning center at Asa Clark Middle School, in Pewaukee, WI, which has begun a school-wide, one-to-one laptop initiative. This access to technology allows students to receive mathematics instruction through ALEKS^®, an online educational platform.  This segment demonstrates how teachers supplement and personalize learning for students through individual and small-group instruction, assessment, remediation, and extension activities. 

Segment 3: Academy 21: Personalized, Cross-Content Learning

This segment introduces “Academy 21” at Asa Clark Middle School in Pewaukee, WI. At Academy 21, students engage in cross-content learning in four core subject areas: math, science, language arts, and social studies.  The process of student-teacher mentoring, student research, and the unique ways students demonstrate learning on a digital portfolio are highlighted.  Students, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders discuss how Academy 21 promotes college and career readiness in an authentic learning environment. 

Segment 4: Waukesha STEM Academy: Achievement Through Problem-Solving

This segment outlines the project-based instructional model at the Waukesha STEM Academy, in Waukesha, WI.  Viewers will see the authentic learning students experience through partner and group projects centered around real-life problems.  At Academy 21, students participate in “Connect” — a daily time period in which students schedule time to work with teachers or peers, complete projects, and even eat lunch.  Project ownership and time management are central tenets to the program’s success in helping students gain authentic learning experiences and get the support they need when they need it.  

March 7, 2013

November 8, 2012
New Segments on PD 360: Teaching with Math Tasks

Summary

The Teaching with Math Tasks program outlines the principles and structure of a task-based approach to math education, demonstrating these components with examples of math lessons in authentic elementary and secondary classrooms. In these video segments, math specialists, coaches, and teachers engage in a statewide professional learning initiative to take math tasks from theory to practice. Math tasks that are embedded into Common Core-aligned lessons offer students opportunities for critical thinking and problem solving. Also, in the relevant, meaningful context created by math tasks, student learning is more likely to be sustained as well as applied in new situations. 

Description

The program consists of fourteen video segments. Four of the videos offer a rationale and procedure for developing math tasks; ten videos are authentic K-secondary classroom examples of task-based lessons. 

Two sets of supporting videos will be added to this program in the coming weeks. One set contains extended versions of the existing K-secondary classroom examples. These extended versions minimize editing and remove narration so that educators can see the majority of the lesson as it unfolds. The other set features these same extended versions with classroom commentary from the teacher and an instructional coach as they watch the complete classroom footage and discuss the planning and execution that contributed to the lesson. 

Instructionally adapted versions of these K-secondary classroom videos will also be presented in a 'learning progression' sequence on the Common Core 360 platform. Through this sequence, the videos illustrate the depth and breadth that a single Common Core standard adds to the standards preceding it. 

Segment Information

• Math Tasks: The Need for an Instructional Shift identifies the need for instructional change in math education and introduces math tasks as a balance between traditional direct instruction and student-based inquiry. 
• An Overview of Math Tasks highlights the potential that math tasks offer educators to embed direct instruction into a meaningful context, create open-ended, differentiated learning experiences, engage students through real-world relevance and cognitive demand, and promote the development of mathematical reasoning. 
• Creating a Math-Task Culture in the Classroom offers direction for creating a classroom culture supportive of task-based learning. 
• How to Develop and Teach a Math Task presents practical guidance for planning and delivering a task-based math lesson. 

Segment Length

Math Tasks: The Need for an Instructional Shift -- 6:41

An Overview of Math Tasks -- 10:07

Creating a Math-Task Culture in the Classroom -- 8:11

How to Develop and Teach a Math Task  -- 9:08

Observation 360

• Weighted indicators and rubrics
• Multiple PD resources, including documents and external links
• Downloadable templates for a customized app experience
• Versatile observation types (peer, formal, informal, and self)
• Simplified navigation
• Flexible and convenient saving options

Common Core 360

The Common Core 360 programs will include tools to help educators transition to and implement Common Core standards at the state, district, and classroom levels. The Common Core 360 library will grow in the 2012-2013 school years as we continue to follow and capture featured states and districts as they expand their Common Core initiatives. These programs also feature guiding questions that state, district, and building leaders should address in order to facilitate a seamless transition, define roles, and develop ownership at all levels.

Currently, the Common Core 360 library includes 123 segments and 746 minutes.

New Common Core Content 

June 11, 2103

These 5 new segments have been added to the CC 360, Common Core in the Classroom folder.

Common Core in the Classroom – Georgia (first delivery)

Summary

The Common Core in the Classroom series from School Improvement Network spotlights real-life classrooms across the country, in which effective lessons are aligned with Common Core standards.  In addition to offering authentic examples of teacher and student engagement, these segments include excerpts from teacher interviews that highlight the lesson’s successes and describe the impact that Common Core is having on student learning.

