Pages

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Perspectives


One year later……..

Last year at this time the tools of web 2.0 were introduced to the faculty and staff. At that time we discussed the phrase in our mission statement which said we “educate students for the 21st century” We were not sure exactly what that meant or what it looked liked but we were determined to try to figure it out. We did a lot of exciting things many of which I have written about in earlier posts. The bottom line was that we decided to learn by doing.

Last week we gathered once again for the request start of year faculty meetings. During this meeting, based on our experiences last year, we looked once again at our mission statement. This time however we set about writing a new mission statement. This new mission statement is meant to define more clearly our new understanding of the essential tasks we are undertaking. As with all tasks done within the confines of your own community the test of viability and clarity is to bring that work out to the community at large. So here is the mission statement we developed.

”The mission of the St. Elisabeth School Learning Academies is to provide an excellent academic and spiritual foundation that will empower the students to be moral and responsible citizens who effectively apply technology as a tool of learning and as a means to actively participate in the global community.”

What do you think? Does it resonate with you? How will it impact teaching and learning?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Your mission statement reminds me of Alvin Toeffler's quote about illiteracy:

"The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

What we are all striving for is to really get past the technology and into what really matters: instilling our children with the desire to achieve, capacity to handle and expect failure, and joy of discovery that is associated with learning and leading. Your mission statement reflects that need, and challenges your staff, and yourself, to be much more than the teachers who came before them.

It may be self-centered, but I think that educators today are faced with an enormous responsibility to be models of ethical behavior in a digital environment--something that has never been asked of us before.

I would love to be a fly on the wall in some of your staff meetings if this is the kind of development you are promoting.

Anonymous said...

Barbara, I love it! It is, in my mind exactly what a vision should be. Plus, I just wanted you guys to know I hadn't forgotten you :-)

Robert Cole

Barbara Barreda K-8 Administrator, Tech integration advocate, Going 1:1 with netbooks said...

Hi Robert- Some how i missed you comment until now ( Oct 13). Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting. We are having an amazing year... Skype or comment anytime. Love to hear from you and love to help anyway i can too.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.