For years, many high schools educated students differently, depending on their plans for the future.
Now, because of all the changes in the world, all graduates will need to have the same knowledge and skills.NJ STEPS: Redesigning Education
Powerpoint presentation (April, 2008)
The state of New Jersey's education policy wonks make no bones about their bed partners. New Jersey will "integrate 21st Century Knowledge and Skills"--the bold, capitalized letters are courtesy of the state.
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills was founded in 2002 by Ken Kay and Diny Golder-Dardis "to create an education system that best prepares today’s students for tomorrow’s workplace" and included the following partners:
- AOL Time Warner Foundation
- Apple Computer, Inc.
- Cable in the Classroom
- Cisco Systems, Inc.
- Dell Computer Corporation
- Microsoft Corporation
- National Education Association
- SAP
- U.S. Department of Education
Ken Kay's specialty is "marketing communications," which I suspect is the 21st century version of Madison Avenue Man. He sells ideas. He's "a Washington, D.C., insider"--pay him and he'll get you access.
Folks in Trenton are drinking his Kool-Aid.
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According to The Partnership for 21st Century Skills website
Twenty first century skills are key to improving our nation’s competitiveness a knowledge driven economy.
Grammar is sooo 20th century
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I love teaching, and I especially love teaching science. Science is not a knowledge-based industry. Science is about inquiry, about curiosity.
It's also about logic.
For years, many high schools educated students differently, depending on their plans for the future.
Now, because of all the changes in the world, all graduates will need to have the same knowledge and skills.NJ STEPS: Redesigning Education
Powerpoint presentation (April, 2008)
I agree with NJ STEPS that the graduation requirements could use a little tinkering--I'd start by requiring Logic 101 for anyone who thinks the above makes sense.
Picture is of "Unisphere globe illuminated in darkness of World's Fair," via TimeLife via Google Life (noncommercial use)