Description

The Common Core Standards reflect a spiraling progression that is sequential, yet recursive. As students progress, the learning targets do not necessarily change, but continue to expand in breadth and depth. This allows teachers and students multiple opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills defined by the standards.

These newly released video segments feature five segments: four ELA lessons (1st grade,9th grade, 10th grade, and 12th grade), and one math lesson (10th grade), all filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as surrounding areas.

Each video is accompanied by a guidebook available for download from the PD 360 platform. These guidebooks contain the featured teacher’s lesson plan, as well as a viewer response form that guides viewers to reflect on the lesson and consider what they might apply to their own practice.

 Segment Information

ELA Lessons

1st Grade: Delicious Interactive Poetry Writing (11:51)

Ms. Stephanie Buquoi, a 1st grade teacher at Shiloh Point Elementary in Cumming, Georgia, explores with her class the poetic forms of haiku and cinquain, and identifies words that appeal to the senses in order for the students to create poems of their own. The lesson aligns with ELA standards RF.1.2 and RL.1.4.

9th Grade: Gathering Evidence for a Research Paper (11:37)

Ms. Alexandra Salivia, a sheltered English teacher at Druid Hills High School in Atlanta, Georgia, guides her ESOL students as they research real-world topics. The lesson aligns with ELA standards W.9-10.7-9, SL.9-10.1d, and L.9-10.4c. 

10th Grade: Multiple Accounts of a Single Topic: Japanese Internment Camps (8:11)

Ms. Kendra Radcliff, a 10th grade ELA teacher at Druid Hills High School in Atlanta, Georgia, guides students as they explore various historical accounts and documents related to civil rights violations. The lesson aligns with ELA standards RI.9-10.1 and 7, W.9-10.9, and SL.9-10.1. 

12th Grade: Plot, Symbolism, and Character inOthello (10:22)

Ms. Alyssa Montooth, an ELA teacher at Druid Hills High School in Atlanta, Georgia, teaches her students about plot, symbolism, and character development in Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello. The lesson aligns with ELA standards RL.11-12.3, 4, and 6, and SL.11-12.1. 

Math Lesson

10th Grade: Trigonometric Ratios (10:39)

Ms. Stephanie Reiss, a math teacher at Druid Hills High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and special education teacher Ms. Virginia Stephenson, review special right triangle formulas and geometric properties with their students before introducing them to trigonometric rations. The lesson aligns with math standards G-SRT.6 and MP.6. 

Segment Length

ELA Lessons

1st Grade: Delicious Interactive Poetry Writing —11:51

9th Grade: Gathering Evidence for a Research Paper —11:37

10th Grade: Multiple Accounts of a Single Topic: Japanese Internment Camps — 8:11

12th Grade: Plot, Symbolism, and Character in Othello —10:22

Math Lesson

10th Grade: Trigonometric Ratios —10:39

Featured Grade Levels

1, 9-10 and 12

Featured Locations

DeKalb and Forsyth counties, Georgia

January 21, 2013

ELA Lessons

• Kindergarten: Decomposing the Number Five—10:56
• 1st: Relating Counting to Addition—10:27
• 2nd: Exploring Odd and Even Numbers—11:10
• 3rd: Interpreting a Quotient to Distributing Birthday Party Favors—10:03
• 4th: Finding the Rule in a Pattern for Place Settings—13:29
• 5th: Comparing Patterns in Linear Relationships—12:38
• 6th: Ratios, Rates, and Percents: A Rose Is a Rose Is a Rose—11:24
• 7th: Proportional Relationships in Selling a Mobile App—8:46

• Kindergarten: Main Idea and Details—8:20
• 1st: Main Idea and Key Details – Pumpkins—9:13
• 2nd: Finding Main Ideas in a Science Text—9:39
• 3rd: Identifying Main Idea—8:39
• 4th: Main Idea and Supporting Details: Water Striders—9:54
• 5th: Finding Main Idea and Details in a Historical Text—8:33
• 7th: Determining the Central Idea of a Text—8:25

August 27, 2012 - Common Core in the Classroom

Summary

The Common Core in the Classroom series was created to provide educators with authentic classroom examples of Common Core practice. Each segment features a classroom lesson aligned with one or more Common Core learning targets. These newly released video segments feature 2nd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade classes in Delaware, Kentucky, and Utah. 

Description

School Improvement Network’s new Common Core in the Classroom series spotlights classrooms across the country in which lessons aligned with the Common Core standards are being taught. In addition to real-lifeexamples of teacher and student engagement, these segments include excerptsfrom teacher interviews in which they reflect upon the success of the lesson and the impact the Common Core has had on student learning.

