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UnCommon Learning
Co-publication with Learning Forward
- Grade Level: PreK-12
- ISBN: 9781483365756
- Published By: Corwin
- Year: 2015
- Page Count: 264
- Publication date: October 28, 2015
Review Copies
Review copies may be requested by individuals planning to purchase 10 or more copies for a team or considering a book for adoption in a higher ed course. To request a review copy, contact sales@corwin.com.
Description
UnCommon Learning techniques set the stage for mastery and true student engagement
Integrate digital media and new applications with purpose and build a culture of learning with pleasure!
Let students use real-world tools to do real-world work and develop skills society demands. Be the leader who creates this environment. UnCommon Learning shows you how to transform a learning culture through sustainable and innovative initiatives. It moves straight to the heart of using innovations such as Makerspaces, Blended Learning and Microcredentials. Included in the book:
- Vignettes to illustrate key ideas
- Real life examples to show what works
- Graphs and data to prove initiatives’ impact
Key features
There is a clear focus in every chapter on school culture, relevance, personalization, and sustainability. Throughout each of these chapters are vignettes illustrating key ideas and implementation tips so that the reader can begin the change process. Relevant links have also been incorporated into these chapters to add depth and provide further details on each initiative. Pertinent graphics and data related to how each initiative has had a positive impact on student achievement are also included throughout the book. An appendix at the end of the book provides additional resources to assist leaders with implementation.
Examples of successful uncommon learning initiatives that have been implemented at the AU school and elsewhere are described in most chapters.
Most chapters have a step by step implementation process (see Ch 3)
Author(s)
Eric C. Sheninger
Eric Sheninger works with schools throughout the world, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve outcomes for learners. He is the founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy designed to provide personalized support to all educational systems. Prior to this, he was a teacher and the award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Under his leadership, his school became a globally recognized model for innovative practices. Eric oversaw the successful implementation of several sustainable change initiatives that radically transformed the learning culture at his school while increasing achievement.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. The Challenges That Schools Face
2. Culture Shock
3. Digital Learning Across the Curriculum
4. Makerspaces
5. Blended and Virtual Learning
6. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
7. Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials
8. Academies and Smaller Learning Communities
9. Connected Learning
10. Schools That Work For Students
Appendices A-D
References
Reviews
"UnCommon Learning is a great look at the six most important EdTech trends in schools that work for kids: online and blended learning, BYOD, badges, maker, professional learning, and new learning environments. Eric lays out eight key steps to creating UnCommon Learning environments. Don’t miss it!"
Tom Vander Ark, CEO"UnCommon Learning is a great look at the six most important EdTech trends in schools that work for kids: online and blended learning, BYOD, badges, maker, professional learning, and new learning environments. Eric lays out eight key steps to creating UnCommon Learning environments. Don’t miss it!"
Getting Smart
"For the past several years, Eric's mission has been to find effective ways to use technology to improve student performance. In 'Uncommon Learning - Creating Schools That Work For Kids' he shares the most impactful practices he has found. These practices provide a guide to move school reform, using technology, from a concept to a reality."Dr. Bill Daggett, Chairman and Founder
International Center for Leadership in Education
"Schools today are at a disadvantage when it comes to educating today’s learner, which necessitates a corrective plan of action. Eric provides not only ideas, but also practical strategies that have been implemented to create the type of learning that students crave and deserve. This book will change the way you think about school structure and function in an increasingly digital world."Todd Whitaker, Professor of Educational Leadership and author of over 30 books, including What Great Teachers Do Differently
“In this urgent and practical book, Eric Sheninger argues that technology must become as central to students' learning as it is in the ‘real’ world. Uncommon Learning will teach educational leaders how to integrate technology into the classroom in ways that reflect today's complex, feedback-rich digital environment."
Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind“In this urgent and practical book, Eric Sheninger argues that technology must become as central to students' learning as it is in the ‘real’ world. Uncommon Learning will teach educational leaders how to integrate technology into the classroom in ways that reflect today's complex, feedback-rich digital environment."
