Deeper Learning 2015: Fuel for Creating Meaningful Learning

Today was the first day of Deeper Learning 2015 at High Tech High in San Diego.  I attended last year, and it was so enriching, I am back for more.  

A few highlights from today:

Chris Emdin opened with a keynote speech that had the power of a freight train, both knocking us flat and raising us up with truth on the ways we teachers both engage and disengage students.  His core messages are around the idea of relevancy.  He uses "reality pedagogy" and #hiphoped as his lense for connecting authentically with urban Bronx youth.  Of course, this idea needs to be customized to each location and culture, but he imparts both a burning mission and a model to get there.  View a taste of his ideas in this video.  

In one workshop I engaged in learning about the eight elements needed for deeper learning to occur. This video gives a fun, animated summary: 

In another, Jim May of New Tech Network and Kelly Willson of the High Tech High Graduate School led us in an exploration of what elements are necessary for deeper learning to occur, and what leadership that supports that looks like.  This workshop was full or rich connections.  Some that stuck with me:

• Leadership begins with one's own intrapersonal skills.
• The level of risk-taking by the faculty operates as a ceiling for the level of risk-taking by the students.  This so well explains the different school cultures I have wittnessed.  The most innovative schools have teachers who are continually doing projects and professional development that gets them out of their comfort zone.  
• Finally, the first thing a school needs is a common vision of student learning, and from there, everything can be designed in relation to that.  

The evening ended with an advanced screening of Most Likely to Succeed.  This documentary recently previewed at the Sundance Film Festival, and it engages with the question of how can students best learn in this quickly changing world where more and more people are loosing their jobs to technology?  The documentary follows the history of education in the US, and contrasts that with the fascinating learning journey of several High Tech High freshmen.  This new model is all about skills rather than the retention of information.  Less content is covered, but the learning journey is collaborative, interdisciplinary and in-depth.  Guaranteed to spark a discussion among any educators or parents.