New Literacies, New Complexities: Professional Development with Chinese Teachers Hiller A. Spires, Ph.D. Professor & Senior Research Fellow North Carolina State University

Meixun Zheng Research Assistant & Interpreter November, 2010

________________________________________________________________________ Complexity Science and Educational Research 2010 Conference

•What does it mean to be literate and globally connected in the 21st century? • How do we design instruction that enables educators to cultivate new literacies for themselves as well as their students?

Image from COSN

China and America’s Education Policy “Implement quality education, hone students' sense of responsibility, their innovative spirit, and capacity to solve practical problems.”

“Transform schools to meet the demands of a new age.” ~ President Barack Obama

~ President Hu Jintao 

Image from COSN

Overview of Presentation I.      Summarize current research on Chinese and U.S. teachers  perceptions of new literacies. II. Describe first steps for a community of inquiry with Chinese  teachers. II.________________________________________________________________________ Analyze initial challenges through the lens of complexity. Complexity Science and Educational Research 2010 Conference

What are new literacies?

New literacies emerge from the theoretical and practical intersection of literacy, evolving technologies, and media.

http://newlit.org ________________________________________________________________________ Complexity Science and Educational Research 2010 Conference

Educational Challenges??

http://www.flickr.com/photos/circulating/254126209/sizes/m/

Spires, Morris, & Zhang, 2008 _______________________________________________________________

Complexity Science and Educational Research 2010 Conference

Spires, Morris & Zhang 2008

________________________________________________________________________ Complexity Science and Educational Research 2010 Conference

First Steps for a Community of Inquiry

_________________________________________________________________________ Complexity Science and Educational Research 2010 Conference

First Steps for a Community of Inquiry

_________________________________________________________________________ Complexity Science and Educational Research 2010 Conference

What is the process?

Teachers’ Content Knowledge – expertise in English, Physics,  Calculus, etc.

Inquire Collaborate Create

_________________________________________________ Complexity Science and Educational Research 2010 Conference

Project Based Inquiry (PBI) – process of inquiry in response to a  complex question, problem,  or challenge

Technology Tools – Audacity Animoto Flip Prezi Wikispaces Weebly Voki

Analyze Initial Challenges of Community of Inquiry Through the Lens of Complexity Theoretical Touchstones - A means for understanding change within complex social systems Davis & Sumara, 2006

- Community of inquiry from a complexity systems perspective Kennedy & Kennedy, 2010

Analyze Challenges Through the Lens of Complexity

• Autopoiesis • Noise • Redundancy • Feedback

References Barab, S. A. and D. Kirshner. 2001. Rethinking methodology in the learning sciences.  Journal of the Learning Sciences, 10 (1), 5‐15. Davis, B. & Sumara, D. (2006). Complexity and education: Inquiries into learning, teaching and  research. Mahway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Kennedy, N. & Kennedy, D. (2010).  Between chaos and entropy: Community of inquiry from a  systems perspective. Complicity: An International Journal of Complexity and Education, 7 (2),  1‐15. Leu, D. J., O’Byrne, W. I., Zawilinski, L., McVerry, J. G., & Everett‐Cacopardo, H. (2009). Comments  on Greenhow, Robelia, and Hughes: Expanding the new literacies conversation. Educational  Researcher, 38 (4), 264‐269. Spires, H.A. & Morris, G., & Zhang, J. (2009). New literacies and emerging technologies:  Perspectives from middle grade teachers in the US and China. Paper presented at the  American Education Research Association, San Diego, CA.

The future is already here-it’s just not evenly distributed. ~William

Gibson

Teacher Leaders Building A Community of Practice Around New Literacies How can we build a

Community of Practice at Beijing Royal School? \

Lave & Wenger. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press.

Teacher Leaders Building A Community of Practice •A joint enterprise understood and continually re-negotiated by its members. •Shared repertoire of resources (e.g., routines, sensibilities, language, styles, etc.) •Members are involved in a set of relationships over time. •Members focus on ideas and practices that matter to the them.

Teacher Leaders Building A Community of Practice Around New Literacies How can we build a

Community of Practice at Beijing Royal School? \

What are your ideas?