WARNING; I've been watching too much news.
Greed, competition, and selfishness continue to thrive in schools that use traditional subjects and report cards to value a child's worth. Focusing on the shallow goal of "career ready" skills, "test preparation", the SAT, and university essays on "What I Believe (I should say to get me into your university)" drives me crazy!
Just do as you are told and you will get through the next gate... take your golden ticket and follow the yellow line to the dollar signs... keep your head down- ignore the Global Warming signs, avoid the extremists and the outbreaks, eat as much poison as you can, and DO NOT FEEL empathy - it is the sure death of any "winner". Good luck competitors.
Ask any educator at the top of their profession and they will mostly agree... none of this makes sense anymore. But what can we do in a system that is the "game of school"? It has little to do with wonder, discovery, determination, joy, independence, play, exploration, and the freedom to be a naturally developing human being. If we move this way - we will have better "career ready" skills, higher test scores, better SATs, and more impressive university essays - if that is the measure.
Moving away from a content driven subject defined curriculum towards a conceptually based, character driven ecosystem just might change the nature of schooling.
The Common Ground Collaborative hopes to be that change. I hope they are right and I want a ticket!
- Competency Learning
- Conceptual Learning
- Character Learning
Personal Meaning
Learners understand how both personal and social identities are
constructed. They understand the role that beliefs and values
have played in shaping human societies, can articulate their own
beliefs and values and understand where these came from.
These understandings support them both in developing a sense
of personal purpose and in respecting the beliefs and values of
others.
Creative Expression
Learners understand that, while we may not all agree on what is
beautiful, we all respond to beauty. They understand that
humans have always expressed their interpretations of the world
through a rich range of creative media. They understand the
ways in which the arts can influence societal development by
challenging commonly held perspectives with creative ideas.
They recognize that we all have a capacity for creativity. These
understandings equip them both to develop their own creative
potential and to appreciate the creative products of other
individuals and cultures.
Physical Wellbeing
Learners understand the value of physical well-being, of
remaining fit and healthy throughout life. They understand the
contribution of a balanced lifestyle, healthy diet and physical
activity to their overall well-being. They also understand and value
the range of learning embedded in individual and team sports.
These understandings help them leave school “fit for life”.
Systems for Problem-Solving & Predicting
Learners understand that by recognizing and describing patterns
in the world around us, we can both come to understand the
world better and harness that understanding to predict and
manage our environment. They are familiar with a broad range of
systematic ways for describing and modeling the world. These
understandings equip students to translate their natural wonder
about how the world works into inquiries that build knowledge
and understanding.
Sustainable Production and Consumption
Learners understand the central significance of production and
consumption in shaping human society and the impact of these
human activities on local and global environments. They
understand economic systems and how these are interdependent
with both social systems and the natural world. These
understandings equip learners to be innovative producers,
informed consumers and responsible conservers.
Communications Systems
Learners understand how communication systems have shaped
human interactions. They understand how advances in
communication, particularly technological ones, have changed
the way human beings interact, simultaneously enabling certain
possibilities while sometimes diminishing others. These
understandings equip learners to be skilled, ethical users and
consumers of a range of communications media.
Connections to Our Environments
Learners understand how the natural world works. They
understand the concept of interdependence between and within
ecosystems. They also understand the ways in which humans
have manipulated environments and the connection between the
way a space is constructed and the effects that is likely to have
on those who live in or use the space. These understandings
support students in developing a strong sense of their place
within both the natural and built environment and in coming to
value the critical importance of nature to human well-being.
Group Membership
Learners understand the human need to be part of a group. They
understand the forces and influences that shape groups, their
cultures and their power structures. They are able to put these
understandings into historical and geographical contexts to
understand how and why groups are different and the factors
which are likely to cause conflict within and between groups.
These understandings equip learners to work towards a world
with a greater level of social justice and equity
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