Conferences for 2010-11
Welcome!
Thanks so much for your interest in the Independent Curriculum Group. In the weeks ahead, we will post information about our conference line-up for 2010-11. We are planning more than a dozen events throughout the country that will bring together educators from all sectors to discuss today’s best practices and our vision for the future. We’ll also deal with the all-important practicalities of moving away from the standardized tests that still drive so much of secondary education. Each regional conference will have its own agenda, depending on the interests of presenters and participants.
To get the flavor of our events, below is information about the conferences we hosted last year. Check back in the first week of September for more on this year’s offerings.
Sincerely,
Bruce G. Hammond
Executive Director
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Registration
Check back soon for registration details for events in 2010-11.
2009 - 2010 Conferences
ICG’s conference at The Urban School of San Francisco was held on Saturday, October 24. A copy of the conference program is below. Anyone interested in follow-up discussion should go to: ICG’s Post-Conference Forums
| Date: | Saturday, October 24, 2009 |
| Location: | The Urban School of San Francisco 1563 Page Street San Francisco, CA 94117 |
| Program: | 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Light Breakfast 9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. – Welcome, Mark Salkind, Bruce Hammond 9:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. – Session One A. Re-Imagining History/Social Studies • Rebecca Shapiro, The Urban School B. How Schools Create Innovative Curriculum This session will examine how schools can empower faculty and administrators to design new curriculum. The process includes a variety of organizational and political challenges, but successful curricular innovation has wide-ranging benefits for the school community. • Suzanne Forrest, The Urban School • Jonathan Howland, The Urban School • Jamie Nielson, Polytechnic School C. Re-Imagining Math • Scott Nelson, The Urban school • Betsy Thomas, College Preparatory School D. Community as Classroom: Two Models Faculty from Lick-Wilmerding High School and The Urban School will offer case studies of how schools can use current issues in the local and global communities to create authentic, rigorous, project-based curriculum and assessment. The presenters will share lessons learned in constructing curriculum that gives students hands-on experience in the larger community. • Richard Lautze, The Urban School • Eva Frank, Lick-Wilmerding High School • Cliff Mayotte, Lick-Wilmerding High School 10:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Session Two A. Re-Imagining English • Kate Moore, Branson School • Courtney Rein, The Urban School B. Re-Imagining World Languages • Ernesto Padró-Campos, San Francisco University High School • Christy Dillon, Crystal Springs Uplands School C. Re-Imagining The Arts • Eric Oldmixon, The Branson School • Allyson Seal, The Branson School • Jennifer Starkweather, The Urban School D. Moving Away From AP: How Two Schools Did It The presenters will discuss how their schools moved beyond the College Board Advanced Placement Program and implemented a home-grown advanced curriculum. ICG Executive Director Bruce G. Hammond will offer a national perspective on how schools approach this sensitive process. • David Olds, Crossroads School • Laura Ross, St. Stephen's Episcopal School 12:10 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. – Lunch 12:40 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. – Plenary Session Admissions at the University of California: Process and Outlook ICG welcomes Don Daves-Rougeaux, Associate Director of Admissions at the University of California, and Miya Hayes, Assistant Director for School/University Partnerships, University of California at Berkeley, to discuss U.C. admissions procedures and how courses are evaluated in the A-G subject requirements. They will also review new policy initiatives for UC admissions and explain how schools can work in partnership with UC in developing new curriculum. • Don Daves-Rougeaux, University of California, Office of the President • Miya Hayes, University of California at Berkeley 1:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Session 3 A. College Placement Without AP Two college counselors from post-AP schools discuss the college admission