Some of the many testimonials on returning-
“I will begin our journey on Monday. Excited, apprehensive…. I can’t wait. Thanks again for a well planned and executed trip. I will be forever grateful.”
“It’s only been a couple of days since the tour but I can already tell that the tour will be transformational in terms of its impact on my teaching. This is an excellent initiative by the Lutheran system and demonstrates an outstanding commitment to learning and teaching in Australia.”
“I’ve now had time to breath and reflect a little on the empowering, inspiring and life changing experience our recent California Contemporary Learning Tour gave me.. I feel extremely grateful and proud as an educator to have shared in such a learning experience through rich collaboration and connections with fellow colleagues.”
“Thank you for planning and full filling such an outstanding tour. Always mindful of everyone and attention to detail in the logistics, ensured the tour ran super smoothly, also being guided through cities, transported and extra fun out of hours activities which strengthen greater bonds and friendships. It was truly appreciated.”
“I heard –I can guarantee you this tour will change the way you think. What I can’t guarantee you is it will change your practice, that is up to you!–This really spoke to me, and is entirely true. The tour totally changed my way of thinking for myself as an educator but also for my students. It is now up to me to make that change. What I love from this tour was a sense of empowerment to make change, but even give it a go.”
“A number of my school colleagues and central office played a part in planning and supporting this rich learning experience, which I can humbly say has been the absolute highlight of my teaching career. I’m also grateful and excited through the connections that have been made with colleagues internationally and the continued learning and correspondence that can take place. And so this next season of change for my students, our school community and myself as an educator, is up to me. What dreams, visions and continual improved practice, will come to be?”
“Words of thanks for the tour – fantastic – of course processing all the info and ideas will take a while – but as you say, it’s the conversations that are very exciting.”
“Fantastic tour – I learnt so much about schooling in agile spaces and flexible teaching for when our Kindy children move on to the next stage. It was so affirming to see that early childhood is in fact well on the journey and that we are doing it well.”
“I knew it would be great but underestimated it’s impact! Thanks for focussing on the importance to have this available for many”
“The tour was so affirming for me… being around so many like-minded educators and experiencing and discussing ways in which to move our own schools forward to benefit the students in our care was such a powerful thing. It was the perfect mix of observing, questioning, experiencing and reflecting which was just the perfect recipe for great learning to occur!”
“I came on this tour looking for curriculum improvements and came away with a greater understanding of how important relationships are in everything we do. It was inspiring to see students so engaged in their learning and able to articulate their learning.”
“A truly amazing learning tour Thanks for creating such a memorable and life changing experience”
“Such a Fabulous time of Learning”
“It has been eyeopening, rich and fun and can’t wait to get back and start transforming”
“Thankyou for providing such amazing opportunities”
“Thanks for the amazing opportunity to visit passionate educators, a very thought provoking trip”
“Very much looking forward to these wonderful Lutheran Teachers I have met on this learning tour.”
“Was an incredible learning experience. Learnt so much about contemporary pedagogy but also made incredible connections with other educators. Definitely made a massive impact on the way I want to teach”
This year’s California Contemporary Learning Tour was even more engaging and enriching for all. The program, visits and immersions were crafted to support a contemporary transformation of schooling. The informal moments enabling greater collaboration and constructive cross-school scheming also was a valuable gem.
The Tour began with a group dinner in Old San Diego Town at a Mexican Cantina. The night enables introductions and connections to start forming.
High Tech High – Immersion
The next two days which was the main focus of the Learning Tour involved a crafted immersion across many schools of High Tech High from Chula Vista (Near Mexico) to Point Loma in San Diego.
Formal Agenda of the two days at High Tech High – Click Here
Structured Events to engage with Student Ambassadors, Classrooms, Leadership, Teachers, Founders, CEOs, Discussion Forums, PBL Learning classes, culture development and more was enacted. Informal flexible wanderings also occurred throughout the campuses.
We were fortunate to have the original co-founders of High Tech High schools together for a session! – No other external group has had the privilege of these two being in the same room for a fireside chat. Rob Riordan (GSE Harvard) and Larry Rosenstock (CEO HTH). Truly Inspirational. Even the HTH staff were amazed to see these two visionaries together due to their busy schedules on east and west coasts. Rob is also the President of the Grad School of Ed. for HTH. The 32 Lutheran Education Adventurers are the only group to have had this privilege!
