Fluid Conversations

I came across this little blurb and it’s got me thinking:

According to Carol Ann Thomlinson, a high quality curriculum…

–Is clearly focused on the essential skills of the discipline
–Affectively engages the learner
–Is enjoyable and satisfying
–Provides choices
–Is clear in its expectations
–Allows for meaningful collaboration
–Focuses on products (things students make or do) that matter to students
–Connects to students’ lives
–Is fresh and surprising
–Is real, coherent, and challenging to the student
–Calls on students to use what they learn in interesting ways
–Involves the student in setting goals and assessing progress

It might be helpful for teachers to reflect on these components as they create experiences for their students. In particular, I’m interested in those that separate the 20th Century classroom from the 21st Century classroom.

Allows for meaningful collaboration

I would extend this one to read, “allows for meaningful collaboration with people from around the world”. For me, this is one of the most profound differences between education in the 20th Century and the 21st Century. These technologies have afforded us increasing access to the collective knowledge of people outside of our four walls. How do we harness this power? Where do teachers begin? How do we collaborate with others from around the world in safe, effective and ethical ways?

Connects to students’ lives

I don’t believe we should ever underestimate the importance of this idea. Our curriculum is bursting with content that is irrelevant to our students’ lives and yet we find ourselves perplexed when they aren’t engaged or motivated to learn more. Our job is to take the curriculum and find those links…those connections… so that our students find school interesting, relevant and dare I say, real?

Involves the student in setting goals and assessing progress

Do you involve your students in setting goals and assessing their progress? We have to start asking ourselves, “who owns the learning?” The 20th Century classroom was about the teacher; the 21st Century classroom is about the student. It’s about putting the students in the driver’s seat.

Which of these components of a high quality curriculum resonate with you? Which ones do you need to focus on to re-imagine what it means to learn in the 21st Century?