Traditional Resume LINK TinyURL.com/SteveResume2021
One Page Resume LINK TinyURL.com/SteveSkills
QUICKLINK for this site is TINYURL.com/SteveMcCreaPortfolio
Abraham S. Fischler, Ed.D., former president of Nova University (1928-2017)
I’m interested in providing workshops at private and public schools (charter or traditional).
I’ve learned about the “transformation of education” as described by Fischler, Neil Postman and Dennis Littky. See www.TINYURL.com/FischlerEbook (which I edited) and the Postman Questions (which I reformatted) www.TINYURL.com/PostmanQuestions.
At High Tech High School in San Diego, I saw the value of asking students to keep digital portfolios (free websites). See some examples at www.TINYURL.com/exampleDP and www.TINYURL.com/abelsite.
I’ve learned the Google Sites procedure and taught the procedure to students. FreeWebsiteProject.blogspot.com and TINYURL.com/FWPstart (FREE instructions). I compiled a book about "how to use Digital Portfolios" for teachers and parents TINYURL.com/sunDP5
PROCEDURES THAT DESERVE ATTENTION
(1) “We foster critical thinking skills”
Procedure: I introduce students to questions that ask them to reveal their understanding of the community. Dennis Littky points out that “Teaching is listening. Learning is talking.” There needs to be time for discussions and hearing what students say. Speaking helps develop thinking. Recording and playing back discussions is also a good procedure.
Neil Postman’s questions are helpful: www.TINYURL.com/postmanquestions
(2) “Provide opportunities for the discovery of interests.”
Procedure: Dennis Littky points out “Until we find their interests, it’s just school. After we find out what interests the students, they get involved in interesting internships and school is no longer school. It’s an exciting adventure each day.” The Big Picture: Education is Everyone’s Responsibility (2004) You can see the first chapter here www.TINYURL.com/LittkyChapter1 See the video I produced about his school TinyURL.com/LittkyVideo
(3) “Instill the virtue of civic responsibility.”
Procedure: I ask students to write reviews and provide their support to videos and websites that they admire. Their social media time can help the projects that they respect. Students can develop positive digital footprints by supporting the social media of other students.
I hope some of these procedures have caught your interest. I look forward to learning more about the opportunity to provide professional development of teachers at your school.
Experiences that shaped my philosophy of education
The speech of John Corlette, founder of Aiglon College TINYURL.com/jcspeech
Dr. Abraham S. Fischler compiled a "book of commentaries" based on his blog TinyURL.com/FischlerEbook. From that book I created a series of posters to encourage discussion of the book's seven key points.
Free ebooks at TINYURL.com/FreeForFamily. Please visit and share.
Dennis Littky (2004). Radio interview:
Learn about the Mastery Transcript
I show you how to make a free website using Google Sites (2009 video with over 6000 views)
Here are some videos that I have produced.
Some of my blogs
www.50YearsofSubversiveTeaching.blogspot.com dedicated to Neil Postman's book TAASA
www.PortfoliosforHighSchool.blogspot.com an attempt to promote the Rhode island system of awarding a high school diploma in part by portfolios and exhibitions
www.FreeWebsiteProject.blogspot.com a site to introduce parents and students to portfolios (free websites)
You can find this page at TinyURL.com/SteveMcCreaPortfolio
This quote tells me that (1) I am the instrument and channel for the philosophies of the school and the school principal.
(2) I can fill in for the deficiencies that appear (or that I see). It's up to me to speak up and offer suggestions and meet with parents and the students to find "what will work." (Why complain about lack of funds? Why not just "do something"?) Some methods work with many students. Other procedures might help other students. That's why we talk about the Science of Learning and the Art of Teaching and Instruction.
Have you heard that the Finnish school system has decided to combine subjects? Their system will use projects and a focus on topics.
I use a procedure from Big Picture Learning in my teaching. I guide students with the "Learning Goals" found on pages 149-151 in www.TINYURL/com/BigPictureAdvisorBook
One major initiative in Finland is to encourage teaching by topic instead of by subject. According to The Independent, instead of teaching geography and foreign language classes separately, teachers will ask kids to name countries on a map in a foreign language. Instead of separate lessons on history and economics, they'll talk about the European Union. -- Washington Post by Max Ehrenfreund March 24, 2015
Yes, people need to be able to read, write, and speak clearly. And they have to know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. But given the widening array of possibilities, there’s no reason that every child must master the sciences, algebra, geometry, biology, or any of the rest of the standard high school curriculum that has barely changed in half a century.10 -- Robert Reich
There is no reason to put education in standardized packages when our kids don’t come in these packages. (Littky's comment)
Robert Reich (1995), quoted in Dennis Littky's book The Big Pictue: Education is Everyone's Business www.TINYURL/com/LittkyChapter1 CLICK HERE to see how I use Littky's system in my classes
My classroom's walls often have quotes from Tony Wagner about the Seven Survival Skills. The quotes remind me to ask: What am I including in each lesson that allows students to develop their skills of Initiative and Entrepreneuring? Agility and Adaptability? Critical Thinking? Communication? Accessing and Analyzing Information? Imagination and Curiosity? Collaboration?