District Administration - December 2012 - (Page 47)

sponsored web seminar digest skilled, compassionate, principled, and action-oriented young people through a rigorous program of inquiry. King students will become internationally minded individuals who help create a better world. ” We focus on the social and emotional growth of our students, not just academics. The words “knowledgeable, skilled, compassionate, principled” are part of the Learner Profile and they describe the type of learner we aim to develop in our school. The idea of being “actionoriented” is another element of the PYP We believe that . deep learning leads students to take action and address problems they see in the world around them. Being internationally minded is woven through all aspects of the PYP . It is also a key component of our language policy. A dual language requirement is a key requirement at all IB schools. In addition to our native English, we have chosen to teach Mandarin Chinese. We selected Chinese because it is a language growing in use and influence. When we started, however, we did not have any Chinese speakers on staff and we didn’t have the budget to hire any. So, along with utilizing community volunteers, Rosetta Stone software became the backbone of our Chinese language program. We now have a part-time certified Chinese teacher, but even with having a teacher, we fall far short of being able to provide the 1,200 to 1,500 hours of instruction necessary for proficiency. So we continued to use Rosetta Stone, and over time, we came to see it as an integral part of an effective blended learning program. Students spend about 40 minutes each week in a class with a native Chinese speaker and 30 minutes in a lab with Rosetta Stone software. Students and their families also have access to Rosetta Stone at home. Although there are many advantages to our faceto-face instruction, including integrating Chinese with other classroom programs and lessons, there are a number of additional benefits to the online instruction through Rosetta Stone. Students work at their own pace and their progress is documented within the program. We are also able to expose students to multiple speakers of the language. Rosetta Stone also provides a rich visual component, with images that support the language learning, but also help to develop cultural understanding. The ability to increase the amount of time we can spend learning the language is an important piece and also gives us the potential to reach families and staff, as well. Some of the challenges we’re facing include budget limitations, time constraints, shifting student needs, different levels of student proficiency and finding ways to integrate language study into all our curriculum. But, blended learning is helping us address these challenges. Our future plans to grow and refine our Chinese program involve increasing at-home learning using Rosetta Stone, not only for students but also for families; to identify more volunteer opportunities in the community; to use technology to increase integration of Chinese in all classrooms; and to develop connections with sister schools, using technology tools like videoconferencing to expose students to classrooms in other cultures. All these areas connect to our mission, and all are components of a blended learning approach. Some key factors we’ve identified that ensure blended learning success are: • Start with a vision of what you want to accomplish. • Set aside time to plan. • Identify key players and gain their support. • Engage families and get their support. • Track results and refine the program as necessary. • Be prepared for setbacks. • Don’t get discouraged. Blended learning is a work in progress. To view this web seminar in its entirety, visit http://www.districtadministration.com/ws102412 http://www.districtadministration.com/ws102412

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - December 2012

District Administration - December 2012
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
Special Education
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Fab Lab: Using Technology to Make (Almost) Anything!
Neuroscience in Schools
Three Squares at School
Top 100 DA Readers Choose Innovative Products of the Year
CIO News
Problem Solution
Crisis Response
Online Edge
Going Mobile

District Administration - December 2012