Cory Henwood Digital Teaching and Learning Coordinator @ironschools#utedchat Happy to discuss the importance of essential skills and dispositions of Utah grads
A1: To ALWAYS TRY. Trying out for a school play, trying an honors class, and trying cafeteria food. Doesn’t always work out, but you learn either way! #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A1: I think the most important thing I learned in high school was how to take good notes mostly because it taught me the principles of HOW to learn on my own instead of being subject to my teacher #UTEDCHAT#UtahGrad
A1: Probably research & critical thinking. Was on debate team, mock trial. AP courses were very much based on inquiry and research (because there were only 3 of us in one!) #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A1:
This is weird coming from a person who is heavy into math, but I think learning to write well was one of the most important things I learned in HS. #utedchat#utahgrad
A1: To Communicate my ideas clearly through presentations, discussions, and of course writing. #utedchat students today are likely to fall short on this skill if we don't integrate this into our daily practice. Plus it is engaging and makes learning relevant.
A1: The most important things I learned in high school were the skills I needed to succeed in University. How to study. How to learn. How to remember. How to write well. Despite my transient upbringing, I did graduate in Utah. Go Knights. @NRidgeKnights#UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A1: High School was a LOOOOONNNNNGGGG time ago. Grad of Box Elder High School, 1972. I learned a love of mathematics and the sciences. Oh, and Spanish. #UTEDCHAT
A1: One of the most important things I learned in high school is that life is more fun when you are passionate about something. I had a history teacher who made it fun & important to care and I've carried that with me throughout college and career now. #utedchat#utahgrad
Hello, Derek, Librarian & Digital Learning Coach from @washk12 chiming into #UTedChat a little late thanks to some #DadChat. Stoked to talk #UtahGrad tonight!
A1 What it was like to have actual friends based on common interests who liked being around the real you and not the persona you presented. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A1 I learned what it feels like to have my mind & soul on fire about SOMETHING. I think the feeling of true engagement, the feeling of our souls on fire, is the best gift we can give our students. #utedchat
Excited to announce that the FREE registration for Edcamp Utah is now live! Our 5th #edcampUT will be held on Nov. 3rd at the McGillis School. To sign up go to: https://t.co/0LPqeYVTlH. Share the word! Remember the camp is limited to the first 150 registrants. #utedchat
A1 part 2: Because of the SIZE of my last high school, I also learned how easy it is to be lost in the madding crowd, and that you find what you're looking for when there are so many choices. Tough transition coming from 3A to 5A. I didn't know what hit me. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A1.5 You probably meant academic, but to be honest, I don't remember a whole lot of academics from HS. But I do remember I learned to work hard as the Band Manager. I learned disappointment when I couldn't play football my Sr year due to a car accident. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A2: SO MUCH. They need to know how to work as a team. Not necessarily more group work, but collaboration, creative thinking, thinking outside of the box. They need to know how to protest, to advocate for change, to stand up for those who don't have a voice. #utedchat#utahgrad
A2: Timeless skills. How to learn. How to study. How to remember. How to write & communicate well. We get caught up on STEM, but even Google found that the most successful teams have the best soft skills. Math and Science have a place, but Humanities rule! #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
I learned a love for travel and to appreciate and better understand the world around me. I had choir tours to New York, San Diego, and San Francisco. #utedchat
Powerful skills learned! I also started to learn those skills, but they were more refined in college and are practiced now on an almost daily basis! #UTedChat
A2: Skills in prioritizing, vetting, sifting information, both words and numbers. Critical literacy and critical numeracy, in other words. #UTedChat#utahgrad
A2: Our students will need to be creative in their problem solving, be innovative in their undertakings. We cannot continue to make students fit in a box, deliver a one size fits all lecture, or not allow students to lead their learning, empower them to be innovative #UTEDCHAT
A2: As @Melfromqns discussed in the last #iteachphysics chat, students need to be able to engage in "sensemaking." I think that will lead to success in whatever post HS path students take. #UTEDCHAT
Right?! It makes everything so much more engaging and maybe, just maybe, you learn to care about it a little too. Passion inspires passion #utedchat#utahgrad
That's some good advice, as long as it's explained well. If we "fake it" until we learn what we're supposed to be doing it's fine. But we need to help kids to understand it's okay to be themselves, even if it takes longer to actually "make it" in life. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A2 part 2: Just to be clear, I am including rhetoric, respectful debate and thinking and discourse grounded in evidence, logical thinking, questioning, all the Social Emotional Skills, etc in my pitch for the Humanities. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
I'm convinced there will be more boxes that need to be broken out of. We seem to be segmenting more as a society rather than coming together. Thinking freely and innovating are key skills! #utedchat#utahgrad
Seriously though, the most influential people in my life were English and History teachers...little wonder why I became one, huh? Geez, I just realized this. #utedchat#utahgrad
A2 I think the biggest thing graduates need to have moving forward is a growth mindset. If they feel like they can keep learning, keep growing - they’ll be successful. #UTEDCHAT
I often hear people complain about what skills we SHOULD teach in school, but they rarely realize that we already do! We just didn't when they were in school (or they weren't paying attention). Just to start off my answer here on a good note. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
As I said, they both have a place. But if we educate scientists who become jerks, their potential is automatically handicapped because we've rewarded intelligence over social skills and no one will work with them. https://t.co/Qk8TPOizLL#UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A2 The ability to think for themselves, communicate with others both written and in spoken word and face to face, it's okay to work hard, life isn't fair, you won't always get your way, life is hard but success is worth the effort. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
So true! It's almost like the expectation is that if we incorporate these practices, all students will be 100% successful at adopting them. A bit unrealistic. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A3 I want all my students to find a subject/area/topic/skill/something that they are truly passionate about. Passion for something helps give students purpose. #utedchat
A3 right now...to win at Fortnite or be a YouTuber. As well as have the skills to succeed at the university level and in a changing workplace #utedchat
A3: I hope they find joy, something that they care about. I dream about well-informed, highly engaged, global citizens. I just want them to be good people. #utahgrad#utedchat
A2.5 HS Grads also need to learn how to properly resolve conflict with others, without their parents getting involved. They should be able to talk out issues with professors & room mates without getting parents and the college people involved. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A3: I hope my students will recognize their innate potential and their power to make a positive difference. I hope they recognize their talents & find something they can succeed in. If not that (yet), that they have the grit to keep going until they do! #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A2: I think our students NEED coding & media literacy, and those are two things that can and often are picked up by other subjects or classes, but only on top of other curriculum and sometimes at the risk of not covering other standards. Esp. media literacy. #utedchat#UtahGrad
I don't disagree but I for one would love to see these skills explicitly taught, integrated with content, practiced frequently, assessed by teachers and reported to stakeholders. We do this with curricular skills, I think these essential skills are at least as important #utedchat
A3: I want them to find more relevance in their education, and want to love coming to school, a place where they grow and make a difference in things that matter to them. #UTEDCHAT
A3 I hope they are willing to break molds and stereotypes and be willing to try new things. I want to see grads stepping up to challenges and not be afraid to do hard things. I want to see them change the world for the better, whatever that looks like! #UTedChat#UtahGrads
A3: Instead of asking students what they want to be when they grow up, ask: What problem do you want to solve? My hope etc. is for students to exit high school feeling armed with the confidence they need to go out and solve the problems they want to solve. #utedchat#UtahGrad
Indeed. That does get tricky. DO you think the new standards address it better than the odl standards? Or are we still trying to cram too much into our Social Studies courses? #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A1: The most important thing I learned in high school was that it is very possible you will go through much of your life not knowing what you "want to be when you grow up," and that's ok! #utedchat
Parent confession: I’ve started doing @codeorg two nights a week with my son. We love it, it’s more popular than Harry Potter reading nights. #CSforALL#utedchat
A3: For at least half of my students, I have just wanted them to not have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from or where they are going to sleep tonight. I want them to be able to break the cycle of poverty. #UTEDCHAT
A4: My family values integrity & hard work, an open mind & tolerance of differences, respect for others & the world we live in. We expect people to work, so their lives have impact and thus meaning. Problems to be solved & people to be helped are all around. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A4: I want someone who knows their value, who is not going to fade into the wallpaper, but will bring something to the table (literally in case of a potluck dinner and figuratively speaking of their personality and persona). #utedchat#utahgrad
A4: I want my new family members to celebrate their diversity, to be who they are and not feel they have to conform to the Smith family way. I certainly do have very diverse people who have joined my family and I love them all. #UTedChat#utahgrad
For those who have yet to discover #utedchat, jump into the conversation right now! Educators sharing their hopes and dreams for students. Super inspiring!!
