Month: April 2012

THE ROLE OF CONTENT IN TODAY’S CURRICULUM

 

Content Knowledge (CK) is knowledge about the actual subject matter that is to be learned or taught (Mishra and Koehler 2008). Technological Content Knowledge (TCK) is an understanding of the manner in which technology and content influence and constrain one another. Teachers need to master more than the subject matter they teach, they must also have a deep understanding of the manner in which the subject matter can be changed by the application of technology. Teachers need to understand which specific technologies are best suited for addressing subject-matter learning in their domains and how the content dictates or perhaps even changes the technology, or vice versa.

 

There is debate about the importance of content; its usefulness or otherwise, with regards student learning in this contemporary age. There are those who argue it stills plays an important role in the education of students and should not be sacrificed for the 21^st century skills movement (Rotherham and Willingham 2010) and there are others who argue that 21^st century skills need to become the focus of curriculum if students are to be prepared for the world that awaits them after their schooling (Bellanca and Brandt ; Kozma 2009; Du Four and Du Four 2010) . The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Research Authority (ACARA) argues both are important when it states,

 

“Young people will need a wide and adaptive set of knowledge, skills and understandings to meet the changing expectations of society and to contribute to the creation of a more productive, sustainable and just society” (ACARA 2010).

 

There is an argument that content knowledge (CK) is necessary in order to facilitate the interactive potential technology can offer in the teaching and learning process (McLoughlin and Lee 2009; Rotherham and Willingham 2010). Some authors (Hirshon 2005; Boettcher 2006) agree that there is a need to re-evaluate the role of content in courses, and have advocated, for example, a greater focus on process (as opposed to product) and personal skill development.

 

There are some who suggest that 21^st century skills could be explicitly taught to students (Cisco Systems 2008; OECD 2008; Partnerships for 21st Century Skills 2010) ; in other words, the skills would become the content. In searching for the balance between content and skills we can investigate Partnerships for 21^st Century Learning at http://www.p21.org/. This outlines how teachers can integrate skills into the teaching of core content and illustrates, “a blend of content knowledge, specific skills, expertise and literacies” (Patnerships for 21st Century Skills).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 

Partnerships for 21^st Century Learning illustrates how content and skills can work together to assist teachers adopt technology in the classroom. It supports the argument that the implementation of 21st century skills into the curriculum requires the development of core academic subject content and understanding among all students. Accountability requirements have ensured this to be the case; however, they have also been an inhibiting factor in developing student capacity of essential 21^st century skills (OECD 2006; Silva 2008). The educational landscape is characterised with increased technology; however, there are significant requirements for principals to remain publicly accountable in an atmosphere of NAPLAN and MySchool. Politicians and other policy leaders who express the need for students to be creative, self-directed learners, and be adept at using existing knowledge resources are also the same people calling for accountability measured by traditional testing. This provides a dilemma for principals, schools and systems when considering assessment for students in a contemporary educational environment.

 

Overall, there appears to be
the need to maintain a balance between content and skills as they are not separate, but intertwined. Both content and skills need to be interconnected with pedagogy and technology when striving for school transformation. What are your thoughts?

 

 

ACARA (2010). The Shape of the Australian Curriculum. Canberra, Australian Government.

           

Bellanca, J. and R. Brandt 21st Century Skills: Rethinking How Students Learn, Solution Tree Press.

           

Boettcher, J. (2006). “The rise of student performance content.” Campus Technology 2: 28.

           

Cisco Systems (2008). Equipping Every Learner for the 21st Century: A White Paper.

           

Du Four, R. and R. Du Four (2010). Comparing Frameworks for 21st Century Skills in 21st Century Skills: Rethinking How Students Learn by Bellanca and Brandt., Solution Tree Press.

           

Hirshon, A. (2005). “A Diamond in the Rough: Divining the Future of E-Content.” Educause Review: 7.

           

Kozma, R. (2009). “Assessing and teaching 21^st century skills: A call to action . In F. Schueremann & J. Bjornsson (eds.), The transition to computer-based assessment: New approaches to skills assessment and implications for large scale assessment “: 13-23.

           

McLoughlin, C. and M. Lee, . (2009). “Personalised and self regulated learning in the Web 2.0 era: International exemplars of innovative pedagogy using social software.” Educational Technology 26(1): 28-43.

