Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Today is about education

Today is not about math anxiety but about education



20th Century Classroom vs. the 21st Century Classroom 



Time-based
Outcome-based

Focus:  memorization of discrete facts
Focus:  what students Know, Can Do and Are Like after all the details are forgotten.

Lessons focus on the lower level of Bloom’s Taxonomy – knowledge, comprehension and application.
Learning is designed on upper levels of Blooms’ – synthesis, analysis and evaluation (and include lower levels as curriculum is designed down from the top.)

Textbook-driven
Research-driven

Passive learning
Active Learning

Learners work in isolation – classroom within 4 walls
Learners work collaboratively with classmates and others around the world – the Global Classroom

Teacher-centered:  teacher is center of attention and provider of information

Student-centered:  teacher is facilitator/coach
Little to no student freedom
Great deal of student freedom

“Discipline problems" – educators do not trust students and vice versa.  No student motivation.
No “discipline problems” – students and teachers have mutually respectful relationship as co-learners; students are highly motivated.

Fragmented curriculum
Integrated and Interdisciplinary curriculum

Grades averaged
Grades based on what was learned

Low expectations
High expectations – “If it isn’t good it isn’t done.”  We expect, and ensure, that all students succeed in learning at high levels.  Some may go higher – we get out of their way to let them do that.

Teacher is judge.  No one else sees student work.
Self, Peer and Other assessments.  Public audience, authentic assessments.

Curriculum/School is irrelevant and meaningless to the students.
Curriculum is connected to students’ interests, experiences, talents and the real world.

Print is the primary vehicle of learning and assessment.
Performances, projects and multiple forms of media are used for learning and assessment

Diversity in students is ignored.
Curriculum and instruction address student diversity

Literacy is the 3 R’s – reading, writing and math
Multiple literacies of the 21st century – aligned to living and working in a globalized new millennium.

Factory model, based upon the needs of employers for the Industrial Age of the 19th century.  Scientific management.

Global model, based upon the needs of a globalized, high-tech society.
Driven by the NCLB and standardized testing mania.

Standardized testing has its place.  Education is not driven by the NCLB and standardized testing mania.




No comments:

Post a Comment