Edu 650 - Week 5 Final Project

Different School Models
Compare and Contrast the Two Schools

I had the opportunity to interview two teachers from a charter school and a magnet
cluster school. Both schools are two minority schools working to ensure teaching and learning
that encourage and promote learning in low income communities. Magnet cluster school is a
specialized neighborhood school that has an attendance boundary and accepts students who live
within that boundary. Magnet cluster schools also focus their curriculum on one of four areas:
fine/ performing arts, world language, International Baccalaureate Primary or Middle Years, or
technology (Office of Access and Enrollment, 2015). New Sullivan Elementary School is a fine
and performing arts school that aims to emphasis core subjects that will boast the educational
development of the children, the school, and the community. The school also focuses on attempt
to prepare and compete in a global 21st century era. UNO Charter School Network seeks to
redefine the culture and expectations of public education, especially among minority students
(UNO, 2015). The curriculum at UNO focuses around a balanced reading instruction to ensure
all students master fundamental skills and they develop math skills through a program called
Saxon Mathematics. UNO-Sandra Cisneros is a charter school that targets the Hispanic
community to address local issues such as prevalent street violence and overcrowding in
schools. For nearly three decades UNO has been challenging Hispanics to play active roles in the
development of a vital American community (UNO, 2015).
Information from the Interviews: Chart
Type of School
William K. New
UNO Charter School
Differences/
Sullivan Elementary
(Sandra Cisneros
Similarities identified
School
Elementary)
between schools/
Magnet Cluster
Public Charter School
Points to consider.
Magnet cluster
School
school is a specialized
neighborhood school
that has an attendance
boundary and accepts
students who live
within that boundary.
Magnet cluster
schools also focus
their curriculum on
one of four areas: fine/
performing arts, world
language,
International
Baccalaureate Primary
or Middle Years, or
technology (Office of
Access and
Enrollment, 2015).
UNO Charter School

Network seeks to
redefine the culture
and expectations of
public education,
especially among
minority students
Total Population/
Demographics
523 Students
Demographics ?
Asian
546 Students
Demographics ?
Asian
0.0%
Black
0.0%
Black
75.9%
Hispanic
22.2%
98.7%
White
1.0%
Other
0.5%
Other
1.0%
Statistics ?
Elementary School is
a neighborhood school
0.4%
Hispanic
White
(UNO, 2015).
New Sullivan
0.4%
Statistics ?
that targets children in

that select
neighborhood first and
then branches out. The
Low Income
98.1%
Low Income
98.9%
Diverse Learners
20.3%
Diverse Learners
9.0%
Limited English
10.5%
Limited English
50.5%
Mobility Rate ?
NOT ENOUGH DATA
Mobility Rate ?
NOT ENOUGH DATA
Americans and
Chronic Truancy ?
NOT ENOUGH DATA
Chronic Truancy ?
NOT ENOUGH DATA
Hispanics. UNO-
(Chicago Public Schools,
(Chicago Public Schools,
2015)
2015)
majority of their
school is African
Sandra Cisneros is a
charter school that
targets the Hispanic
community to
address local issues
such as prevalent
street violence and
overcrowding in
schools. For nearly
three decades UNO
has been challenging
Hispanics to play
active roles in the
development of a vital
American community
(UNO, 2015).
Student to Teacher
Varies Between
32 students 2 teachers
Ratio
Classrooms
(this particular
Key Issues Facing
Ivan Danzy (Physical
classroom)
Summer Butler (6th
Both teachers struggle
Education teacher)
grade teacher) states
with different things. I
states, the students
the issues that she has
interviewed a Physical
will to learn, sense of
are, large
Education teacher and
entitlement, and
classrooms, social
a Sixth Grade teacher
parent support are
emotional, and
to distinguish the
his key issues.
economic factor that
dynamics between the
affect classroom
two. Without the
performance and
proper tools and
endurance. She also
resources teachers
states that the political
cannot fully do their
climate of the
jobs. When taken to a
education system is
level where you have
another issue.
to not only teach but

create a curriculum
that targets all
learning styles it is
important to have the
Role of Technology
st
21 Century Skills
Technology is used as
Technology plays a
tools needed.
Technology plays
a source of research
major role in 21st
roles in both
for children to do
century classrooms
educational
projects. The other
today. This district
classrooms. When you
use of technology that
paid for their teachers
examine deeper, UNO
is performed is using
to attend a Google
uses technology for
media sources to
classroom conference
advanced learning.
educate children.
in Ohio for a weekend
Majority of their
to learn how to
teaching and learning
incorporate and
is used through
meaningfully use
technology. They use
technology.
things such as Khan
Ivan Danzy states,
Summer Butler states,
Academy and IXL.