"Sheninger, in UnCommon Learning, identifies key areas for growth within our current school systems. Most importantly, he lays out a simple and intentional path to addressing these areas with the goal of improving learning and the overall school experience for students. Educators, regardless of their role within a school, can use this text as a guide to create optimal learning environments for their students with the ultimate goal of creating schools that provide current, relevant and engaging learning experiences."Josh Stumpenhorst (@stumpteacher), Award Winning Teacher and author of The New Teacher Revolution
"Get rid of excuses. Stop having conversations. Start taking action. Uncommon Learning is the guidebook that will get schools from apathy to action, from ignorance to influence, from the status quo to supercharged with excitement. Eric Sheninger has written another winner."Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher Author - Reinventing Writing Host - The Every Classroom Matters Show
"For students to succeed in today’s fast changing world, schools must join technology and teaching to prepare students with relevant knowledge and skills. Bringing passionate commitment and vast practical experience, Sheninger lays out concrete ideas and strategies for every school to transform learning to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students. This is a must-read for practitioners and policymakers.”
Bob Wise, President"For students to succeed in today’s fast changing world, schools must join technology and teaching to prepare students with relevant knowledge and skills. Bringing passionate commitment and vast practical experience, Sheninger lays out concrete ideas and strategies for every school to transform learning to provide meaningful learning experiences for all students. This is a must-read for practitioners and policymakers.”
Alliance for Excellent Education
"There is a growing movement in this country and others to use what we have learned over the decades about effective teaching and learning to design the next generation of classrooms and schools. Eric Sheninger’s new book is a welcome addition that movement. He adeptly walks the line between practical strategies and motivating visions of the near and distant future."Robert J. Marzano, CEO
Marzano Research
"This is one of the very few, really good books about digital learning – not just because of its clear and informative examples and rich cache of tools, but because its experienced and multi-award winning author, Eric Sheninger, explains how to develop and implement digital learning, indeed all learning, in a balanced, sustainable and self-critical way. Unlike most pro-technology books, this passionate yet practical book is more about the zen of changing than about the zealotry of what must be changed. Teachers, leaders and change agents in education everywhere should put this book right at the top of their reading lists."
Andy Hargreaves, Winner of Boston College Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award, 2015"This is one of the very few, really good books about digital learning – not just because of its clear and informative examples and rich cache of tools, but because its experienced and multi-award winning author, Eric Sheninger, explains how to develop and implement digital learning, indeed all learning, in a balanced, sustainable and self-critical way. Unlike most pro-technology books, this passionate yet practical book is more about the zen of changing than about the zealotry of what must be changed. Teachers, leaders and change agents in education everywhere should put this book right at the top of their reading lists."
Brennan Chair, Lynch School of Education, Boston College
“Too often, school improvement initiatives layer activities upon cultures and systems that are not ready to receive them. Uncommon Learning rejects the notion that something must be done in addition, and instead begins with changing the foundational culture of a school—consistent with NASSP’s Breaking Ranks Framework for School Improvement. Countless schools—and more important, countless students—will no doubt benefit from the guidance Eric shares.”
JoAnn Bartoletti, Executive Director“Too often, school improvement initiatives layer activities upon cultures and systems that are not ready to receive them. Uncommon Learning rejects the notion that something must be done in addition, and instead begins with changing the foundational culture of a school—consistent with NASSP’s Breaking Ranks Framework for School Improvement. Countless schools—and more important, countless students—will no doubt benefit from the guidance Eric shares.”
National Association of Secondary School Principals
“In Digital Leadership, Eric Sheninger trail blazed the path many educational leaders followed to become digitally connected and now, in Uncommon Learning, he gets right to the heart of exactly what we need to do to create schools designed to empower today’s students. Eric doesn’t just talk about change; he has actually led change in his system and his story is both inspirational and filled with practical tips for implementation.“
Dave Burgess“In Digital Leadership, Eric Sheninger trail blazed the path many educational leaders followed to become digitally connected and now, in Uncommon Learning, he gets right to the heart of exactly what we need to do to create schools designed to empower today’s students. Eric doesn’t just talk about change; he has actually led change in his system and his story is both inspirational and filled with practical tips for implementation.“
New York Times Best Selling author of Teach Like a PIRATE and co-author of P is Pirate: Inspirational ABC’s for Educators
"Educational transformation can happen and this book tells how. In UnCommon Learning, former teacher and school principal Eric Sheninger shares practical strategies and processes to create sustainable positive changes to better serve our children."