process with the Associate Director of Admissions at Stanford University. • Solomon Enos, Stanford University • Susan Lee, The Urban School • Laura Ross, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School B. Re-Imagining Science • Algis Sodonis, The Urban School • Mark Stefanski, Marin Academy C. The Next Generation of Assessment for High School Graduation and College Admission • Bob Lenz, Envision Schools • Ray Pecheone, School Redesign Network, Stanford University This session will focus on performance based content and skills assessments that can be used to support high school graduation and college admission decisions. The model focuses on multiple measures of student learning (including digital media) within and across academic disciplines and is designed to build on the assessment practices used internationally in high performing countries. ***************** The Re-Imagining Sessions Each of the six “re-imagining” sessions will offer discussion of trends and sharing of ideas in the discipline. The movement away from test-driven curriculum will be a significant theme, but the presenters will offer a range of experience and perspectives. Attendees will be asked to share their practical successes of the present and their big-picture vision for the future. |
ICG’s conference at Beaver Country Day School was held on Tuesday, October 27. A copy of the conference program is below. Anyone interested in follow-up discussion should go to: ICG’s Post-Conference Forums
| Date: | Tuesday, October 27, 2009 |
| Location: | Beaver Country Day School 79 Hammond Street Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 |
| Program: | 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Coffee and Welcome 9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. – Welcome, Peter Hutton, Bruce Hammond 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Real World as Classroom The panel will explore how three schools extend learning into the larger community. Topics will include how to cultivate connections with those outside the school, the coordination of classroom learning and off-campus learning, the benefits of closer ties to the larger community, and how community involvement can create powerful learning opportunities. Paula Evans, Head of School, Community Charter School of Cambridge Jane Moulding, Head of School, Cambridge School of Weston Rodney Yeoh, Coordinator, Hiatt Center for Social Justice Education, Beaver Country Day School 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – How Schools Build Innovative Curriculum Nothing is more central to schools with independent curriculum than the continual design of new academic programs. The group will discuss how schools can develop a culture of curriculum development that includes the entire faculty, and how a shared vision can inspire everyone in the community. Emily Jones, Head of School, Putney School Peter Gow, Director of College Counseling and Special Programs, Beaver Country Day School Deb Merriam, Academic Dean, Francis Parker Charter Essential School 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. – Lunch and National Report Bruce G. Hammond, Executive Director of ICG, will offer a national perspective on the movement away from test-based advanced curriculum. Major trends include: longer class periods, projects instead of exams, interdisciplinary and non-disciplinary learning, trimesters instead of semesters, more off-campus learning, and a reassessment of participation in the AP program. 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Re-Imagining the Senior Year When schools move away from curriculum that culminates in standardized testing, a world of active learning opportunities opens up. The panel will discuss the development and implementation of project-based capstone experiences that cross disciplinary lines and carry students beyond the walls of the school. Amy Carrier, Director, Ventures Program, Fenway High School Sara Macaulay, Co--Coordinator, Independent Learning Experience, Winsor School Lynn Randall, Co-Coordinator, Independent Learning Experience, Winsor School Deb Merriam, Academic Dean, Francis Parker Charter Essential School |
The Independent Curriculum Group’s “Re-Imagining High School”Conference in New York City was held at Fieldston School on Friday, January 15. A copy of the program is below. Anyone interested in post-conference conversation should log on to our post-conference forums. A list of conference attendees is posted there.