Teachers should be
that he does not know
21st century skills are
using technology to
how to identify 21st
higher academic
process data and
century skills in
(common core)
report result and
comparison to an
knowledge that
synthesize that to
academic teacher. He
incorporates broad use impact instructions.
utilizes 21st century
of technology. It
While both teachers
skills within his
involves higher order
use technology, they
classroom for children thinking. It is not just
target childrens
to research only.
learning differently.
using computers but

using computers to
gather, evaluate, and
use information.
Summary that Identifies the Implications Gleaned

I interviewed a sixth grade teacher, Summer Butler and a physical education teacher, Ivan
Danzy to learn the difference between not only the different types of schools but also to learn the
difference between an academic approach and a physical education environment. I wanted to
learn the different dynamics in both classroom environments. I learned with the Physical
Education teacher that while they do have access to technology, they have limited use. His
curriculum is student based off of the desire of the students. Mr. Danzy teaches by small groups
where student learn from one another and he facilitates. When Mr. Danzy first started working in
his field as a physical education teacher he had to learn how to incorporate math, science, and
other core academics into his classroom. He now has to learn how to balance the teaching of
physical education to that of 21st century learning. Summer Butler, a 6th grade teacher, on the
other hand is constantly learning how to advance her curriculum of 21st century skills. Mrs.
Butlers classroom is interactive, small groups, and longer blocks of instruction. She teaches 2
hour blocks of different subjects and majority of their learning is on the computer. She learns and
gathers information about her students progress through their online submissions.
My implications for my own teaching and learning are quite similar to that of both
teachers. I am currently a toddler teacher but if given the opportunity to work in a higher grade I
would follow objectives and outcomes. Instructional objectives are clear, concise statements
regarding the skills that students are expected to perform after a unit of instruction. It is
important to set different objectives for students to target and adjust throughout the year
according to the students progress. They provide direction for selecting instructional content
and prioritizing which skills must be developed before others can learn (Newman, 2013).
Technology plays a crucial role in supporting schools on realizing the desirable learning
goals, learning process and learning outcomes. Learners in school education nowadays have
many channels to access digital resources and use digital ways of communication to connect with
peers for eLearning. This exposes learners to many opportunities for applying 21st century skills
in the technology-supported learning process (Cheung Kong, Wai-Chan, Griffin, Hoppe,
Huang, , Kitt Looi, Milrad, Norris, Nussbaum, Sharples, Winnie So, Soloway, & Yu, 2014).
The areas of knowledge that I plan to explore is learning about the new online resources present
in todays classrooms. I have heard of Khan Academy because that is what I used myself in
preparation for a test but the other resources such as IXL, Newsla, actively Learning, and
EdPuzzle are new tools to me. Learners will generate learning outcomes in terms of both
domain knowledge and 21st century skills in the learning process. Research community needs to
investigate the effective ways to assess 21st century skills on top of domain knowledge at
different stages of such learning process, in order to support K-12 schools on the appropriate and
simultaneous measurement of learners knowledge and skills development (Cheung Kong, Wai-
Chan, Griffin, Hoppe, Huang, , Kitt Looi, Milrad, Norris, Nussbaum, Sharples, Winnie So,
Soloway, & Yu, 2014).
Some of the issues that I have in my classroom are finding curriculum ideas that are
developmentally appropriate for my age group. I work with toddlers, so when it comes to
planning I have to face the reality that even though I think my children should be learning
particular subjects such as alphabets and numbers because of guidelines and state standards are
not developmentally appropriate. I also have to learn that there will be students with different
levels of motivation, different interest and varying learning styles. There are key approaches and
concepts that can be used along the way that make the meeting of students needs manageable,
realistic, and practical (Newman, 2013).
If I were the teacher in Mr. Danzys classroom, I would prioritize my work by finding
ways to incorporate all subjects into my classroom through sports and learning about health. I
would also discuss setting up blocks where I can use the computer lab to provide children with a
hands-on approach to learning. Mr. Danzys approach is to encourage and force children to take
responsibility for their actions and their work. In a way, I agree but I do believe that children
should have both extrinsic and intrinsic motivators that provide them the opportunity to be their
own motivators and take interest in their work but also provide teacher-directed instruction for
their success. In Mrs. Butlers class, I believe I retained valuable information from her. She
prioritized her work that allows for different levels and approaches to teaching and learning.
Technology is the key to Mrs. Butlers classroom and I learned about new programs to enhance
the childrens learning.

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Different School Models

Compare and Contrast the Two Schools

Information from the Interviews: Chart

UNO Charter School

Public Charter School

UNO Charter School

that targets children in

(Chicago Public Schools,

(Chicago Public Schools,

Key Issues Facing

Ivan Danzy (Physical

Both teachers struggle

grade teacher) states

with different things. I

states, the students

the issues that she has

will to learn, sense of

Education teacher and

a Sixth Grade teacher

parent support are

his key issues.

economic factor that

dynamics between the

two. Without the

proper tools and

endurance. She also

states that the political

cannot fully do their

jobs. When taken to a

level where you have

to not only teach but

major role in 21st

projects. The other

today. This district

classrooms. When you

use of technology that

paid for their teachers

examine deeper, UNO

uses technology for

in Ohio for a weekend

teaching and learning

technology. They use

things such as Khan

Ivan Danzy states,

Summer Butler states,

Academy and IXL.

that he does not know

21st century skills are

how to identify 21st

process data and

report result and

incorporates broad use impact instructions.

utilizes 21st century

While both teachers

skills within his

involves higher order

use technology, they

classroom for children thinking. It is not just

using computers but