We all draw on our past when it comes to judging education. Better yet, we judge education by how well the children are doing. We want kids to be prepared to live successfully in the world when they become adults, and we expect schools to prepare them. Their world is the 21st Century.
The Internet Generation
Children in school today are part of the Internet Generation, or N-geners for short. What we need to be asking ourselves is if the schools of today are preparing this young Internet generation well enough to be successful in their future of tomorrow? Our society is no longer reliant on farming and industrial pursuits to be successful? What will be the defining aspects of the lives of the Internet Generation? What tools will they need to thrive in their world? It seems as though everyone has their own opinion, let us explore what the owners and managers in corporate America will be looking for from this generation.
In the article Rigor Redefined (2008), Tony Wagner interviewed many corporate CEOs to find out what they are looking for in todays workforce. Wagner was surprised at some of the answers he discovered to his questions. For example, the President of BOC Edwards indicated that what he was looking for first and foremost was someone to ask good questions. He stated that while they could always teach the technical stuff, it is very difficult to teach someone how to think and to ask good questions.
A great number of these high level managers shared a common desire to find employees able to cooperate as a team to talk over and solve the immediate problems their company face today. Educators need to understand these real world needs and prepare our students by providing the tools to help them contribute quickly in the real world. Provide real case studies and problems to solve and forget about standard worksheets that dont help the students think for themselves. If they have the opportunity to work in groups and present their findings in a real world way, they will be better prepared for the work force.
Redefine Rigor
It is critical that schools today review their current curriculums and modify them to meet the needs our children will have in the future. So often packaged curriculum materials are becoming the entire lesson plan, rather than a supplement for the teacher. And I am concerned that teachers have no need to consider the real world ramifications of a lesson because the entire plan is provided in Teachers Guides. It is also troubling that school districts are requiring teachers to report their lessons on weekly planning and pacing guides, making it difficult for a teacher to apply the lessons to the real world.
A favorable rapport between student and teacher is critical to the learning process. A student must feel that their teacher understands where they are coming from and how they will learn the best. Teachers can meet this goal best when they are able to provide relevant lesson plans that their students can relate to.
Technology
This is the internet generation. We need to find ways for students to use technology in their learning. It is natural to them, and we can introduce them to the many ways technology can be used for good. The use of smart boards, projectors for PowerPoint presentations, classroom response systems, and even cell phones may be in our future as teachers. Rather than resisting this trend, we must find ways to embrace it and further connect to the children of the Internet Generation.
Integrated Learning
To avoid the dry and uninteresting approaches found in packaged programs and planning and pacing guides, integrate reading and writing into rich content. Use social studies and science to promote and practice what was learned in reading and writing class.
The current trend toward curriculum narrowing in social studies and science is sad indeed. Transfer those skills students need to practice and integrate them into everything else you are doing. Without sufficient social studies and science instruction, we are leaving our students bereft of essential background knowledge upon which other knowledge can be built.
Many school districts have the added struggle of teaching children from poor families. Almost 17% of all school age children come from families existing below the poverty line. These children dont have the same opportunities as middle and upper class peers to gain background knowledge or vocabulary skills. A narrow curriculum focused only on tested subjects of reading, writing and math, rather than integrating secondary subjects such as social studies, science and the arts will only make these trends more noticeable.
Building of cultural literacy through social studies, science and the arts should become a mission for parents and teachers alike in order to provide all children a chance for a better life. It is a known fact that a person will learn something new much better if they have something on which to compare it with. School is often the best place to provide this knowledge, particularly for those students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Numerous studies have found that academic achievement translates to higher incomes, and that cultural literacy has a direct effect on a students academic achievement. To prepare students o the Internet Generation for the future they will face as adults in the 21st Century, educators must provide opportunities to expand the students stores of knowledge and cultural literacy, not just focus on the tested subjects of reading, writing and math.
