Sunday, May 2, 2010

21st century standards


content is variable
Standardized tests on content are no longer viable.

process is fixed
The web allows for personalization,
which provides the optimal learning space,
making personal learning networks a viable standard for public education.



We need to remove the old means of assessing a student, a teacher, a school, a district, ......
standardized tests.
[note that tests as we know them are generally trashed after the fact... they are noun. 21st cent assessment needs to be verb... or we're assessing the wrong thing]

We need to implement a new means for validation and assessment in the public school setting of whether or not authentic learning is being optimized.



A suggested model for a standard in each classroom, in each school, in each district,...:

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Is each student experiencing these three things while at school:

1. access
  • does the student have appropriate bandwidth and speed
  • does the student have a *tool (of choice) for web access
*1-1 is a good solution, but not 1 size fits all, students should be given a choice of a laptop or ipod or ipad, depending on what they already do or don't have, and what their web/tech needs will be
  • is the student given *appropriate time in the day to use a and b
*the library should be the hub of the school, with appropriate staff (including student interns) to assist/train best tech use for given need. each class should allow ample time for students to access the library (or another like place) each day

2. process
is every staff member in the building a part of a purposefully selected and daily embraced personal learning network - under construction - a means to access/log that

3. connectivity
because of teacher's pln above, are they facilitating the connections for the vital parts of a personal learning network for students  - under construction - a means to access/log that
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Because it is the process that is the standard... #1 and #2 above address all contents and all grade levels
#3 addresses all contents and all grade levels, but the connections will be at varying degrees

ie: kindergarten... discussing face to face personal learning networks... why you group with the kids you group with, who is your expert tutor, what info/help do you get from each

The same thing needs to happen in higher ed and in careers.
We need to start asking if the way we have always done things, (you get this job if you have this paper of proof), is still our optimal strategy.


as a google doc
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