These newly released video segments feature 2nd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade classes in Delaware, Kentucky, and Utah.  Each video has an accompanying guidebook that includes the classroom lesson planprovided by the teacher featured in the video. This guidebook also has a viewer response form that helps viewers reflect on the teacher’s lesson and consider what they might apply to their own practice.

Segment Information

Main Ideas of an Informational Text features Maggie Miller’s 2nd grade class at John M. Clayton Elementary in Frankford, Delaware. This lesson is aligned with Common Core ELA standards RI.2.2 & 6. 

Finding the Volume ofRectangular Prisms features Jen Buttars’ 5th grade class at Bellview Elementary in Sandy, Utah. This lesson is aligned with Common Core math standards 5.OA.1 & 2 and MP.1 & 4.

Using Arrays to Multiply Two-Digit Numbers features math staff developer Jamie Wyman and her 4th grade class at Kerrick Elementary in Louisville, Kentucky. This lesson is aligned with Common Core math standards 4.NBT.5, MP.1, 3, 5 & 6.

Using Equations in a Hiring Decision features Dawn Barson’s junior high math class at American Fork Junior High in American Fork, Utah. This lesson is aligned with Common Core math standards 7.EE.4 and MP.4.

Determining Price Points in Fixing a Furnace features Travis Lemon’s junior high math class at American Fork Junior High in American Fork, Utah. This lesson is aligned with Common Core math standards 8.EE.8 and MP.4 & 6.

Segment Lengths

• Main Ideas of an Informational Text 3Ž4 9:39
• Finding the Volume ofRectangular Prisms — 14:17
• Using Arrays to Multiply Two-Digit Numbers — 11:38
• Using Equations in a Hiring Decision — 11:36
• Determining Price Points in Fixing a Furnace 3:410:33

Featured Grade Levels

2nd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade

Featured Locations

• Frankford, Delaware
• Louisville, Kentucky
• American Fork, Utah
• Sandy, Utah
   

School Improvement Network’s new Common Core in the Classroom series

These newly released video segments feature kindergarten 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 7^th grade classes in Kentucky, New Jersey, and Utah.  Each video has an accompanying guidebook that includes the classroom lesson plan provided by the teacher featured in the video. This guidebook also has a viewer response form that helps viewers reflect on the teacher’s lesson and consider what they might apply to their own practice.

Segment Information

Poetry Analysis and Appreciation features Rosalinda Petinglay’s 2^nd grade class at Harriet Tubman School in Newark, New Jersey. This lesson is aligned with Common Core ELA standards RL.2.4 and SL.2.2 & 5.

Levels of Questioning features Amy Fry’s 7^th grade class at Campbell County Middle School in Alexandria, Kentucky. This lesson is aligned with Common Core ELA standard SL.7.1.

Decomposing Numbers for Addition and Subtraction features Kerri Gray’s kindergarten class at Kerrick Elementary in Louisville, Kentucky. This lesson is aligned with Common Core math standards K.OA.1, 3, 4, & 5.

Multistep Word Problems features Kalina Potts’ 4^th grade class at Early Light Academy in South Jordan, Utah. This lesson is aligned with Common Core mathstandard 4.OA.3.

Representing Addition and Subtraction Using Manipulatives features Lisa Romero’s kindergarten class at Horizon Elementary in Murray, Utah. This lesson is aligned with Common Core math standards 4.NF.3a-d and MP.3.

Solving a Playground Problem features Tom Little’s 3^rd grade class at Lakeview Elementary in Brigham City, Utah. This lesson is aligned with Common Core math standards 3.OA.1-4, & 8.

Segment Lengths

• Poetry Analysis and Appreciation 11:17
• Levels of Questioning —08:54
• Decomposing Numbers for Addition and Subtraction —11:52
• Multistep Word Problems —06:32
• Representing Addition and Subtraction Using Manipulatives —05:50
• Solving a Playground Problem —09:46

Featured Grade Levels

2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 7^th grades

Featured Locations

• Alexandria, Kentucky
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Newark, New Jersey
• South Jordan, Utah
• Murray, Utah
• Brigham City, Utah 
  
   

July 11, 2012
School Improvement Network’s new Common Core in the Classroom series 
Segment Information

Strategy for Open-Ended Questions features Yvonne Copprue-McLeod’s 5th grade class at Harriet Tubman School in Newark, New Jersey. This lesson is aligned with Common Core ELA standards RL.5.1, RF.5.4, SL.5.1, and SL.5.4.

Understanding Cause and Effect in Literature features Cathy Dorey’s 2nd grade class at John M. Clayton Elementary in Frankford, Delaware.  This lesson is aligned with Common Core ELA standard RL.2.1.