Yong Zhao, Author of World Class Learners and Never Send a Human to Do a Machine’s Job"Educational transformation can happen and this book tells how. In UnCommon Learning, former teacher and school principal Eric Sheninger shares practical strategies and processes to create sustainable positive changes to better serve our children."
"Every educator who truly wants to maximize the learning opportunity for every student will benefit from the thought provoking questions, challenges and solutions Eric provides in UnCommon Learning. He artfully provides a roadmap for creating a bold new vision for learning for both educators and students through empowerment, mindset change, blended learning, re-designing instructional practices through a true integration of digital strategies to enable students to be creative, problem solvers and owners of their learning. His lessons learned and those of teachers will provide schools with the foundation for transforming their schools for uncommon learning."Susan Gendron, President
International Center for Leadership in Education
"Eric's vision and collection of resources to create a student-centred learning experience for schools is something that all educators should read. Although he shares great ideas on what opportunities could look like, he challenges us to push our own thinking of what school could really look like and move forward to become the innovative educators our students need."George Couros
Innovative Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Consultant
"With a strikingly fresh and practical perspective, Eric Sheninger takes contemporary learning to a new level of possibility with UnCommon Learning: Creating Schools That Work for Kids. Educators throughout the world agree that we need to support "right-now" learners, but the big question is HOW to transform the schools in our own communities. Eric has created a modern leading-manual which promises to be a must have classic for principals, headmasters, administrators, parents, and teachers. If our students read the book they will find an advocate. Sheninger's thinking on learning communities, curriculum, digital tools, networking, and makerspaces is genuinely designed to work for kids of all ages."
Heidi Hayes Jacobs"With a strikingly fresh and practical perspective, Eric Sheninger takes contemporary learning to a new level of possibility with UnCommon Learning: Creating Schools That Work for Kids. Educators throughout the world agree that we need to support "right-now" learners, but the big question is HOW to transform the schools in our own communities. Eric has created a modern leading-manual which promises to be a must have classic for principals, headmasters, administrators, parents, and teachers. If our students read the book they will find an advocate. Sheninger's thinking on learning communities, curriculum, digital tools, networking, and makerspaces is genuinely designed to work for kids of all ages."
Author and international expert on contemporary curriculum and instruction
"UnCommon Learning is a book that is long overdue! In this most important book for educators at all levels, Eric Sheninger has put into writing what he has “preached’ all over the country for years – that in order to effectively maximize student learning, the technology that is all around us cannot be ignored but instead must be incorporated into the classroom learning process. UnCommon Learning will prove to be a game-changer for how we educate children!"
Baruti Kafele Principal, Education Consultant, Speaker, Author"UnCommon Learning is a book that is long overdue! In this most important book for educators at all levels, Eric Sheninger has put into writing what he has “preached’ all over the country for years – that in order to effectively maximize student learning, the technology that is all around us cannot be ignored but instead must be incorporated into the classroom learning process. UnCommon Learning will prove to be a game-changer for how we educate children!"
"Unlike so many experts offering prescriptions for our beleaguered schools, Eric Sheninger has walked the walk, running an actual school and striving each day to make it better. In UnCommon Learning, his ideas, born out of real experience, not wishful thinking, will resonate with smart educators who have seen the Next Big Thing come and go with little to show. Our kids deserve to be surrounded by educators like Sheninger who are willing to examine their own prejudices and practices, then think long and hard about what needs to change."
Greg Toppo,National Education writer and author of The Game Believes in You: How Digital Play Can Make Our Kids Smarter"Unlike so many experts offering prescriptions for our beleaguered schools, Eric Sheninger has walked the walk, running an actual school and striving each day to make it better. In UnCommon Learning, his ideas, born out of real experience, not wishful thinking, will resonate with smart educators who have seen the Next Big Thing come and go with little to show. Our kids deserve to be surrounded by educators like Sheninger who are willing to examine their own prejudices and practices, then think long and hard about what needs to change."
USA Today
Review Copies
Review copies may be requested by individuals planning to purchase 10 or more copies for a team or considering a book for adoption in a higher ed course. To request a review copy, contact sales@corwin.com.