Last February NAIS president Pat Bassett challenged independent schools to change. Referencing work by Thomas Friedman, Mel Levine and Howard Gardner, Bassett outlined the need for revisioned schools and retooled students. Why? This new global knowledge-based economy and society requires more creative, collaborative, and networked people who can critically think and communicate innovative ideas. As Gardner writes in his book Five Minds for the Future, “[s]tudents may have accumulated plenty of factual or subject-matter knowledge; but they have not learned to think in a disciplined manner.”

Beginning in the 2007-08 school year and continuing in earnest this year, the Lovett middle school faculty is focusing on what a 21st century learning environment looks like and what outcomes we should expect from our students. As we develop a more ubiquitous computing environment and navigate a networked world of information abundance, we are examining what we teach, how we teach, and how we assess the work. What demonstrates learning? What is the role of the student? The teacher? Technology?

Check out the following video, produced by a small team of faculty along with Owen Matthews, Middle School Technology Coordinator, and Laura Deisley, Technology Consultant. Presented to a group of 20 leading independent schools in the Southeast-including Trinity, Westminster, Woodward, and Holy Innocents- the video demonstrates the hard work our faculty and students are doing to “understand the shift” and begin the process of learning to thrive in a highly networked culture.

Find more videos like this on Lovett Video Archive