Planning Events in September 2019

Community Planning Team 0n 6/9/19

Our multi-stakeholder Community Planning Team met for the first time this academic year. The charge for this meeting was to align ourselves as a team, embrace new and continuing members, and explore our role in the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) accreditation and self assessment. An insightful and empowered collection of parents, faculty, leadership, and students gathered ideas and evidence to support the particular MSA indicators, that let AISC know how we are performing in the areas of Strategic Planning and Foundational Documents. It was a pleasure to see multiple groups working coherently towards our goals in this area, with the team working attitude I have come to expect, and still vastly appreciate, within our AISC community. See the slide deck here, and feel free to ask any of our team members about the work of the Community Planning Team.

Faculty Futures Summit on 11/9/19

Last week the AISC faculty discussed and developed ideas related to a selection of Strategic Pathways, during a wednesday early release professional learning session. The event challenged us to escalate our thinking and innovation to the strategic level, and align ourselves with the work from our Futures Plan. Using the Futures Plan document (now on recycled paper) we identified specific pathways in which many areas of the school are involved, and in which many faculty hands do the work.

The event culminated in a further stimulus to extend and elevate our ideas to the extent that we are considering new futures planning pathways, and embracing emergent ideas about what the future of our school, and education, may look like.

Find the presentation here, and look forward to seeing the resulting data as it feeds back into our strategic pathways in the coming weeks and months of review.

2019-2020 Goals for Community Planning Team

Welcome to the Futures Planning Blog for the 2019-2020 academic year. The details below outline the purpose of the Futures Planning at AISC, the members of the Community Planning Team, and the working document for this year, The AISC Futures plan.

Purpose of Futures planning at AISC

The purpose of our futures planning process is captured in the image below, and acknowledges that no single, predictable, future exists when it comes to long term organisational change. We realise that we are authors, and actors, in the possible futures of the school, and keen observers of the futures of the society we inhabit. 

We use the Futures Planning process to 

1. To align mission with school goals
2. To engage a framework for decision-making
3. To connect present to future
4. To integrate systems parts into whole

Within this frame, we can make informed, yet flexible, planning decisions, simultaneously working towards explicit deliverables in the short term, while paying a good deal of attention to how the world is changing around us and our community.

On May 9, 2019, the Community Planning Team came together to hear the final update on the goals that the school had been working on throughout the year. They then came to consensus on the essence of the goals for the 2019-2020 school year. At the end of the session the team learned about and discussed a range of topics, from competencies to environmental responsibility.

These goals have now been reformatted into the Futures plan for 2019-2020, which it is my distinct pleasure to share with you today.

The Community Planning Team for 2019-2020 is also convened, and the list of members can be found here

To learn more about the 2018-2019 Community Planning Meeting event, please find the slide deck here. 

Planning Team Retreat and 2019-2020 Goals

As the end of the 2018-2019 school year comes to an end, the Community Planning Team takes an opportunity to hear the progress on the annual goals. At this goals update, leadership team members report on what has happened to achieve the goal.

Next the leadership team shared the 2019-2020 goals, and the Community Planning Team approved all 15 goals by consensus. Each of these goals falls under one of the 10 pathways, three year vision statements that the school is moving towards.

Here are the 2019-2020 Goals:

Pathway: 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.

1) High School: Research and design an experiential capstone project

2) Middle School: Develop and implement program within each domain (Week Without Walls &  SEVAI).

3) Elementary School: Produce visualizations of Elementary and Early Years profiles, including vision projects.

Pathway: Learning & Innovation in the System

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

4) High School: Plan coach/admin led design thinking day for grade 9/10.

5) Middle School: Implement STEAM transdisciplinary project using PBL model.

6) Elementary School: Vision inspiration projects implemented: reflection to include review and recommendations for following years.

7) Early Years: Best practice in multi-age Early Years and Kindergarten will be documented and shared.

Pathway: Learning & Vision for the Learner

As a means to live the mission, AISC integrates abilities to achieve success through the Vision for the Learner into the culture of the school.

8) All School: Socialize draft EY-12 competencies and potential implementation plans for feedback and refinement.

Pathway: Learning & Inquiry in the Curriculum

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

9) All School: Identify further examples of Inquiry consistent with AISC Inquiry Framework. Show how we use inquiry.

Pathway: Learning & Wellbeing

AISC creates an integrated student wellbeing program that promotes and fosters healthy habits, self-awareness, self-management and positive relationships.