There were many learnings and realisations over the time at High Tech High including the rich mature development of students who value and manage their own learning through authentic Project Based Learning and the rich development of soft skills. The strong relationships involving trust and respect around common goals was evident throughout the many interactions and engagements we witnessed amongst all members of the community. There was a consistent language of learning used across all schools and 20 years of application and modifying was evident. There are definite non-negotiables for any educator choosing not to engage in the HTH way however the recruitment process is authentic and comprehensive. HTH again displayed the Graduate School of Education for incoming teachers, leaders and creators of similar schools around the world. HTH is one of two schools in the USA that are allowed to implement a Graduate School of Education. Other highlighted features by the Lutheran Educators were the emphasis on student voice, simple re-configurable learning environments, high level of interpersonal maturity by students engaging with us and the large emphasis on exhibiting student projects in a durable way such that process and product can be displayed for up to 2 years in transit areas across the schools.
Stanford University – dSchool, Prof Carol Dweck and Prof Jo Boaler
During a day at Stanford University we were able to tour the highly acclaimed dSchool and engage in a popular Design Thinking Workshop with Ariel Raz – K-12 Learning Experience Leader. After an awe inspiring wander around Stanford University, we were again privileged to sit with Prof Carol Dweck and Prof Jo Boaler for a fireside chat. Highly inspirational and and highly engaging as these two globally acclaimed change agents in education in a contemporary world sparked questions and fruitful debate.
Monte Vista Christian School
We were welcomed again to spend a day at this beautiful school amongst the Redwoods in Watsonville near Santa Cruz. Not only did we see and hear about innovative pedagogies, environments and leadership but we experienced a warmth and presence as always when we visit which gave us a strong sense of belonging. We were treated to what a strong sense of education mission can be and how relationships are paramount to a rich supportive culture. It is one school where I always feel a little emotional to leave.
Design Tech High School
We briefly visited Design Tech High School in the Oracle Precinct at Redwood which is a new location for the California Learning Tour. This school was a knockout as we could have spent days delving more deeply. The school which was created by the Oracle Foundation is a Design Thinking Learning Driven School. Pedagogy, Leadership, Relationships, Culture, Student Ownership for Learning, Development of Soft Skills, Innovative Environments, flexible schedules all shone through during our visit. The highlight was the session with a number of students on a panel. Our jaws dropped when we heard and engaged with students who were so focussed on relationships with their school and teachers as well as their whole authentic outlook on learning, life and service to the world.
Google HQ San Francisco
We were treated again to an in-depth contemporary workplace tour of Google HeadQuarters San Francisco. We observed multi-modal, activity based innovative environments allowing for neighborhoods of teams and much flexibility with comfort to achieve your goals. Supporting services such as comfortable cafes, secret rooms, pods, gyms, hair dressers etc formed part of the ecosystem of Google HQ.
Delancey Street Foundation
We were again deeply affected by the work of the Delancey Street Organisation (Largest Private nfp Social Service Organisation) on the California Contemporary Learning Tour. Three of the leaders Marcus, Stephen and Dominique spoke from the heart of how Delancey St has changed their lives for the better and how they give back to change the lives of others at Delancey Street. There is a beautiful link of authentic experiential education making a huge difference for these guys and others in building their dignity and respectful relationships with each other and across the city. They and Sheila supported and catered another beautiful final dinner which everyone appreciated greatly.
Of course throughout the learning tour there were also many Dinners and activities after hours which built fellowship, collegiality and friendships.
We were constantly reminded about the end-game with a Contemporary Transformation of Schooling!
Passing Tests or getting a good ATAR/Qual. is now only a small part of the requirements of an exiting student for TODAY!
A number of us were simply blown away by k-12 students during the California Learning Tour at High Tech High Schools, MonteVista Christian and Design Tech High. The students could clearly articulate and model how they are acquiring highly rich and developed Contemporary Soft Skills to take on the world. A school which enables this, needs a transformation of traditional models, visionary leadership, supportive trusted cultures, rich relationships, courage and determination. We were able to examine these facets.
And we were reminded that – ALL THE ABOVE DOES NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT!