Futures Planning Update

As our strategic plan is ending in 2018, we are in the midst of creating our new Futures Plan 2018-2019. Below is the most recent version of our thinking: 

A.Strategic Objectives

Strategic Objectives are the long-term focus areas of the current Strategic Plan and the emergent Futures Plan.

B.Strategic Pathways

Strategic Pathways articulate three-year vision statements around core priority areas. Annual Goals and Actions Plans will support the vision in our Strategic Pathway Areas. 

Strategic Objective: Learning

We will align expected outcomes, assessment, teaching, learning and reflection on practice in order to support our mission and student learning objectives.

Pathway: Learning & Experiential Opportunities (Sectional)

AISC develops programs for students to deepen their capacity to contribute with courage, confidence, creativity, and compassion to a diverse and dynamic world.

Pathway: Learning & Innovation in the System (Sectional)

AISC implements innovative learning experiences incorporating the inquiry framework and transdisciplinary skills, and alternative schedules to engage the vision of the AISC learner.

Pathway: Learning & Vision for the Learner (Inter-Sectional)

AISC integrates the vision for the learner as a means to achieve the mission.

Pathway: Learning & Inquiry in the Curriculum (All School)

AISC integrates the inquiry framework and project-based learning into the curriculum (development process).

Pathway: Learning & Wellness (All School)

AISC creates an integrated curriculum for students to incorporate social, cultural, physical, and emotional student well-being.

Strategic Objective: Resources

We will strategically use all possible resources* to create a learning community aligned with our core values and mission.

Pathway: Resources & Data (All School)

Develop and evolve systems and processes to facilitate the convergence of data collection and use, assuring that stakeholders have access to beneficial data to make informed decisions. 

Pathway: Resources & Building Spaces  (All School)

AISC implements the Building Spaces 2020 Plan approved by the Board of Directors in November 2016. 

Strategic Objective: Talent

The school will hire, develop and retain staff members who embody the school mission and core values.

Pathway: Talent & Professional Growth (All School)

AISC develops a professional growth, well-being, and evaluation framework that is aligned to best practices and to the vision for an AISC learner, incorporates faculty learning and development.

Strategic Objective: Community 

We will actively communicate, support, and contribute to our core values, mission and vision for an AISC learner so that our community lives the shared vision.

Pathway: Community & Advancement (All School)

AISC enhances its reputation locally and globally and expands engagement and support across all stakeholder groups. 

Pathway: Community & Environmental Sustainability (All School)

AISC enlists the participation of all stakeholder groups to incorporate environmentally sustainable policies, practices, and programming in alignment with our mission and core values. 

We'd love to hear thoughts on our big ideas. Please leave a comment below. 

AI is Going to Change Your Life

As we head into the holiday season, it is a good time for reflection. How much has my life changed over the last year? What will my life look like in a year?

The World Economic Forum recently published an article, AI is Going to Change Your Life. In it, Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera and an adjunct Stanford professor who founded the Google Brain Deep Learning Project, says that "AI is the new electricity."

There is already an abundance of stories that support this, but here are a few more from the last few weeks.

Rwanda is building a droneport.

Nvidia’s new AI creates disturbingly convincing fake videos

New robots can see into their future

I wonder how AI will impact my life in the year to come? What challenges and opportunities might it create.

In the comments below share your thoughts on the changes that we might see in just one year. 

Futures Summit Summary

Last Saturday, Katherine Prince from KnowledgeWorks facilitated a day-long experience that delved into the possible futures that might exist by 2040 and what that might mean for AISC. 

The first part of the day was spent focusing on two drivers of change in society today, the role of artificial intelligence and the decline of full-time employee, or the rise of the gig economy.

We then looked at four possible scenarios that might exist in the world by 2040. The four scenarios exist on two axes, the amount of technological displacement and the amount of governmental coordination in the response.

Partnering for Mobility describes what the world could look like if there is low technological displacement, with job creation outpacing job loss, and coordinated social innovation with systemic and intentional adaptation.

Checking for Upgrades describes what the world could look like if there is low technological displacement, with job creation outpacing job loss, and a laissez faire response with market driven adaptation.

Working the Platforms describes what the world could look like if there is high technological displacement, with widespread replacement of human workers, and a laissez faire response with market driven adaptation.

Finding New Meaning describes what the world could look like if there is high technological displacement, with widespread replacement of human workers, and coordinated social innovation with systemic and intentional adaptation.

We then looked at A New Foundation for Readiness, which identifies what we can do to better prepare ourselves for any of these possible futures.

The afternoon was spent looking the implications of the futures scenarios on future graduates, and learning experiences while looking at the overall implications of these for AISC.

