Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a
formative effect on the mind, character or physical
ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by
which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to
another.
Education is the process by which people learn:
Instruction refers to the facilitating of learning, by a tutor or
teacher.
Teaching refers to the actions of an instructor to impart learning to
the student.
Learning refers to those who are taught, with a view toward preparing
them with specific knowledge, skills, or abilities that can be applied upon
completion.
After viewing the video below, I began to wonder what specific knowledge, skills or abilities need to be applied (i.e. learning) by our students before leaving Alameda Unified School District. Are students leaving AUSD prepared for the 21st century?
In 2012, I came across a slide deck prepared by Charles Fadel that examines the imperative for 21st Century knowledge and skills. The 53 slides look at a number of dimensions of developing 21st century knowledge and skills. In 2009, the Center of Public Education published an 83 page paper Defining a 21st Century Education. In 2012, Connecticut Superintendents developed a position paper on 21st Century education.However, lest we forget for learning to happen good teaching needs to occur based on sound instruction principles.
I created a diagram to attempt to depict what I believe is essence of the learning that needs to take place. There are three layers:
Knowledge: Core subjects and 21st themes
Skills: Life & Learning Skills, Learning & Innovation Skills, and Information, Media & Technology Skills
Abilities in: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Culture and Connection.
These three layers are supported by schooling that takes place in a time, place with content delivered via some method.
Want to Contribute?
If you are interested in participating in the conversation about education in Alameda, there will be a number of options:
Email me your thoughts and ideas about this topic.
You can join an online community Alameda Education. Once you are approved by me to join, you be able to participate in creating a new vision for Alameda education. There will be discussion forums designed to examine the path forward, blog posts on relevant ideas and and opportunities to share your thoughts and ideas. Please come join me and create the future of education in Alameda.
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Last modified: May, 2011
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