Learning and the Military School: Adapting to the 21st Century Landscape

1. Learning and the Military School: Presentation to the AMCSUS New Heads BG Douglas Murray, USAF (Ret) Chief Academic Officer/ Dean of Academics New Mexico Military Institute

2. AGENDA • THE 21st CENTURY LEARNING LANDSCAPE - The Challenge/Opportunity 2.HOW THE MILITARY SCHOOL RELATES TO THIS LANDSCAPE - The Response is the Learning Model 3. THE ROAD AHEAD - Recommendations From Chief Academic Officer

3. SYSTEMIC FACTORS IN A CHANGING WORLD “The shift from the Industrial Age is transforming our civilization. Vast economic, social, and political changes are already underway. . .Corporate downsizing, the increasing automation of the manufacturing and service sectors, the shift from mass to elite workforces, growing job insecurity, the widening gap between rich and poor, continued racial tensions, escalating crime, new patterns of immigration, an aging population, and the globalization of the economy are creating a host of new uncertainties and challenges for the American economy.” Jeremy Rifkin

4. Forces for Change 1. The globalization of all forms of production and distribution. 2.Climate change and all its implications 3. Demographic changes vis a vis an aging population, new forms of migration and immigration 4. More Diverse mix of social ethnic and religious backgrounds than ever in our history

5. Forces for Change (cont.) 5. The erosion of civic and political forums and platforms for regional problem solving 6. A growing disparity between those who have benefited from globalization and the “new economy” 7. An increasingly devise public discourse characterized by vast differences in experience/education

6. Changing Roles of Education Institutions designed in the post WWII era may no longer represent the constituencies who are need of education and training, the competencies that are demand in society and workplace, the teaching and mentoring expertise that is relevant to contemporary circumstances nor the ideal formatting and timing of educational services.

7. Shortcomings or Needs in American Education • Lack of creativity, innovation, self-discipline & organization • Ability to function as a team • Cross disciplinary knowledge • Communication skills • Analytical reasoning • Real world problem solving • Ethics and integrity • Soft skills and civic service • Growing gap between secondary/post secondary

8. 21st CENTURY ISSUES IN EDUCATION • Low Completion Rates • High Drop Out Rates • Affordability • High Levels of Remediation • Access/Diversity • Lack of Standards and Common Core State Standards • Increased Involvement in Education Policy by the Federal Government (over regulation) • Decrease in Student International Engagement • Deduction in Civic Education/Values • Man and the Second Machine Age • Proper Role of Technology • Change in Assessment of Students and Schools • Accountability • Decreasing Enrollments • Issues of Persistence, Completion and Graduation • Rising Student Debt & Defaults (average $37,000) • Corporate World Direct Involvement

9. “the organizational culture of education, which for the most part is very regimented. It’s organized a bit like an assembly line. Children are divided into age groups, for example, as if the most important thing they have in common is their date of manufacture. It’s done in schools for reasons of organizational efficiency, not for effective education.“ Sir Ken Robinson

10. General Martin Dempsey, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently said, “we need to inject chaos, foster creativity, and leverage technology to create a different learning model”. He goes on to say, “What we have right now in many cases are instructors who want to be the sage on the stage. I have the knowledge and you know nothing, so pay attention to my Power Point presentation and take notes….the new model is for the classroom to provide a kind of warehouse of tools and applications that the student can download and deliver themselves”.

11. RESPONSE • Learning Focused and Measurable Learning Outcomes • Student Rather than Instructor Based • Change Way to Assess Student Success • Change way to Evaluate the Learning Institutions • Learning is Constant, Time is Variable • Hands On vs Traditional Classroom Structure • Teacher as Mentor or Designer • Skill Development Over Content Knowledge • Build on Real World and Adult Connections • Project Based • Personalization/Customization • Flexible Learning Environments

12. THE PLACE OF THE MILITARY SCHOOL • What it is Not • What it is

13. View of an Educational Consultant “Military schools are structured programs that help underachieving students become productive and academically successful. These types of programs are not therapeutic and are not suggested for children with behavioral problems. The type of students who benefit from a strict military style programs are: • Underachievers • Loss of interest in school • Poor study habits • Breaking rules • Low self-esteem”

14. “Let it be clearly understood that if this is not a military school it is nothing. By this is meant not only the outward forms and visible signs of military government – the drills and parade – its tinsel and glare, but what is of more importance, the indoor government – the inner, private life,manners and habits of the cadet, the close, constant, kindly supervision over the cadet in every respect – checking him here, urging him there – in the privacy of his room , at his meals, in recitation or at drill – on duty – off duty – at work or play – is the spirit and purpose of [a] military school.” Colonel Robert S. Goss 1. Defining a Military School

