Great Education in the 21st Century
Hey Everyone - so this is my 'take' on 21st Century learning with an Early Intervention twist
Enjoy
"In short, there is no evidence that pressuring children to read at five improves their later reading, and much concern that it is damaging. There is now a call for much rigorous education for young children. This implies additional hours of didactic instruction and testing. What we really need is a more vigorious education that meets young children's needs and prepares them for the 21st century, which is often described as a century of imagination and creativity. The children are ready. Are we? - Joan Almon (Co-founder 'Alliance for Childhood) Reading at five, why? 2013
Response to reading - Building Learning Power - Guy Claxton
Today as I drove my children to school my 13 year old asked me why do teachers need to test everything we do it just takes the fun out of it. By 'it' I assumed that she was referring to learning. She went on to state that school was a complete waste of her valuable time, they should start school at 8 and finish at 2.30 - then I could go to the track, do my music and spend time with my friends cause who wants to do that in the morning anyway and do you know how much stuff you can learn on the computer...
My 15 year old asked 'What was the point of the NAPLAN test?' Will it go into recess time? and now I will miss my double elective music. Fortunately for me it was now time for them to get out of the car and I did not really need to give my opinion on the subject.
Do we need to rethink assessment - 'Schools are seen as failing to equip young people with the ability to learn for life rather than for exams' - Claxton.
Claxton states that the root of education is what society provides young people with, in order to be able to live a fulfilling, enjoyable and responsible life. The world is now changing at such as rapid rate that we no longer know what knowledge and/or skills our young people will need to acquire in order to cope with the demands of our future communities. My question is 'what skills or qualities are considered to be essential in the creation of lifelong learners and what scale or how do we assess each child's progression toward the development of these. and Are we actually taking the fun out of something we are trying to foster?