           

Mishra, P. and M. Koehler (2008). Introducing technological pedagogical content knowledge.

           

OECD (2006). Think Scenarios, Rethink Education.

           

OECD (2008). Innovating to Learn, Learning to Innovate.: 12.

           

Partnerships for 21st Century Skills (2010). “Framework for 21st Century Learning.” from www.P21.org.

           

Rotherham, A. and D. Willingham (2010). “21st-Century” Skills. Not New, but a Worthy Challenge.” American Educator 34(1): 17-20.

           

Silva, E. (2008). Measuring Skills for the 21st Century. Education Sector’s Next Generation of Accountability initiative. E. S. Reports. Washington, D.C., Education Sector.

Dear All,

 

The link below is a document which I developed and used for a Staff Professional Learning Activity with a focus on student centred learning. The input and discussion that come from teachers indicated the activity was successfull in further developing their understanding of student centred learning.

http://bit.ly/o3wKIn

You are welcome to use it. Also, I am open to any suggestions as to how it could be improved.

 

Regards,

Greg.

The link takes you to a piece….

 

Entrepreneurs Don’t Need Work-Life Balance by Jeff Stibel. You can follow him on Twitter @stibel

 

http://bit.ly/HNtUPm

 

The article refers to entrepreneurs being a unique type of people, ones who focus on their vision with a single-minded passion, so much so that anything diverts their attention from turning their visions and passions into reality, goes by the wayside. He quotes Gates and Zucherburg as such examples.

 

Stibel does give ground by acknowledging, “If family, friends, and hobbies are important to you, then by all means you should pursue those things. But the key is to make the most important things a priority and to get rid of the rest.”

 

At the time of my reading the article, I was enjoying “a week away from it all” after an unusually tough start to the year. I am very glad I took this week and had some “me time”. It enabled me, like no other time in my life, to ‘take stock’ and refuel the mind, body and spirit. It allowed me to realign my priorities for work life balance. I may not be an entrepreneur, they are special and unique people, but I am passionate about student learning and am very fortunate to be the principal of a great learning community!

 

Obviously passion drives people. If you are passionate about your work then you are not working.  The fact is most of us are not entrepreneurs and therefore, when work gets too much for us, we need to address work/life balance. For some, family, children, spouses are the priority and passions; they are what sustain us. It is not our work and not our vision.

 

Some of us are not defined by the work we do but by the way we act as a mother or father, behave as a wife or husband, and support our parents. Ultimately, the way we go about these roles are what ultimately supports the growth and development of society. Sometime, we need to take time out to address the imbalance of too much work. I am glad I did.

 

 

 

Reflections about an Article titled Do Students Know Enough Smart Learning Strategies? Posted March 22, 2012 | 11:16 AM | By Annie Murphy Paul

Accessed from http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/03/do-students-know-enough-smart-learning-strategies/ on Sunday April 8, 2012.

This article confirms the need for schools to explore ways, and make time, to assist students REFLECT on their learning. Annie Paul reminds us “anytime a student learns, he or she has to bring in two kinds of prior knowledge: knowledge about the subject and knowledge about how learning works.” Teachers are very good at providing knowledge about the subject. Structurally, this is reflected by the way secondary schools ‘package’ education in ‘Key Learning Areas’.

On the second point, about “how learning works”, Annie Paul points out, “the guidance we offer on the act of learning itself—the “metacognitive” aspects of learning—is more hit-or-miss, and it shows.” An Australian Study involving 1388 Australian high school students found that their ability to engage with knowledge about learning was “less than optimal.” Annie Paul quotes Helen Askell-Williams of Flinders University in Adelaide, who states, “Teaching students good learning strategies would ensure that they know how to acquire new knowledge, which leads to improved learning outcomes.”

The article concludes positively by offering questions for parents and educators “to make sure that children know not just what is to be learned, but how.” These questions are:

·     What is the topic for today’s lesson?

·     What will be important ideas in today’s lesson?

·     What do you already know about this topic?

·     What can you relate this to?

·     What will you do to remember the key ideas?

·     Is there anything about this topic you don’t understand, or are not clear about?

In summary, each learning experience offers students the opportunity to reflect on their learning. By doing so they are enhancing their ability to learn about learning.

Regards

Greg Miller