Teachers Focus on Three Strands
As part of its goal for curriculum and instruction, the Bronxville Board of Education has endorsed three strands, Global Education, Integrating Technology, and Knowing and Engaging Students. These three strands reflect the needs and interests of the faculty expressed in individual Professional Development Plans as well as some of the departmental improvement plans developed by curriculum leaders.
These three themes are aimed at producing student outcomes linked to 21st Century Skills such as the following:
* Students will demonstrate the critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills and creativity needed to address complex, globally-relevant issues.
* Students will acquire the knowledge, communication skills, and values needed to function in a global community.
* Students will use technology to think creatively, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes.
* Students will demonstrate knowledge of their own learning strengths and weaknesses.
The strand approach represents a new direction for the district in two ways: (1) A three-year time horizon will support gaining expertise over time, rather than a short-term approach to professional development activity. (2) Teachers will commit to a single strand for the school year, working collaboratively with colleagues who share the same interest. The new approach replaces the departmental meeting schedule that has been in place for a number of years.
Superintendent David Quattrone commented, "By making a thoughtful, active choice of a particular strand, teachers will have a greater commitment to and ownership of the process; and by organizing meeting time with more continuity in mind, teachers are more likely to add depth to their knowledge and apply what they learn in the classroom." The schedule provides about twenty hours for professional development work related to the strands. The work will be coordinated by the Bronxville Teacher Center and led by members of the faculty with the support of consultants and other professional organizations. Over the course of the year, there will be fourteen Wednesday afternoon sessions devoted to this work, in addition to two conference days.