A4: Interesting question, thinking about my future son/daughter-in-laws....I hope they are kind, hard working, willing to adapt to the unexpected, honest, good listeners, not stubborn/arrogant, loving, and funny. #UtEdchat
A4 part 2: With that being said, PERSONALLY I am fine if people make mistakes so long as they own up to them, and bring an attitude that WHAT is right is more important than WHO is right. I mess up & appreciate others' patience. I try to return the favor. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A4 Kindness, forgiving, firm, loving, determined, willing to try new things, open to failure and learning from said failure, and SO many more! #UTedChat#UtahGrad
It's not one of my main questions, but I'm really starting to wonder how we teach the things we are saying important...goodness, kindness, happiness. #utedchat
A2: Especially, young people are ridiculed for going after what they want. It seems like there's always someone saying: "you can't." Well, at any age really. I just think that especially for high school graduates, that need to know that it's ok to chase their dreams. #utedchat
Since @YoungUTed brought it up, I would love to see even more of you join us for #DaveWeek. Here’s where to get tickets to the Jazz game with all of us. Lots of perks for being part of our group. https://t.co/bNl6jStk7e#utedchat
A3: that they will believe in themselves and that they will assume the best of those they meet. I really want my kids to listen to people and have real discussions, which means they need to understand themselves and care for others #utedchat#UtahGrad
That happens in the context of classroom culture. Expectations are taught and reinforced, whether we mean them to be or not. Hopefully we are doing right by our students and helping them to become good, thoughtful humans who care about each other. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
You know what I'd love to see in HS? I'd love to see a REQUIRED course for Jrs/Srs that focuses on cooking, job applications, loan applications, banking skills, some of the mundane stuff that's part of #adulting that no one wants to do but needs to do. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
That's the thing, when I looked over the questions before #utedchat, all of my answers were intangible and technically, not part of the core at all. But they are at the heart of my pedagogical philosophy. So how do I teach them? Moreso, how do I know they've internalized it?
Bringing up new perspectives, empathy, and also the ability to explain health insurance and retirement to me without freaking me out. #utedchat#UtahGrad
People telling me I couldn't do things just made me mad and all the more determined to do them. It has served me well. I use my powers of stubbornness for good. Not qualified for Gifted and Talented? Well, I showed them. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
True, but wouldn't it be useful for college? That way they don't have to survive on #Raman and other not-super-healthy-but-easy-to-prepare foods? #UTedChat
The best way often seems to be modeling the behavior and making a point to verbally recognizing it when we see it in young (and not as young) people.
(I use a lot of positive behavior reinforcement with our legislator friends)
#UtEdchat
It is, but they don't remember from MS. I think it NEEDS to be something for Jrs/Srs so they may actually remember. I'm with6th & 7th graders and their brains can barely hold things from the current year. #UTedChat
A5 ability to do the job, flexibility when things don’t go as planned, show up when they are supposed to, easy to work with, communicates verbally and digitally, good demeanor #utedchat
#UTEDCHAT A5: They might look for any number of things on the resume, but once it is interview time it is all about communication skills. If they communicate well in most cases...
If I lived closer to Salem, UT I be there in a heartbeat! Please attend this focus group and help share your thoughts on a Portrait of a Graduate! #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A5: Employees who know how to think creatively and critically and aren't afraid to fail. Innovators and doers. And they have to know how to cook! :-) #UTedChat#utahgrad
I think service opportunities are a great way for students to open their hearts. Speaking from a student's perspective, it really is a satisfying experience. #utedchat
A5 I think an employer is looking for two things - someone who is willing to learn and someone they can trust. If you have those elements - honesty and humility, you’ll go a long way. #UTEDCHAT
A5: @neilhimself said a funny thing in a commencement speech, you only really need 2/3 of the following: be consistently on time, a delight to work with, and do good work. #utedchat#utahgrad#realisticgoals#lol
Modeling and respecting students is a good way. I treated my 4th and 5th graders like little people and allowed them to be human. It's definitely a start. #UTedChat
A5: Depends partly on the level of desperation (cough, teacher shortage). At a minimum, employers want decent human beings who are qualified, can do the job & will stay out of trouble. Ideally, they want driven problem-solvers too. Hard to get. Pay matters. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
I’ll take it! I think acknowledgement of your personal challenges is an important characteristic 🤔 Take my driving for example.... #utedchat#GrowthMindset
In addition to content knowledge, an ability to add to and create a positive work environment.