| Date: | Friday, January 15, 2010 |
| Location: | Fieldston School 3901 Fieldston Road Bronx, NY 10471 |
| Program: | Re-Imagining High School Friday, January 15, 2010 Fieldston School 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Coffee and Registration: Dining Hall 9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. – Welcome and Introduction to ICG: Dining Hall • John Love, Principal, Fieldston Upper School • Bruce Hammond, Executive Director, Independent Curriculum Group 9:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. – Block One A. The Future of High School: Challenges and Opportunities: Student Commons A roundtable discussion of the major issues facing secondary education. With so many competing priorities, which are the most essential? How can American secondary schools move toward a better tomorrow? Moderator: Jen de Forest, Head of Upper School, Calhoun School James Haubner, Principal, Ardsley High School; Dominic A.A. Randolph, Head of School, Riverdale Country School ; Mike Hanas, Principal, Carolina Friends School B. How Schools Foster Innovative Teaching: Admissions “Board” Room This session will examine how schools can empower faculty to innovate. The process includes a variety of organizational and political challenges, but success has wide-ranging benefits for the school community. Moderator: Bruce Hammond, Independent Curriculum Group John Harrison, Social Studies Chair, Scarsdale High School; Liz Perry, Director of Educational Design and Innovation, Berkeley Carroll School; Henri Piciotto, Director, Center for Innovative Teaching and Math Chair, The Urban School of San Francisco C. Interdisciplinary Learning at Fieldston School: Dining Hall Mezzanine How can faculty from different departments develop authentic interdisciplinary courses? Fieldston teachers will discuss the kinds of partnerships that lead to genuine interdisciplinary learning. Laura Clark, Director of College Counseling; Lorenzo Krakowsky, Dean of Students, Foreign Language Teacher; Howie Waldman, Science Teacher D. Hotchkiss School: Interdisciplinary Humanities Courses: Room 521 Hotchkiss has launched an interdisciplinary Humanities program in grades 9 and 10 that includes English, history, philosophy & religion, and the arts. Teachers from this program will discuss its design, challenges and successes. George Faison, English Instructor; Brad Faus, Art Instructor; Lou Pressman, Philosophy & Religion Instructor; Paula Russo, English Instructor; Tom Woelper, Dean of Studies E. Re-Imagining Foreign Language: Room 522 How can you enhance your students’ speaking and listening, make learning more authentic, and engage students with a wide variety of learning styles? Language teachers will talk about they do it, with emphasis on new technology resources. Cecile Droz, Foreign Language Teacher, Fieldston School; Eric Hanson, Foreign Language Teacher, Fieldston School; Cole Harrop, Language Chair, Riverdale Country School; Cornelie Ladd, Foreign Language Teacher, Horace Mann School; Christine Perez, Foreign Language Chair, Fieldston School F. Re-Imagining English: Room 524 Two veteran educators lead a discussion of ideas and trends in the teaching of English. Mary Frosch, English Chair, The Spence School; Richard Lapidus, English Chair, Riverdale Country School 10:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Block Two A. A Working Model for Performance-Based Assessment: Admissions “Board” Room The New York Performance Standards Consortium includes 28 schools that evaluate students based on tasks ranging from science experiments to research papers. Come and hear about this cutting edge program. Ann Cook, Co-Principal, Urban Academy B. Riverdale Country School: Interdisciplinary Learning 30 Years On: Dining Hall Mezzanine This session will describe Riverdale Country School’s two required interdisciplinary courses, “Integrated Liberal Studies” and “Constructing America,” and the school’s renewed the emphasis on interdisciplinary learning as it moves away from test-based curriculum. Ron Murison, Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, Riverdale Country School C. Why We Need Lab Schools: A Call for School-Centered Research: Room 522 In an era dominated by quantified measures of student success and the search for “scalable models,” schools that distance themselves from test-based curriculum must find evidence to support their effectiveness. The presenter will describe examples of school-based research and offer practical advice on how to begin this work. Jen de Forest, Head of Upper School, Calhoun School and Member, American Enterprise Institute Working Group on the Future of American Education D. College Counseling Without AP: Student Commons Do students without AP courses on their transcripts still get in at leading colleges and universities? Panelists discuss the implications of post-AP curriculum for college admissions. Dana Boocock Crowell, Director of College Counseling, The Spence School; Alec