Rethinking Learning for the
21st century
The mission of Cohort 21 is to build a community of passionate CIS Ontario educators who are interested in refining and redesigning their practice through the exploration of new pedagogies, ideas and tools.
Your First Step
Registration for Cohort 21 opens in May. CIS Ontario Schools can submit educators from any division, department or role. The Cohort 21 experience runs from October to April. It is made up of four face to face sessions inter-connected by rich online discussion and supported by our passionate team of volunteer facilitators and coaches.
May - June
Building Community
The first face-to-face session is dedicated to building relationships. It is here that we setup the framework and mindset for the year. This session is also about professional learning networks and the tools that enable them. Participants walk away with a new toolkit and community with whom to connect, collaborate and learn.
October
Design Thinking
It is during the 2nd session that the “Action Plan” is launched and innovation begins. Through rich Design Thinking protocols participants are asked to think deeply about their practice and identify a challenge that needs addressing. The day concludes when everyone publishes their thinking to their Cohort 21 blog to allow for personalized feedback and support.
November
Innovation
Each year the third face to face session is held at a non-school location. Cohort 21 has formed unique partnerships with many different start ups and learning organizations. Throughout the day members will hear from special guests, thought leaders and Cohort 21 alumni to help ignite inspiration and continue to support the Action Plan process.
January
The End of the Beginning
The final face-to-face session is a celebration of learning. Cohort members connect in small groups to share and reflect on their Action Plan journeys and commit to bringing their learning back to their own schools. The day ends just as the Cohort 21 experience began: with a commitment to the ongoing process of refining practice and exploring new pedagogies and tools.
April
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CIS Ontario schools participating
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Member Blog Posts
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Visitors from around the world
Member Posts from across the Cohort 21 Network
Re-thinking How I Teach Math. Part 1: The question, the rationale and student opinion.
In part 1, I will focus on the student side and changes that have been occurring in my own practice. In part 2, I will
Action Plan Action - December Goal Setting
Season 8 Members, Hard to believe that two short weeks ago we all were gathered at Branksome Hall for our 2nd face to face session.
Falling in Love with Design Thinking
Last week, I had the opportunity to provide some feedback to Stanford's d.school about my journey as a "Design-Thinking Educator". Funny thing is that I
27. Teachers who run (a mini-series) with May Lu
How might teachers find that sweet spot between intensity and ease in their own lives, as well as how we program our students? In this
Why Facts Matter... Book Review: Factfulness (H. Rosling)
Congratulations to "Growing Success"! It is celebrating it's 10th anniversary next year, but how many will show up to the party? There will be COPs
Caution: U-Turn Ahead
I left today's second F2F session with a specific question: How might we develop an inquiry-based unit which allows students to co-create academically rigorous success
Part 1: I'm smiling, I'm working, but I'm not the same.
Life-changing experiences often take the shape of momentous occasions, grand gestures, and calculated risks. For me, the life-altering experience that changed it all was my
The elephant in the (class)room
When I applied to Cohort 21, it was with the initial curiosity of exploring one of the following concepts: Balancing the push for open-ended, inquiry
The Magic Number
I didn't quite follow the instructions. BUT! I felt a little bit of magic in the air, followed it, and am pretty excited to see
Teaching Tomorrow for Financially Literate Women
Go off and interview those whom your action plan will benefit is what I was told…..so I did. As I began each interview with my
The validity of process over product?
Walking into York School in September I was a bit apprehensive. What was this Cohort 21 anyway? The day wound up flying by and by
Feedback that Fosters a Growth Mindset
Reflecting on my first face to face session with #cohort21 I remember feeling a little uncomfortable at first. I didn’t know anyone that was going
Updating My Pedagogical Worldview
Hello Bloggerverse! My focus for action this school year is around the planning and design of MYP Design at my school. In recent years design
Find out if I figured out how to blog(ish)! My Power of Three Reflection.
I just realized that this, in fact, is my SECOND post. People, this is why I gave myself a 3 out of 10 on the
Students Create Their Own Math Problems? You Betcha!
I’m trying something new with this post. I’m going to try to keep this short and sweet. Get in and out quick. Get right to
26. Deskless French learning with Richard Smith
How could getting rid of the desks in your classroom, promote deep learning for your students? Today we have Richard Smith on the show to
The Power of Three (Part 1)
What a great first face to face session with #cohort21. The room was filled passionate teachers with one common goal; bettering the education world to
25. Growing up trans with Kai Cheng Thom
How might schools support trans students to ensure that all young people can reach their fullest potential? Today Kai Cheng Thom sits down to discuss
How Might We Start a School?
For those of you unfamiliar with the brainstorming and iterative process known as Design Thinking, one of its most beneficial takeaways comes in the formation
What is the Impact of Being Female and Financially Literate?
Approaching this next step in my Cohort 21 adventure was, to say the least overwhelming! I had such a broad topic, but great ideas (or
student beta testing - gulp!
Currently I am beta testing my Cohort21 side hustle; gameof5.com with all 5 of my classes. My early impression is that students seem engaged by
Season 8 - Setting the 2nd Face to Face up for success
Season 8 Cohort, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope this email finds you rested and rejuvenated after a well deserved long-weekend. It is hard to believe that
Sub-2: Closing the Praxis Gap
At ~04:15 EST on Saturday, 12 October, Eliud Kipchoge crossed the finish line of the Ineos 1:59 challenge in Vienna, having completed a marathon (26.2mi/42.2km)
24. Teachers who run (a mini-series) with Tim Somerville
Welcome to the second episode in the teachers who run mini-series. Today I talk to Tim Somerville about the many surprising overlaps in his practice
