In the Zone This Month: December 2008
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Theme: More on College Access
This issue continues the theme of college access with Information about College Access for Principals:
As you know, college access doesn’t begin in high school. To help parents of young children learn about early childhood education, tell them about BornLearning.Org. According to their website, Born Learning™ is a public engagement campaign helping parents, caregivers and communities create early learning opportunities for young children. Designed to support parents as a child’s first teacher, Born Learning educational materials are made available through the efforts of United Way, United Way Success By 6, and Civitas. Materials explain early learning, how to provide learning pportunities, and learning stages from birth to 5 years old. For more information, go to www.bornlearning.org
Learn about a new $1 million gift for a scholarship fund to Ohio State for Ohio high school graduates.
The KnowledgeWorks Foundation website provides resources about College Access and Success, including information about the Ohio College Access Network (OCAN). This organization helps Ohioans imagine the possibility of higher education by connecting residents to the information and financial resources they need to achieve their dreams.
Read the results of a nationwide poll of registered voters about 21st Century Skills, Beyond the Three Rs: Preparing U.S. Students for a Global Workforce. For more information see the Partnership for 21st Century Skills:
press release (PDF)
Research Reveals Top 10 Skills for 2020. The list of skills, knowledge, and behaviors to support student success in the 21st Century was developed through a survey of business and education leaders in Ohio, a literature review, and an online public survey. Information about these meetings, and an online survey to respond to the Top 10 List, is available on the ODE website.
- Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and applied knowledge for practical results
- Mastery of rigorous academic content, especially in literacy, mathematics, and information technologies
- Innovative and creative thinking, including entrepreneurial skills
- Communication skills, both oral and written
- Team learning and work, relationship building, and interpersonal social skills
- Alignment of education with the needs of economic development, including better communications and cooperation between educators and business people*
- Personal responsibility, including good work habits, work ethic, knowing how to be flexible and continue learning, and financial literacy
- Global awareness, languages, and understanding other cultures (including history, economics and geography)
- Communication and better interfaces between K-12 public education and postsecondary/higher education to make high school graduates better prepared for the next stages of their education and lives*
- Teacher education, preparation, and professional development to support content mastery and skill development, including applied learning (or problem-based learning) across disciplines in a global context*
*Although these items are not necessarily knowledge, skills, or behaviors, they were among the top 10 responses and address changes needed in Ohio’s education system.
A few words from the editor
In the Zone, a message from Ohio’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Deborah S. Delisle writes a letter of support to Ohio’s principals. For a biography of Delisle, go to this website.
What Are President-elect Obama’s Plans for America’s Schools? by Joan Platz
Also in this issue:
Education Updates from Joan Platz
Sticky Issue: Ethical or Unethical? From Principal’s Office Archives, April 2006
Professional Readings: A review of Queen Bees and Wannabes by Kathy Cameron
Contributors of the Month
Kathy Cameron, Graduate Assistant, P-12 Project
Joan Platz, League of Women Voters
Photo by Ken Chamberlain, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