Milton, Associate Director of Admissions, Columbia University; Laura Ross, Director of College Counseling, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (TX) E. Re-Imagining History/Social Studies: Room 8104B What kinds of “history” should students be learning and how should they be learning it? Fieldston teachers talk about new directions they are taking. Nancy Banks, History Chair; Tom Christensen, Performing Arts Chair; Jim Cullen, History Teacher; Joe Kleinman, History Teacher F. Re-Imagining Math: Room 524 Is an independent curriculum even possible in math? Can we expand our pedagogical toolkit in the core subjects? Broaden the range of electives we offer? Henri Picciotto, Math Chair, The Urban School of San Francisco and Creator, http://www.mathedpage.org 12:10 – 1:20 p.m. Lunch – Speaker, John Klemme, Scarsdale High School: Dining Hall 1:30 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. – Block Three A. Senior Year As Transition: How Can We Break Orthodox Patterns?: Student Commons Grade twelve ought to be both a capstone to secondary school and a transition to higher education, but test-based education has blocked many efforts at reform. This session will examine new possibilities for the senior year as a place to integrate disciplines and allow students to test their learning in a context outside school. Moderator: Peter Herzberg, Associate Head, The Brearley School Willa Chamberlain, Languages Department Chair, Buckingham, Browne and Nichols School (MA); David Dunbar, Academic Dean, CITYterm at the Masters School; Wick Sloane, Adjunct Professor, Bunker Hill Community College and author, “The Devil’s Workshop” column, InsideHigherEd.com; Peter Schmidt, Director of Studies, Gill St. Bernard’s School; Randi Schmidt, Head Librarian, Gill St. Bernard’s School B. Horace Mann School: Darwin From Three Points of View: Dining Hall Mezzanine Three teachers from Horace Mann describe their collaboration on an interdisciplinary upper-level elective examining the impact of Charles Darwin, including the scientific, social, political, and religious implications of his work. Kathleen Howard, Biology Teacher; Cornelie Ladd, Foreign Language Teacher; Barbara Tischler, Director of Curriculum and Professional Development and History Teacher C. Dalton School: Moving Beyond Traditional Models: Room 522 Two teachers from Dalton School describe its move away from test-based curriculum in history and foreign language, with introduction of new subject matter and teaching methodologies. Sarah Lederman, History and Social Science Chair; Michael Maloy, Assistant High School Director and Foreign Language Teacher D. Girls Schools and Curricular Change: A Discussion: Admissions “Board” Room The movement away from test-based curriculum has particular resonance for girls schools. But girls schools also face unique challenges as they seek to innovate. Join colleagues for a discussion of the issues. Moderator: Trudy Hall, Head of School, Emma Willard School E. Re-Imagining the Visual Arts: Room 524 What are the most innovative new directions in the visual arts? The presenters will lead a wide-ranging discussion. Eve Eistenstadt, Art Chair, Scarsdale High School; Peter Simon, Visual Arts Chair, Riverdale Country School F. Re-Imagining Science: Room 410 Without an AP syllabus to guide you, what do your second year biology/chemistry/physics students study? Fieldston science teachers talk about how they re-imagined these courses to engage their strongest students. Bob Cairo, Assistant Principal, Science Teacher; Paul Church, Science Teacher; Jon Lambert, Science Coordinator ************** Conference Web Site An area for post-conference document sharing and discussion has been created at http://www.independentcurriculum.org/forums. Please log on there to continue the conversation. Upcoming Conference We hope that some of you can join us at Westtown School on Thursday, January 28 for another conference in our Re-Imagining High School series. Steve Emerson, President of Haverford College, will be the keynote speaker. Visit http://www.independentcurriculum.org/conferences for details. *************** The Independent Curriculum Group thanks Independent School Management and TeenLife.com for their support of this conference. |
| Date: | Thursday, January 28, 2010 |
| Location: | Westtown School 975 Westtown Road Westtown, PA 19395 |