The day ended with each table group identifying 3-5 opportunities and challenges coming from the conversations. They can be found below:

Table 1
Autonomous Students
Relevance of schools
Self-motivated
R/project/experience-based learning
Financial Reality
Resources are key to everything
The best opportunity and learning environment
Real-World Readiness
Internships/service opportunities
Self-awareness instruction
Interface with college/life

Table 2
Connecting better through service and participation to the local community and culture
Experiential learning
Developing a program to focus on values, ethics, and nurturing talent

Board and leadership readiness: schedule, resources, finances

Table 3
Multi-age learning environments and flexible schedules based on different needs
Enhanced differentiation (opportunity)
Peer leadership opportunities
Organization and flexibility in the system (challenge)
Redefining what assessment is and what it’s for
Concept and competency-based (opportunity)
Not “deficiency-based” (opportunity)
Stakeholder perspectives (challenge)
Student-driven curriculum
Self-advocacy (opportunity)
Metacognition (opportunity)
Transfer to higher ed or other schools (challenge)
Educators must “let go” (challenge)


Table 4
Tension that needs to be solved: Exposure to a broad curriculum or range of subjects → how does it fit with children’s agency to follow their passions and create their own personalized path

Ability to thrive in ambiguity
Having empathy and agency to make a positive difference in society

(These should be key outcomes.)

Table 5
Opportunities are challenges

Developing self-awareness through…
Real-life experiences and mentoring
Process of reflection
A language of leadership/followership
A language of well-being

(These are for both staff and students.)

Table 6
Reframing education for community (this was spoken of as parents, staff, students, etc.)
Cultivate growth model to deprivatize pathways (this was spoken of as opening up classrooms)
Embrace that problems are inherently trans-disciplinary and cross-conceptual (this was spoken of in terms of integrated curriculum)

Table 7
Developing social-emotional skills, education, support
Restructuring of school (to more than one option)
Instructional specialist teams (e.g., all X grade teachers being one flexible team)
Digital citizenship

If you weren't able to attend, please take time to look over some of the materials and share your thoughts about the future and what it might mean for AISC in the comments. 

Agenda for the Futures Summit

The Futures Summit is this Saturday, December 2. During this whole day event, conversations about the changing nature of work and the possible effects on our future graduates. We hope that faculty, parents, students, alumni, and others can join us from 8:30-4:30 in the Madras Hall.

Below is the schedule for the day.

AISC Futures Summit Agenda

8:30-9:00 Welcome and Reception

9:00-9:15 Introduction to the Day

9:15-10:00 Orientation to the Future

10:00-10:45 Changing Nature of Work

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-12:00 Possibilities for Future Readiness

12:00-1:00 Lunch Break

1:00-1:15 A New Foundation for Readiness

1:15-2:00 Future Graduate Profiles

2:00-2:45 Learning Experience Characteristics

2:45-3:00 Break

3:00-3:45 Examining Implications for AISC

3:45-4:15 Exploring Top Opportunities and Challenges

4:15-4:30 Closing Discussion

AI and the Future of Work and Futures Summit on December 2

The impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work is such an important topic that MIT held a two-day conference on November 1 and 2, called just that!

Read about some of the topics talked about at the conference at the PC News article here. The major topics covered in the conference were:

• The AI Revolution: Why Now? What It Means and How to Realize the Potential
• Augmentation vs Automation
• Strategies to Navigate the First Phase (of this AI Revolution).
• Is it Really AI, or Just Computational Statistics?
• Vision: Industry 2020-2050

At one point in the conference, Allen Blue, Co-Founder and Vice President of Product Management at LinkedIn, said there is a "need to rethink education all the way down to the kindergarten level," with a focus on areas like collaboration.

The idea around rethinking education related to the new workplace is exactly what we are going to discuss at the Futures Summit, two weeks from now, on Saturday, December 2, from 8:30-4:30 in the Madras Hall. 

Everyone is invited, parents, students, faculty, alumni! It is going to be a great discussion!

Learning Strategic Pathways for the Futures Plan, 2018-2021

As we move into the Futures Plan for 2018-2021, we have identified five learning strategic pathways that will guide our goal making in the next three years.

We socialized these pathways at the Inspiration Conversation on Thursday, November 9th, and we want to share with the community here as well.

Strategic Pathways articulate three-year vision statements around core priority areas.

A.     Learning
Learning & Inquiry in the Curriculum
AISC integrates the inquiry model and project-based learning into the curriculum.

Learning & Inquiry in the System
AISC utilizes interdisciplinary planning and our design thinking model and alternative schedules to engage the Vision of the AISC Learner.

Learning & Experiential Opportunities
AISC develops programs for students to deepen their capacity to contribute with courage, confidence, creativity, and compassion to a diverse and dynamic world.

Learning & Wellness
AISC creates an integrated curriculum for students to incorporate social, emotional, physical, and emotional student well-being.

Learning & Vision for the Learner
AISC integrates the Vision for the Learner as a means to achieve the Mission.

If these are going to guide our learning goals for the next three years, which vision of an AISC Learner traits will be supported?
Leaders
Collaborators
Innovators
Explorers
Thinkers
Ethical
Versatile
Empathetic
Resilient
Reflective

Optimization of Self: Neuroeducation and Wearable Technology

Two trends in society are coming together to help us better know and understand how we learn: the increase in understanding our brain and the ubiquity of sensors that gather data about our bodies. Neuroscience helps us to understand the way are brains work, and therefore, how we learn to a level that we have never experienced before.

