In every classroom at Science Leadership Academy, the school's core values are prominently displayed on large posters:
inquiry
research
collaboration
presentation
reflection
and hence all work done by students and teachers is based on these core values.
Likewise, in every classroom at SLA, the essential questions for each grade (not each course--each grade) are displayed. The 9th grade questions center around the concept of identity, the 10th around systems, the 11th around change, with seniors pursuing independent "capstone" projects.
These two simple lenses--of core values and thematic grade-level essential questions--provide clarity and purpose to the students and the teachers. They allow for student-centered learning. They allow for and encourage interdisciplinary projects and collaboration among the faculty.
Imagine what this could do for BBA. We must distill our statements of philosophy into core beliefs, and consider how the UbD work each department is doing might merge into connected understandings and essential questions we can all share. I'm inspired to get this happening.
I like how the core values are short and to the point.
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