The curricula, they are a-changin’. Education experts agree that 21st century schools will evolve to be “interdisciplinary, project-based, relevant, rigorous and real-world.” That’s no surprise to us at Envision – it’s the way we’ve always done things. We’ve seen that children simply learn better when they’re actively engaged (hands-on), with subjects they’re passionate about.
For most American schools, however, significant changes in approach and curriculum are a likely reality of the near future. Great volumes of research on learning and learners have produced data too compelling to ignore. Adaptation will be necessary, as schools adjust to the rapid proliferation of technology and the changing needs of students.
Key Trends in Curriculum
Trends to watch and prepare for:
Digital Learning – Information is ubiquitous: voluminous, current, easily accessible and free. Everything, from the world economy to the way we live and socialize, has shifted to accommodate this instantaneous, global flow of data.
School curriculum will evolve to leverage this treasure trove of online knowledge, teaching students to navigate the digital world competently and responsibly. Students must learn to find pertinent information quickly, sifting through the enormous haystack of data to find the golden needle. They must know what to trust, what to ignore, and how to make their own valuable and appropriate contributions to the online global community. Near-future curriculum will encompass activities such as creating online content, or designing a video game – as we do in Envision’s NYLF Engineering & Technology program.
With Wikipedia and Web 2.0 we see a growing proliferation of open-source sites and thousands of other educational resources, which include tools such as:
Interest-Driven Learning – Future curriculum will be shaped by the students’ interests. Studies have proven a direct correlation between achievement and personal interest. In his book Teaching Digital Natives, Marc Prensky writes, “Passion drives people to learn (and perform) far beyond expectations. And whatever is learned through the motivation of passion is rarely, if ever, forgotten.”
Today’s digital resources propel the movement toward individualized learning, placing students in the role of curriculum decision-makers, as well as content creators. The change is already underway in cities such as Portland, Maine, which, in 2006, became the nation's first city with a K-12 Expeditionary Learning (project-based) option for all students. The entire curriculum at Forest Lake Elementary School in South Carolina is designed around personalized learning.
Skill-Driven Learning – Lately we hear a lot about “21st century skills.” These skills: collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, etc., aren't new to the educational landscape, but they have recently taken on new importance, as global competition creates a greater need for “real-world readiness.”
Smartphones in hand, students can engage more deeply in their studies, accessing facts quickly and easily – and thus questioning the need to memorize those facts. Instead, students need to develop a new digital literacy that includes the ability to discern the relevance of facts and use that knowledge to achieve something “real.” Students need to grasp meaning from the content they’re reading, communicate its significance effectively, and apply the new knowledge collaboratively. Look for new state and national testing / competency assessments to develop around these skills.
New Subjects – We also expect to see an evolution in the kinds of subjects offered in school. Computer science is an obvious example, and many schools are already offering classes, or at least projects, that involve computer programming and design.
An article in U.S. News & World Report also mentions Ethnic Studies and Mindfulness as possible school subjects of the future. Ethnic Studies, which aim to enhance cultural understanding, aren’t new at the college level, but are now gaining popularity in public high schools. Some controversy surrounds this trend, and in 2011 an Arizona state law banned certain ethnic studies courses. However, with research showing positive academic and social outcomes, these courses are likely to become more pervasive.
The study of Mindfulness – awareness of thoughts, feelings, movements and surroundings – is another controversial subject. Studies have shown that Mindfulness courses can lower behavior problems among students and help them counteract stress and depression. Some argue, however, that the subject is too esoteric and unquantifiable for public schools.
No Subjects?
In Finland, teaching traditional subjects may be passé altogether, according to an article in Quartz. The prestigious PISA rankings have always placed Finland near the top in mathematics, reading and science, making the country a recognized example of educational excellence around the world. In this recent development, Finnish schools are “teaching by phenomenon,” rather than by subject, meaning students study broader topics, such as the European Union, with a multi-dimensional, multi-discipline approach. Supporters of this program feel this concept is more suited for the 21st century because it’s anchored in real-world experience. It’s also an appropriate response to the common student complaint that their lessons have no relevance to their lives.
Conclusion
In 21st Century Skills: Rethinking How Students Learn, Will Richardson writes, “although schools may continue to fundamentally look and act as they have for more than one hundred years, the way individuals learn has already been forever changed.” Educators will be forced to "rebuild the airplane while flying it," as they adapt to fundamental shifts such as:
- Increased collaboration – between educators and students, and between groups of like-minded students
- Customized, “democratized” student-centered curriculum, with greater equity across the globe, due to the availability of online knowledge
- New textbooks and other student/teacher resources, including digital platforms
- An emphasis on skills over facts
Related Articles:
The Benefits of Experiential Learning
The Smartest Kids in the World
Web 2.0: How-To for Educators
Book Review: Loving Learning: A “Must-Read” for Educators
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