10) All School: Community members identify their role in fostering Student Wellbeing. Curriculum links to Student Wellbeing are implemented.

Pathway: Resources & Data

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.

11) All School: Create and test Data Expectations for AISC Faculty that will encourage intentional uses of data to guide instruction (as measured by the sectional uses, programmatic changes, or PG&E).

Pathway: Resources & Building Spaces

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

12) All School: To complete Year 4 of Building Spaces 2020 plan.

Pathway: Talent & Professional Growth

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

13) All School: Review and revise the structure and process of professional growth and evaluation (PGE) to support the new standards. 

Pathway: Community & Advancement

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

14) All School: Plan the 25th Anniversary Celebration.

Pathway: Community & Environmental Sustainability

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

15) All School: Design and draft a platform that publicly showcases AISC’s Framework, relevant initiatives, and works in progress.

Please see the Resources section on the right for further materials for the Futures Plan. 

Inspiration Conversation: Big Ideas to 2018-2019 Goals

Earlier this month, AISC invited the community to participate in an Inspiration Conversation that focused on Futures Planning.

We have been hosting Futures Summits for three years now, and these multi-hour sessions are designed to evoke conversation about the changing world and its possible impact on education and AISC. These sessions are not created to solve problems, but rather to share trends, discuss possible scenarios and show people's thinking. We also do a check out activity at the end of the session where we gather people's takeaways, Big Ideas that have come out of these conversations. Below is a list of the Big Ideas from the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Futures Summits.

• Education Pit Crew 
• Real-world problems
• Personalization
• Redefining what we report
• Innovation as our core requirement
• Flexible schedules, flexible spaces and a flexible mindset
• A leader in green and innovation technology
• Encourage empathy, resilience, and independence in students
• A balance between pursuing new passions and exposing to a broad curriculum
• Social and emotional learning 
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Community resources and partnerships
• Trans-disciplinary learning and thinking
• Experiential learning
• Thriving in ambiguity
• Evolving the system
• Interdependence
• The role of artificial intelligence
• Collaboration and collaborative system
• Engaging the local community

Participants of the Inspiration Conversation in October of 2018 looked at these Big Ideas and then connected them to our 10 pathways, the three-year vision statements that we have for education at AISC. 

1. Pathway: 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.
2. Pathway: Learning & Innovation in the System
   AISC implements innovative learning experiences incorporating the inquiry framework and trans-disciplinary skills, and alternative schedules to engage the vision of the AISC learner.
3. Pathway: Learning & Vision for the Learner
   As a means to live the mission, AISC integrates abilities to achieve success through the Vision for the Learner into the culture of the school.
4. Pathway: Learning & Inquiry in the Curriculum
   AISC integrates the inquiry framework and project-based learning into the curriculum development process.
5. Pathway: Learning & Wellbeing
   AISC creates an integrated student wellbeing program that promotes and fosters healthy habits, self-awareness, self-management and positive relationships.
6. Pathway: Resources & Data
   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.
7. Pathway: Resources & Building Spaces
   AISC implements the Building Spaces 2020 Plan approved by the Board of Directors in November 2016.
8. Pathway: Talent & Professional Growth
   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.
9. Pathway: Community & Advancement
   AISC enhances its reputation locally and globally and expands engagement and support across all stakeholder groups.
10. Pathway: Community & Environmental Sustainability
    AISC enlists the participation of all stakeholder groups to incorporate environmentally sustainable policies, practices, and programming in alignment with our mission and core values.

Both teams of participants of the Inspiration Conversation saw connections from all of the Big Ideas to at least one pathway. And then each of the pathways also connects to the 14 goals that AISC has identified for the 2018-2019 school year. 

Again, showing that the Big Ideas that have come out of the Futures Summits over the last three years have led to the long-term vision and the short-term goals. 

Stay tuned here for more updates on how we are learning and growing to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. 

Futures Summit Summary and Inspiration Conversation Invitation

On Friday, September 7th, thirty AISC community members gathered together for the third annual Futures Summit.

We began the conversation with people talking at their table about their first job. Next they considered the similarities and differences between their jobs then and their jobs now. The environment and context of the employee has evolved over time.

When considering the evolution of work, the jobs themselves change over time. New jobs crop up as technology and industries evolve. 

If the employee and jobs are evolving, then education too will evolve. 

Considering the articles below, how might education evolve?

