Is this a ray of hope? New article in eSchool News:
Will new NCLB reflect 21st-century skills?
House education committee chairman hopes so, as he outlines his vision for renewing the nation’s education law
From eSchool News staff and wire service reports
Here’s the first paragraph:
Proponents of educational technology for years have been saying that schools need to focus more on teaching so-called “21st-century skills,” such as problem solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. Now, it appears that momentum is finally building on Capitol Hill to encourage just such reforms: The chairman of the House education committee says he hopes to push legislation renewing the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) through Congress this fall, and one of the key changes to the law he plans to propose is incentives for states to develop more rigorous standards that reflect the needs of 21st-century learners.
If that gets you excited enough go read the rest.
Blogged with Flock
Good article, I am posting Ideas for NCLB on my site, please visit it to read.
Wow, that is great news! Does that mean they are actually starting to ‘get it’ in Washington?!? Perhaps the next step would be to scale back the insane testing regimen. (Ok, ok — I’m a dreamer!)
Off topic I’m afraid but…I’m tagging you with the “8 Random Things Meme”. Click over to Nexus, http://nexus.ontarioblogs.com to get the instructions and read my random facts!
Brian,
Check my blog – you’ve been tagged. Just read the directions at the top of the post.
Have fun,
Cheri
Brian,
You have been tagged for the 8 random things meme. Kim Moritz tagged me.
There’s a (relatively) new book, “How Computer Games Help Children Learn” that talks about the problems of No Child Left Behind–and what we might do instead about education. The book describes about how No Child Left Behind is taking our schools in the exact opposite direction from where they need to go in the age of computer technology and global capitalism—and how the new technologies of computer and video games can help get schools (and students!) where they need to go. From the introduction:
“Young people in the United States today are being prepared—in school and at home—for standardized jobs in a world that will, very soon, punish those who can’t innovate. Our government and our schools have made a noble effort to leave no child behind: to ensure, through standardized testing, that all children make adequate yearly progress in basic reading and math skills. But we can’t “skill and drill†our way to innovation. Standardized testing produces standardized skills…. But… here’s the good news: The very same technologies that are making it possible to outsource commodity jobs make it possible for students of all ages to prepare for innovative work…. and this book is about how we can use computer and video games to do just that….â€
If you’re interested in the future of schooling, the book might be worth a look….