Educators specifically who approach a classroom ready to learn and engage their students and peers.
#utedchat
A5 As someone who is currently in the process of trying to hire an aide, I may be semi-qualified to answer.
Hard working, punctual, dependable, open-minded, willing to try new things, kind, able to communicate, friendly. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
.@GovHerbert encouraging people to consider becoming teachers. “Teaching is a noble profession. Teachers can make an incredible impact on students’ lives.” #TeachUtah#uted#utpol
A6: A child graduating from high school should have a solid understanding of the basics & a plan to move forward into the next phase of life as a responsible adult and citizen. The path they take doesn't matter so much as continuing to move forward with faith. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
I'd also love for this future class to also have lessons on how to interview, everything from appropriate dress to how to look at people when you answer questions. Such important skills! #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A6 I thought it was the graduation cap & gown, the accolades, scholarships, or even the diploma ... nope it is measured in their next step, the step after that one, and sometimes it's a step back... but they keep moving forward ... that is how I measure. #UTedChat
A6: After graduation? I'd want to know how they fared in the next step: job placement, pre-graduation college outcomes like passing freshman courses. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
A6: Is my child ready to move on to a career or to post-secondary ed? Do they have the skills to face those challenges on their own? That's both academic and social-emotional. #UTedChat#utahgrad
It's my superpower. I have a different super suit, but much of what I have accomplished has been largely through force of will, not natural gifts of intelligence or ability. There's a LOT to be said for grit and determination, or learning and growth. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
Good point Spencer. There’s enough pressure on the kids already. Making it to graduate is a really good first step. Having a post graduation plan is another great step. #UTEDCHAT
I would be more than willing to lead a committee on writing those standards. Just let me know when and where. I bet we could get some AWESOME #UTedChat peeps on that committee and get them written in no time! #UtahGrad
Enthusiasm for the next step. I want my students to be excited to try new things and not be afraid to fail. If a HS graduate can try and fail and then succeed I think that is success. #UTedChat#UtahGrad
#utedchat These standards should be pervasive in all content areas, not confined to one class. It would be awesome to see the equivalent to the Math Practices which exist in all math classes, a set of standards on essential skills and dispositions that is a part of every course.
A7: That our smaller core content and skills should always lead to something deep, meaningful, and big as life: integrity, kindness, reliability, responsibility, humility, etc. #UtEdChat#UtahGrad
A7: I did NOT see a list of required courses or credit hour requirements. I do see an interest in successful human skills and the Humanities! Measuring competency in these presents an interesting challenge. Some things can't be captured in an on-line module. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
A7 In summation, it looks like #UTedChat tonight was leaning towards https://t.co/QESQqE43wD ... and it looks like we all need to help out in transforming students that are successful beyond High School.
What a great #utedchat@disudds! Excited to incorporate all the great feedback into the @UTBoardofEd Portrait of a Graduate 🎓 draft! #utahgrad Thanks for a great conversation!
Excellent #UTedChat great job moderating @disudds loved how you led the discussion with thoughtful questions and comments. You need to come in more often...
Great question. Maybe some of both? Not all students need all classes, and I believe we've swung too far towards college ready graduation requirements at the expense of students who would prefer vocational training. But all students deserve options. #UTEdchat#UtahGrad
Great ideas from tonights participants in #UTedChat regarding @UTBoardofEd work on Portrait of a Graduate. @disudds is a master facilitator! Well done!
Great chat everyone! Thanks to @disudds for leading the discussion tonight. Next week we’re pleased to have @HSG_UT moderate our discussion. See you all then. #UTEDCHAT
A7 So many themes. Food is important, kindness and open-minds are crucial for success, #DaveWeek is already selling tickets to the @UtahJazz game in January, and @Covili & @DaniKSloan have a new podcast. So many good things from tonight! #UTedChat#UtahGrad