How AI Could Transform the Way We Measure Kids' Intelligence

What's School Without Grade Levels?

Rush Hours: Let's Re-envision the School Day

Neuroeducation Will Lead to Big Breakthroughs in Learning

The iGen Shift: Colleges Are Changing to Reach the Next Generation

Participants of the Futures Summit were asked to illustrate the what school could look like in 2030. Here are some of their creations: 

We wrapped up the event with considering what were enablers and obstacles within education and/or AISC for creating the evolution in education. Here are their thoughts:

ENABLERS

·       Enhanced experimentation & communication

·       Mindset needs to be open, progressive and in support of adapting to change

·       Knowledge of an awareness of what is happening in the world. Advancements, inventions etc., to shape curriculum; Connect or exposure to global needs

·       Adopting technology

·       That this conversation happens

·       Grass roots call for systemic change

·       Courage

·       Prototype! New initiatives

·       Model, $$

·       Already has growth mindset (this kind of meeting), Leadership commitment to change (push boundaries).

·       Well-resourced school

·       Not in a national system (more freedom relatively)

·       Good interaction with community

·       Good staff

·       Progressive industries driving progressive universities/ colleges to promote & support changes in curriculum

·       Risk takers

·       An enabler of change is if change is highly called for. If many people see that change is needed

·       The fact that we are having a discussion on this. Leadership commitment to change (push boundaries)

·       Like minded group of people or transparency in communication to facilitate that.

OBSTACLES

·       Social value system still might not change

·       Parental buy-in to a new system

·       Academic rigidity

·       The need to keep going. No way to stop, Reset, Go

·       Resistance (fear of unknown)

·       University admissions

·       Closed mindset

·       There is no ethics to use AI

·       Technology is enough developed?

·       Education systems don’t evolve to needs

·       Adherence to structures/conservatism

·       There is no rule for supporting new things

·       Danger of being too progressive as opposed to what colleges/employers expect.

·       Complacency

·       People who say “you can’t do that because…”

·       $$, Time, Training, Community ed, calendar

·       Definitions of success

·       Fear of change as a risk to children’s future

·       Cultural expectations around structure

·       Past experiences holding on/fixed mindset 

We will continue the conversation about the evolution of education at our next Inspiration Conversation. Mark your calendar now and join us!

Elements of our Futures Plan and Invitation to the Futures Summit

How do all of the pieces of AISC work together? How does the Futures Plan connect with elements already in the AISC system? This helpful graphic looks to connect AISC's foundational documents to the Futures Plan's yearly goals.

We hope that is clear that what we think and what we do are connected, and our 2018-2019 goals, shared on the blog last week will help us achieve our mission. 

On the right hand side of the blog, I've also updated the Community Planning Team to reflect our new members. Congratulations! Finally, I've added the final version of the Futures Plan. 

I hope to see many people come out to the Futures Summit on Friday, September 7, from 1:00–4:00pm where will look at the evolution of work and some new insights into education and create what school could look like in the years to come. We look forward to seeing you in the Hall of Light! 

2018-2019 Goals and Call for Community Planning Team Members

On May 3, 2018, the Community Planning Team recommended that AISC adopt 14 goals in order to achieve the 10 Strategic Pathways.


Please see our goals for 2018-2019 below:

VACANCIES
We are also adding new members to our 2018-2019 Community Planning Team to replace those that have left the school or chosen not to return.

We are looking for:

• A freshman student
• A elementary school faculty member
• An alumni student
• Two current parents, preferably with elementary and/or middle school children

COMMITMENTS
Being a Community Planning Team member asks that you commit to 2 full days of meetings during the 2018 -2019 school year:

September 7, Futures Summit
This half-day event is designed to engage any AISC community member in generative conversation about the futures trends and drivers in society and their implications for education and AISC. Community Planning Team members are encouraged to attend.

February 14, Community Planning Team Work Session
The Community Planning Team gives the Leadership Team feedback on goals and priorities for the Futures Plan 2018-2021.

May 9, Planning Team Retreat
The Community Planning Team approves the 2019-2020 goals for Futures Plan.

AGREEMENTS
The Community Planning Team agrees, while they are meeting together, to:

• treat each person as a peer.
• communicate openly and honestly.
• reveal their interests but work toward the common good.
• present their points of view and their points of view only.
• contribute, but not dominate.

If you are interested in being on the Community Planning Team, please email Angeline Mohan for an application form. The deadline to turn in the form is August 31.