Character Analysisfeatures Sabina Bruno’s 4th grade class at Harriet Tubman School in Newark, New Jersey. This lesson is aligned with Common Core ELA standards RL.4.3, W.4.9, and SL.4.1.

Measuring and Graphing features Ondra Massey’s 2nd class at John M. Clayton Elementary in Frankford, Delaware.  This lesson is aligned with Common Core Math standards 2.MD.1, 2.MD.9, and 2.NBT.4.

Solving One-Step Equations features Julia DeBerry’s 8th grade class at Westport Middle School in Louisville, Kentucky.  This lesson is aligned with Common Core Math standards 8.EE.7a, MP.3 and MP.6.

Symmetry and Tessellation features Sabina Bruno’s 4th grade class at Harriet Tubman School in Newark, New Jersey. This lesson is aligned with Common Core math standard 4.G.3.

Measuring Data and Using Bar Graphs features Yvonne Copprue-McLeod’s 5th grade class at Harriet Tubman School in Newark, New Jersey. This lesson is aligned with Common Core Math standards 6.SP.1, MP.3, MP.4, and MP.6.

Segment Lengths

• Strategy for Open-Ended Questions—8:35
• Understanding Cause and Effect in Literature—11:08
• Character Analysis—8:31
• Measuring and Graphing—11:58
• Solving One-Step Equations—10:54
• Symmetry and Tessellation—8:30
• Measuring Data and Using Bar Graphs—7:08

Featured Grade Levels

2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th grades

Featured Locations

• Louisville, Kentucky
• Newark, New Jersey
• Frankford, Delaware
   

Common Core 360 Content Delivery Schedule:

The Common Core classroom segments, from Kentucky, Utah, Delaware, and New Jersey, build on the foundational videos that provide insight into how the Common Core Standards impact educational systems. These segments show how to implement these Standards into daily instruction. They also demonstrate the progression from state and district implementation down to the school and classroom level. Teacher lesson plans and other supplementary materials are included to allow for seamless implementation.

June 2012

Classroom Examples

The classroom examples that will be released this month show educators who are committed to delivering Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics with high rigor. These schools see themselves as “ahead of the game” in adopting Common Core Standards, and the educators in these videos demonstrate how the Standards can help all educators improve their practice. You will see lessons centered on many of the Common Core Standards. These include: finding inferences in texts, understanding multiplicative comparisons, learning mental math strategies, classifying insects, making textual connections, and finding archetypes and themes in literature.

July 2012

Classroom Examples

The classroom examples that will be released this month show educators who are committed to delivering Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics with high rigor. These full classroom examples include high-quality teaching on topics such as: using measurement standards, solving linear equations,making historical connections and analyzing characters, learning geometric shapes, and creating bar graphs.

September 2012

Utah Progression 

The series of videos in the Utah Progression illustrates how one Mathematics Standard is taught, re-visited, and built upon in successive grades. These videos feature an Operations and Algebraic Thinking Standard as it is taught in each grade from K-6. Each video shows specific classroom practice, and includes full commentary from each teacher and an instructional coach.

LiveBook - Now LumiBook

Content Development is pleased to let you know that the new LumiBook - Global Education Study: Six Drivers of Student Success is live on the platform.

Global Education Study: Six Drivers of Student Success

A Look Inside Five of the World’s Highest-Performing School Systems

School Improvement Network’s newest LumiBook release, Global Education Study: Six Drivers of Student Success, gives you access to an international meeting of the minds.  In 2011, the non-profit organization Battelle for Kids began researching some of the highest performing school systems in the world.  Battelle representatives visited schools in Finland, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, and Long Beach, California.  The culmination of this global study happened in November 2012 at the Global Education Summit.  Representatives from all five chosen school systems came together in Columbus, Ohio to share best practices.

This LumiBook distills Battelle’s research and observations of international best practices into six drivers of student success: Early Learning; Personalization and Pathways for Student Success; Teacher Selectivity, Quality, and Growth; Focus on Learning; Education Linked to Economic Development; and Cultural Expectation of Value.

Each chapter of the Global Education Study LumiBook contains video links to excerpts from the Global Education Summit in Ohio as well as interviews with educators from Finland,Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, and Long Beach, California.

Battelle researchers share their observations of classrooms around the world, and the educators from the top performing school systems internationally describe unique societal and cultural factors that shape educational policy and impact students in the classroom. 

The Global Education Study LumiBook is a must-read for teachers, administrators, and anyone who is concerned about the state of education and the circumstances, policies, and cultural attitudes that shape what happens in the classroom.

With LumiBook’s unique social media tools and capabilities, you can join this international conversation. The LumiBook format allows you to add your comments to sentences and paragraphs within the book and to view the comments left by others. You can also join online discussion forums or start your own, just by clicking on the Discussion icon next in the page margin.