It is time for a change! I have said this for a long time. How many times have we, as teachers, heard that learning must be authentic? Every year, our schools go into testing mode. We spend so much time preparing for the test then taking the test. How much authentic learning has taken place? How many high level critical skills have been taught or used? It is time for change.
We need to embed the 21st century skills into our daily curriculum and teach our students the higher level, critical thinking skills all through the year along with our core standards. Memorizing alone does not work. Not to mention, is boring. Students need to have the hands on approach. They need to be motivated to learn. Having students use their creativity along collaborating and communicating with others motivates them. They in develop problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, become self-directed and in turn become accountable for their learning.
If students are motivated and enjoy what they are learning, students are going to achieve excellence. We read this in our article, 21st Century Skills: Will Our Students Be Prepared?, where Ms.Salpeter highlighted a number of schools that were taking these kinds of approaches, getting students motivated through authentic learning and their test scores were consistent or improving. This was proof that authentic learning was working.
First we start by how we are teaching and we change how we are assessing. I liked how Ken Kay said it, "We have moral responsibility of making sure all children are able to master these skills in the safety net of our classrooms. We need to help them use the tools to be competitive and collaborative so they can compete with global markets". This has a been an ongoing theme throughout this course and will continue to be until all schools, educators, administrators and school board members get the message. It is time for change!
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about the fuss we make with the PSSA's or standardized testing in general. How cool would it be if we could some how design hands-on learning centers or workshops at the end of each school year in which administrators or state officials could come in and observe the learning and doing that takes place. Wouldn't this be sufficient in determining if a school is making Adequate Yearly Progress? Wouldn't this show a curricular and real-world connection? And at the same time we could show-off our student talents in creativity, innovation, skills with technology, critical thinking, communicating and collaboration? I think this would involve that "authentic learning" you discussed and would also motivate all of our students to participate and be a successful 21st century learner. Just a thought! Maybe if I make it big someday and have a voice I can suggest this hands-on learning and collaborative form of assessment. I'm sure it would take less stress off of students, teachers, parents and administrators and open more doors for exploring and learning- which would in turn raise those "test scores" or knowledge levels. Just a thought!
Lauren
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI loved your thinking and totally agree with the fact that some teachers just need to move on. We can't keep teaching and assessing our students in "ancient" ways. We like the times, need to adapted,change and move on.
I am so frustrated this year because it was my 1st year with the dreaded "test." I was SO frustrated! I felt like my ability to teach was just cut off. I felt like a robot and my kids didn't really get anything out of it. Total waste! It wasn't until I started to break away and use a great educational site I found toward the end of my prep that I think my kids really started to learn. The whole process is horrible! Horrible for us and the kids. Administration needs to realize it is time for a change.