Many posit that neuroeducation will lead to big breakthroughs in learning. The research coming out tells what we should and should not be doing in education based on what we know about our brain. 

In addition, the increase in popularity of wearable technology only brings us closer to knowing more about ourselves and our minds and being able to use that data to help us learn better. Tata Interactive Systems is an Indian-based company that develops customized e-based learning. They've created a concise piece about the role of wearables in learning: Sousveillance, Personal Assist, eTextiles, Virtual & Gaming, Health & Fitness, and Security & Payment Gateways.

How might what we know and track about our body affect the future of education?

Don't forget to attend the Inspiration Conversation on Thursday, November 9 at 3:45 in the BBT to discuss our current thinking about the Futures Plan. 

Also, contact me now at wkirsten@aischennai.org to reserve your spot at the Futures Summit on Saturday, December 3, from 8:30-4:30 in Madras Hall, where we have group discussions and share out our ideas about the reality around readiness and opportunities and challenges for future graduates. 

How does innovation really work? Join us!

This blog shares what is happening in the world related to societal drivers. These ideas will be impacting education in the future, but the specifics of how remains to be completely understood. Regardless of how these ideas might impact education, it will require innovation.

The Harvard Business Review recently published an article about how innovation really works, one of their conclusions is that...

Once everyone is thinking about ideas – and imagining that their cool concept might actually move the company – you get the whole company effectively engaged in innovation. And in the Internet era, with the pace of innovation always accelerating, understanding the science of innovation could make all the difference in your ability to compete.

We ask that everyone in the AISC community is thinking about the ideas and drivers in society and join our conversation. Please mark your calendars for two upcoming events:

Inspiration Conversation, where we will share our thinking about the Futures Plan with the community. This will happen on Thursday, November 9, from 3:45-5:00 in the BBT. 

Futures Summit, where we will consider readiness in the workforce and how that might impact our future graduates. This will happen on Saturday, December 2, from 8:30-4:30 in the Madras Hall. 

Will you join us and share your insight, expertise and passion?

INVITE: Inspiration Conversation and Futures Summit

As we are preparing for our new Building Futures Plan, we have been working with different groups in the school community to find out what important issues we should be addressing the next three years.

The Leadership Team, Associate Principals and the Academic Committee had a session to discuss the purpose of education and identify priorities. We also asked teachers to tell us what they need to be doing that they aren't doing now.

All of this information has come together to help us identify our big rocks in the coming futures plan.

We want to share our current thinking, in draft form, with the community during our Inspiration Conversation at 3:45-5:00 on Thursday, November 9 in the BBT. We hope you join us!

We also invite all community member to the Futures Summit on Saturday, December 2. This is will be an all day session where we will explore readiness in the workforce, what it will mean for future AISC graduates, and what it could mean for AISC.

Please mark your calendars.

Here are some examples of school - reimagined.

Finland is designing the perfect school.

This innovative school has no teachers. 

What could we be doing now to prepare our students for an uncertain future?

The Maker Movement and the Future of Creating

Looking at the last 50 years, the Maker movement has completely transformed. In the early stages of the Maker movement, people created products for themselves or their local community, and some may have even referred to themselves as part of the DIY movement rather than a maker.

More recently the desire for artisanal, local products has escalated, and makers have capitalized on this trend, which can be seen in the increase of farmers markets, craft coffee and other local creations. This desire for local, hand-crafted products is in direct response to mass-produced, mass-marketed products that are ubiquitous in a market.

In additional to this increase of popularity of artisanal or local crafts, makers are using affordable manufacturing tools, such as a 3D printers, global shipping and ecommerce to make, not just for themselves and their local community, but for the world. ETSY is one of many online marketplaces for people to make and sell their goods. 

Check out some amazing things that are happening with 3D printing and new kinds of creations. 

Desserts can now be created with a 3D printer.

A house was 3D printed in 24 hours. 

Functional organs can also be made using a 3D printer.

The future of 3D printed shoes.

How has this shift affected you already? What could this mean for us as consumers and as makers?

What do we need to be doing in the future?

At a recent All Faculty Meeting, Andrew shared a video about the future of world, specifically looking at the Fourth Revolution. How do we look at the future of the world and prepare our students for it? 

The faculty were asked to consider what do we need to be doing that we aren’t doing? The answers given by the faculty fell into many different categories. Seventy-eight percent of the answers fell within these these six:

1. create ways to integrate the content areas
2. creating opportunities for students to direct/personalize their own learning
3. engage 21^st century skills to keep learning relevant
4. use and structure time differently
5. modeling the learning process, and our mission, values and vision
6. develop service learning experiences. 

Among many things that we might consider as we move toward our Building Futures Plan for 2018-2021 is what we can do to address several of these ideas at once. I've chosen three to focus on for this blog post. 

Share in the comments what might we do that would address all of these needs? What ideas do you have for helping them become part of our learning culture here at AISC?

We will have opportunity in future blog posts to engage in conversations about other ideas that emerged from this activity.