A Proposed Curriculum for the 21st Century
Review by Sean Leugers
Review by Sean Leugers
This system proposes an updated curriculum that is designed for modern educational needs. The subjects are the traditional Math, Science, Social Studies, Language, etc. The program expands on these subjects in an attempt to weave them together. Where the program separates itself from the traditional curriculum the most is the Learning and Innovation Skills. Here, students work on creating, communicating, and critical thinking skills.
The program also caters to Life and Career skills. This is an excellent divergence from the traditional educational path. Its estimated that 60% of workers in the US are not working in their educational field. College seniors are noted for two things; excitement about graduating and anxiety about their future. Where will you go, where will you work, how will you get that job. The traditional curriculum in high school and college leaves this unanswered. These are addressed by the program in with its section on what I would refer to as professional career abilities.
With 21st Century Framework's curriculum, students should be able to take control of their future much more capably. It seems like the program picks up on the ideas of Tony Wagner and puts it into action. Having said this, it remains to be seen if the claims have the data to back them up.
The 21st Century Framework appears to be a Progressive philosophy painted with modern language. Although it appears that the program is forward thinking, it is actually an old philosophy developed in the 1920's by Pragmatists. The Progressive education developed by John Dewey was a reaction to what was seen as an ineffective school system. We find ourselves in a similar situation today and it seems that Progressivism has reemerged. This may be a way for students to develop the necessary skills to compete against global workers who have been gaining jobs that had been in the US.
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you historically framed our present educational challenges. You said,
"The Progressive education developed by John Dewey was a reaction to what was seen as an ineffective school system. We find ourselves in a similar situation today and it seems that Progressivism has reemerged. This may be a way for students to develop the necessary skills to compete against global workers who have been gaining jobs that had been in the US."
I definitely think it's more helpful to think very practically about how our method of education empowers students to live and interact freely and capably in the human society we have today. This isn't the only concern. As a history guy, I would certainly emphasize the need for a deep knowledge of what has gone before us so we aren't resigned to make the same mistakes or think we need to reinvent the wheel. But education does need to enable us to have the basic skills we need to contribute to our society in a meaningful way.