| Program: | Advance Registration Deadline: January 20 You are cordially invited to the Independent Curriculum Group’s “Re-Imagining High School” Conference at Westtown School on Thursday, January 28. Check-in and on-site registration will start at 8:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 9:00 a.m. The conference will feature three blocks of concurrent 70-minute sessions and a lunch program. Lunch Program Steve Emerson, President of Haverford College, will discuss new directions at Haverford as part of a broader re-assessment of undergraduate education and the high-school-to-college transition. Today’s discussions in the school world mirror those among college faculty, opening the possibility for greater dialogue and a shared vision of the future. Thematic Sessions Toward Schools of the Twenty-First Century Heather Hoerle, Vice President for Member Services at NAIS, will examine the ideas and trends that are shaping the nation’s best schools. K-12 education is on the cusp of exciting change, and Heather will share a big-picture perspective on where we are, and where we’re headed. Heather Hoerle, National Association of Independent Schools Two Models for Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Service Learning and Bioethics This session will present two examples of collaboration that transcend disciplinary lines and traditional classrooms. Susan Swanson and Sandi Richards from The Episcopal Academy and The Shipley School, respectively, will discuss their joint course which combines studies in social justice and service learning at Philadelphia’s Broad Street Ministry. Brian Michaels of The Key School and Karl Haigler from Bioethics-in-Action will describe their partnership that brings the study of biotechnology, and its social and ethical implications, to students at Key. Karl Haigler, Bioethics-in-Action Brian Michaels, The Key School Sandi Richards, The Episcopal Academy Susan Swanson, The Shipley School The C21 Challenge: Interdisciplinary Skill-Building in 9th Grade Faculty from Agnes Irwin will describe the school’s new two-week, project-based program for ninth grade. The presenters will review the origins of the program, its place in the curriculum, and its role in speeding the school’s transition toward twenty-first century skill building. Moderator: Bill Esher, Agnes Irwin School Re-Imagining Roundtable: Come Share Your Ideas Matt Green, Head of Upper School at Haverford School, will lead this crackerbarrel discussion of new ideas for grades 9-12. Whether you are seeking inspiration for a particular program, or simply want to hear what others are thinking, this session will get your creative juices flowing. Moderator: Matt Green, Haverford School Collaboration Using Web 2.0 Find out how schools are expanding their learning opportunities using applications such as Google Wave, Diigo, Twitter, and Slideshare. This session will explore a range of new opportunities, including the growing practice of cyber-teaming, which allows schools to do collaborative research projects via the web. Chris Penny, West Chester University The Consortium Class: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration For many years, Agnes Irwin School, Baldwin School, Haverford School, and The Shipley School have offered a joint interdisciplinary consortium class to selected students in eleventh grade. Recent topics have included "The Impact of Science on History, for Good or Bad," and "Math and Language: How do the Two Intersect?" Come and hear participating faculty describe this exciting academic adventure. Moderator: Eric Benke, Baldwin School Moving Away From AP: How Two Schools Did It Administrators and faculty from The Shipley School and Westtown School will discuss how their schools moved beyond the College Board Advanced Placement Program and implemented a home-grown advanced curriculum. Moderators: Margaret Haviland, Westtown School Janet Kobosky, The Shipley School Mark Schoeffel, The Shipley School Margaret van Steenwyk, The Shipley School Susan Tree, Westtown School How Schools Foster Innovative Teaching Sharon Dupree, Head of Upper School at Abington Friends School, and Henri Picciotto, Chair of the Math Department and Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching at The Urban School of San Francisco, will discuss how schools can empower faculty and administrators to bring innovation to the classroom. Dynamic teaching is the work of individual teachers, but also of schools that are intentional in creating an environment where it can thrive. Sharon Dupree, Abington Friends School Henri Picciotto, The Urban School of San Francisco Re-Imagining the Disciplines English, History/Social Studies, Math, Science, Languages, Visual Arts, and Religious Studies The afternoon block features seven sessions, each co-moderated by veteran educators, that will offer discussion of trends, sharing of ideas, and a window on the practices at leading schools. The movement away from test-driven curriculum will be a significant theme, but presenters will represent a wide range of experience. Attendees will be asked to share their practical successes of the present and their big-picture vision for the future. Confirmed Moderators Chris Fox, Haverford School Barbara Eliott, University of the Arts Kevin Eppler, Westtown School Sheryl Forste-Grupp, The Episcopal Academy Margaret Haviland, Westtown School Dan Slack, Haverford School Pat Macpherson, Westtown School Michael Rossman, University of the Arts Margaret can Steenwyk, The Shipley School Kwesi Koomson, Westtown School Ted Lutkus, Westtown School |