15. A RIGOROUS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING INSTITUTION FOUNDED ON A VISION AND MISSION OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN A GLOBALLY INTERCONNECTED WORLD

16. Essential Elements of the Learning Model • A curriculum based upon the tenets of a liberal education

17. LIBERAL EDUCATION: An approach to (college) learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. This approach emphasizes broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g., science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth achievement in a specific field of interest. WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT: • Priority given to those who can innovate 95% • Think critically, communicate clearly, solve problems is more important than academic major 93% • Acquire broad knowledge in liberal arts and sciences regardless of major 80% • Ethical decision-making 64% Source AACU

18. Essential Elements of the Learning Model • A curriculum based upon the tenets of a liberal education • A learning and assessment system that focuses on developing the whole person – mind, body, and soul (character) – the foundation for a leader • Civic and global engagement and learning • Focus on character development • A pedagogy that integrates the three elements of learning – education, which is knowledge; training, which entails skills; and experience that puts both into practice

19. "A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy. A republic replied the Doctor if you can keep it.“ From the notes of Dr. James McHenry, one of Maryland's delegates to the Constitutional Convention as quoted from Ben Franklin • “Not a nation united by religion, ethnicity or race, it is by a set of ideas, values, principles, and a process of governing.” Condeleeza Rice

21. Military School Model Addresses Shortcomings or Needs in American Education 1. Emphasize and integrate teaching and learning across varied academic disciplines 2. Better address the use of technology to meet student learning challenges • Reduce, if not eliminate, the gap between secondary and post-secondary education • Support programs that redesign or expand the school schedule 5. Provide learning opportunities and services before and after school, and during the summer 6. Provide enrichment activities 7. Meet a need to produce evidence of effectiveness in improving learning outcomes for students 8. Maintain a qualified faculty to deliver the same quality of education to all students

22. RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRESIDENTS FROM CAO • Understand the curriculum and how it relates to mission • Be able to explain the role of academics/learning in a military school • Is it different than a non-military school? • A hybrid organization elements from public and military sectors of education • Be familiar with the three essential operations or systems of any learning institution • Learning, support, and accountability systems • What is the link to strategic planning? • Be acquainted with the accrediting agencies • Is there someone at your school who is an evaluator? • A matter of definition • Accreditation Primer

23. EDUSPEAK Civilian School Military School STRUCTURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

24. ACCREDITATION PRIMER: AREAS OF INTEREST • CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT • STANDARDS/CRITERIA • MISSION/PURPOSE • GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP • INTEGRITY/ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT • STUDENT LEARNING/ASSESSMENT/OUTCOME • TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS • RESOURCES/PLANNING/INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS • SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS/INTERVENE IN BEHALF OF STUDENTS • MEASURE SUCCESS/SELF-ASSESSMENT • COLLABORATION (PARENTS, FACULTY, STUDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, ALUMNI) • PERSISTENCE AND COMPLETION • DATA DRIVEN (COLLECT, ANALYZE, USE, CORRECT)

25. Promote a close, cooperative association between the Commandant and the Dean/CAO/Principal • Encourage your senior academic officer, Dean, Principal to participate in AMCSUS • Understand IPEDS/Importance of Data • Engage the faculty • Make the Faculty Senate or similar body an ally, not an enemy. Do you understand their role? • Ensure there is a faculty professional development program • Continuing education – make sure faculty stays current • Ascertain your faculty has a realistic and appropriate strategy for addressing all aspects of educational technology at your institution • Get a Vision Check

26. Attend at least one major/key academic conference, meeting, consortium, etc. a year • Establish and maintain a collaborative relationship, if not partnership, with the leadership of the primary, secondary, and/or post-secondary institutions in your area • Why they are partners, not competitors? • Keep current with the critical issues in education at local, state, and national levels • Do you know what CCSS or PARC is? • How will these issues/challenges impact your school and its mission? • Become familiar with your state’s educational hierarchy, even if a private school and participate in it • Focus on Completion/Readiness

27. THE MILITARY SCHOOL’S ROLEIN THE LEARNING ARENA It plays its role not by directly entering the policy arena but by doing each day what we do best and have been doing for more than 100 years. That role is to meet the learning needs of our cadets with an exceptional learning model founded on the tenets of a liberal education that helps shape the whole person, ensuring that each graduate is prepared to succeed at their next level of learning and inevitably become a leader serving others in whatever sector of society they enter. Our role, then, is one of example, yet also it is to reach out and share that others might adopt best practices from what we do. In that effort, our graduates are often our best ambassadors. Contextual intelligence alerts us that this role is more important than ever in light of the challenges this nation and our graduates will face in the near and long term. This role is our heritage! It must be our destiny!

28. Questions/Discussion