Mapping Educational Excellence

What is a world-class education and how can Scarsdale provide one to its students? That was the topic of discussion at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night October 11, when researchers from Columbia University presented their findings in an ongoing study of learning at some highly successful schools all over the world.

Sheridan Blau and Deborah Sawch from Columbia University Teacher’s College discussed the work they have been engaged in over the last three years in six countries to observe, evaluate and assess how critical and creative thinking are taught around the globe. The study involves collaboration with schools in Australia, Singapore, Canada and Scarsdale, where genuine, authentic learning is already taking place. The work will be expanded to Finland and Shanghai– where students are top scorers on international academic tests.

Speaking for the research team, Debra Sawch explained the progression of the team’s work. In 2009-10, researchers visited the Scarsdale schools to document initiatives in the Scarsdale Education for the Future. They observed classes and spoke with teachers and evaluated direct instruction, ethical thinking, perceptual thinking, critical thinking and creative thinking in all grades.

In the next phase of the study, researchers identified and visited successful schools in Toronto, Perth, Australia and Singapore where they observed science and English classes in grade K-12. They spoke to teachers at a mix of public and independent schools and looked at how students were taught to interpret, analyze, synthesize, apply and evaluate. They even examined how students tolerate ambiguity and take risks. During this phase the interviewed teachers to discern best practices, and observed and recorded.

What did these high performing schools have in common? Here is what researchers found these schools shared:

• Student autonomy
• Significant investment in teacher development
• Clear communication of school’s mission
• Curriculum and program aligned with mission
• Cross-grade and cross-disciplinary focus on real world problem solving
• Extracurricular activities to foster learning and global citizenship

In the next phase, Scarsdale will audit all of the critical thinking activities that are taking place within the district and decide the best way to document this information and share it with the other schools in the study. Administrators and teachers will seek to develop relationships with their international partners and look at the best way to collaborate with them on successful teaching strategies. Administrators hope that this work will become a model for other districts – similar to Scarsdale’s experience with Singapore Math, which is now under consideration by many other schools.

All the BOE members were very impressed with the research results and appeared proud to be part of a district that is setting new standards in education. It is remarkable that this groundbreaking research is being undertaken at a time when test results have superseded the learning process – and budget cuts threaten educational innovation.

Speaking for the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools, Edgewood resident Moira Crouch provided further validation for the study in her comments at the meeting. Referring to the tax cap which could cut funding for forward-thinking initiatives like these, she told the Board that the Coalition will support a budget to fund the existing program and also vowed to marshal votes for the super majority that will be necessary to override the 2% tax cap.