How students interact and integrate with each other is key to the culture that your school will have.

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Topic: Student Mix & Pedagogy

Email 4 (of 8)

How students interact and integrate with each other is key to the culture that your school will have.

We all carry with us unique beliefs, experiences, and history. Because of this, you should be aware that students will adapt to learning and teaching styles differently, and you must be prepared for that in your new school.

In the past, discriminatory practices, (intentional and unintentional) have been detrimental to students all around the nation. As you make your way through this email’s readings, keep in mind the different histories of harmful practices that have occurred and how you can do your best to prevent them from being fostered at your new school.

Weekly Lectures

Below is a preview of some of the additional readings, videos, comics, and other resources to enhance your learning regarding this email’s topic. You can review these materials in full by going to the course landing page.


Changing the Subject This video examines how the modern system of school subjects came about and is inherently flawed. Several ideas about how to change this problem are offered and discussed.		Plessy v. Ferguson A brief overview of the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld racial segregation in the United States, is given.

Brown v. Board Of Education An outline of the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which overturned racial segregation in the United States.		Student Mix Explained Different ways to integrate students and properly give equal education for all are discussed in this video. Issues like modern inequality based on income and different schools of thought on how to divide students in school are addressed.

Equity in Your Classroom We have a video from Jeff Robin, a founding art instructor at High Tech High. Jeff has created several animated videos that explore the philosophies behind the more complicated structures of our culture.		Pedagogy Explained The pedagogy of schools is explained. Specifically, what it is, the different kinds, how you can create the one that is best for your school, and how project-based learning fits into High Tech High’s pedagogy.

Student Project: Numeracy & Linguistics A kinetic typography video High Tech High 12th grade student, Calvin Brown, made for his senior exhibition. It was later displayed by Larry Rosenstock at a TEDx event in La Jolla, CA.		Choice and Diversity In this reading, Larry Rosenstock and Jean Kluver discuss the politics of school integration, and that institutions such as High Tech High show that choice and diversity do not have to be in conflict.

Weekly Activity

Activity: Student Mix Reflection

Instructions

Write a reflection that is two paragraphs or less about your proposal for a student mix regarding the school, pedagogy, and the connection between the two. Specifically answer what you think sets your idea apart from others.

Feedback (Optional)

If possible, find 1 or 2 peers to do a review of your work. Does your proposal make sense? Did you make any major mistakes in how you combined pedagogy and student mix?

Activity Models

Student Activity Model 1
If you need inspiration, look at the student models provided within the document above to see how others completed this assignment. These slides come from the final presentation of former participants of the New School Creation Course. They cover the Student Mix & Pedagogy sections of their presentation.

Student Activity Model 2
If you need inspiration, look at the student models provided within the document above to see how others completed this assignment. It contains a short clip from the final presentation of a former course participant. This video contains them discussing the plans they are making regarding student mix and pedagogy in their new school.

School Talk 3:
Student Mix and Pedagogy

During the original course run, Larry and Patrick hosted live weekly chats with thought leaders to address that Unit's theme. In this email’s talk, thought leaders discuss the importance of student mix & pedagogy.


	Video Version This is a video of the original talk as it occurred. It is a screen capture of a Google Hangouts conversation		Podcast Version This week's talk has also been converted into podcast form for you to listen to.

Next Steps

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