The Internet Generation
Children in school today are part of the Internet Generation, or N-geners for short. What we need to be asking ourselves is if the schools of today are preparing this young Internet generation well enough to be successful in their future of tomorrow? Our society is no longer reliant on farming and industrial pursuits to be successful? What will be the defining aspects of the lives of the Internet Generation? What tools will they need to thrive in their world? It seems as though everyone has their own opinion, let us explore what the owners and managers in corporate America will be looking for from this generation.
In the article Rigor Redefined (2008), Tony Wagner interviewed many corporate CEOs to find out what they are looking for in todays workforce. Wagner was surprised at some of the answers he discovered to his questions. For example, the President of BOC Edwards indicated that what he was looking for first and foremost was someone to ask good questions. He stated that while they could always teach the technical stuff, it is very difficult to teach someone how to think and to ask good questions.
A great number of these high level managers shared a common desire to find employees able to cooperate as a team to talk over and solve the immediate problems their company face today. Educators need to understand these real world needs and prepare our students by providing the tools to help them contribute quickly in the real world. Provide real case studies and problems to solve and forget about standard worksheets that dont help the students think for themselves. If they have the opportunity to work in groups and present their findings in a real world way, they will be better prepared for the work force.
Redefine Rigor
It is critical that schools today review their current curriculums and modify them to meet the needs our children will have in the future. So often packaged curriculum materials are becoming the entire lesson plan, rather than a supplement for the teacher. And I am concerned that teachers have no need to consider the real world ramifications of a lesson because the entire plan is provided in Teachers Guides. It is also troubling that school districts are requiring teachers to report their lessons on weekly planning and pacing guides, making it difficult for a teacher to apply the lessons to the real world.
A favorable rapport between student and teacher is critical to the learning process. A student must feel that their teacher understands where they are coming from and how they will learn the best. Teachers can meet this goal best when they are able to provide relevant lesson plans that their students can relate to.
Technology
This is the internet generation. We need to find ways for students to use technology in their learning. It is natural to them, and we can introduce them to the many ways technology can be used for good. The use of smart boards, projectors for PowerPoint presentations, classroom response systems, and even cell phones may be in our future as teachers. Rather than resisting this trend, we must find ways to embrace it and further connect to the children of the Internet Generation.
Integrated Learning
To avoid the dry and uninteresting approaches found in packaged programs and planning and pacing guides, integrate reading and writing into rich content. Use social studies and science to promote and practice what was learned in reading and writing class.
The current trend toward curriculum narrowing in social studies and science is sad indeed. Transfer those skills students need to practice and integrate them into everything else you are doing. Without sufficient social studies and science instruction, we are leaving our students bereft of essential background knowledge upon which other knowledge can be built.
Many school districts have the added struggle of teaching children from poor families. Almost 17% of all school age children come from families existing below the poverty line. These children dont have the same opportunities as middle and upper class peers to gain background knowledge or vocabulary skills. A narrow curriculum focused only on tested subjects of reading, writing and math, rather than integrating secondary subjects such as social studies, science and the arts will only make these trends more noticeable.
Building of cultural literacy through social studies, science and the arts should become a mission for parents and teachers alike in order to provide all children a chance for a better life. It is a known fact that a person will learn something new much better if they have something on which to compare it with. School is often the best place to provide this knowledge, particularly for those students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Numerous studies have found that academic achievement translates to higher incomes, and that cultural literacy has a direct effect on a students academic achievement. To prepare students o the Internet Generation for the future they will face as adults in the 21st Century, educators must provide opportunities to expand the students stores of knowledge and cultural literacy, not just focus on the tested subjects of reading, writing and math.
About the Author:
Donna Newberg Long, aka Principal Donna has been in education for over 20 years. As the founding principal of 2 schools, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her counseling with teachers, principals and boards. Donna is available for consulting services for start ups and schools in need of advice. Visit www.AskPrincipalDonna.com for more information or call 303.280.5220 to discuss your schools needs.
