March 10, 2009

The President is calling

The President is calling:

I'm calling on our nation's governors and state education chiefs to develop standards and assessments that don't simply measure whether students can fill in a bubble on a test, but whether they possess 21st century skills like problem-solving and critical thinking and entrepreneurship and creativity.

President Barack Obama, March 10, 2009

Alia iacta est. How will we answer the call?

Mar 10, 2009 1:24:30 PM | 21st Century, Data-Driven, Law, Policy, and Ethics, Leadership and Vision, News and Events, Our Changing World, Quotes, Research and Evaluation, Teaching and Learning

3 Comments

1.

When it coms to 21st century skills and the seamless integration of technology, my school is a step ahead of the Prez in asking the tough questions... a step behind too many model schools that have already blazed a trail... and a mile behind where we ought to be by now! Why? I addressed it in my weekend post: http://kriley19.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/this-is-the-sound-of-a-rose/

Posted by: Kevin W. Riley | March 10, 2009 at 02:32 PM

2.

Kevin, the questions your teachers generated over at your post are AWESOME. I gotta find something interesting to do with those. Thanks for sharing, and best wishes as you hold conversations around the answers!

Posted by: Scott McLeod | March 10, 2009 at 02:45 PM

3.

I am extremely glad to see that Pres. Obama is willing to branch off from the time-honored traditions of Standardized Testing. I have been saying for years that they are essentially useless. Standardized testing is counterproductive to any society that yearns for intelligent masses. Instead, they create monkeys that can memorize a series of flashcards in mere moments, but flounder when they have to solve any problems relating the material on the flash cards. It limits good teachers, and enables bad teachers.

Educational technology is the best way to deliver the varied content students require to have a multifaceted intellect. I really hope to see this form of teaching increase drastically in the next few years. The fact that it hasn't already become the education standard in public school is, in my opinion, appalling given how commonplace it is to see it in the collegiate and professional world after high school.

Good news indeed.

Posted by: Charles Snyder | March 17, 2009 at 04:56 PM

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