So after being asked these two questions via Twitter and Facebook literally over 20 times in the last 24 hours. I thought the easiest way to answer these questions is through a short blog post, otherwise I am beginning to sound like a broken record, I feel like I am featuring in the film ground hog day and am having hourly de ja vue moments, basically it is really freaking me out.
So here we go:
What is a Pathfinder school?
“School leaders around the world are asking the same questions, “How can I make learning more accessible and relevant, engage the natural desire of students to learn, and prepare them for a successful future?”
In response, Microsoft has created the Partners in Learning Innovative Schools Program. With a focus on system-wide change, this community of schools is seeking to find the answers to this question. The goal of the Innovative Schools Program is to discover, share and scale best practices, develop models and assets that any school or any school system can use to help students achieve their full potential, and create a collaborative community of like-minded school leaders.
Building on the experience of innovative schools and education experts from around the world, Partners in Learning is helping school leaders create a culture of innovation that advances the uses of technology in the learning process and enables children to develop 21st century skills. This approach has been proven to help students prepare for the future and helps communities move toward employment and economic development goals.”
saltash.net has been selected as one of 50 schools worldwide to be part of the programme.
Why is that Rowey in DC?
Well Ben is representing the school as part of the programme and is meeting up, sharing, collaborating and forming our action plans with the other schools as part of attending Microsoft’s Worldwide Innovative Education forum.
To see what he has been up to so far check out this video:
Or follow Ben’s blog as @itsmerowey at:
http://frenchrowe.edublogs.org/2011/11/07/what-a-fantastic-first-day/
or follow the twitter feed through #PILGF