Today’s education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn. Schools are struggling to keep pace with the astonishing rate of change in students' lives outside of school. Students will spend their adult lives in a multitasking, multifaceted, technology driven, diverse, vibrant world--and they must arrive equipped to do so. Learning for the 21st Century.
- Core Subjects
- 21st Century Content
- 21st Century Context
- Learning Tools
- Assessment
- Pedagogy
- Professional Development
Spotlight on Learning & Teaching Resources
- AP Tests: More Tests, Fewer Good Scores
While more American public school students are taking Advanced Placement tests, the proportion of tests receiving what is deemed a passing score has dipped, and the mean score is down for the fourth year in a row. Data released recently by the New York City-based nonprofit organization that owns the AP brand shows that a greater-than-ever proportion of students overall—more than 15% of the public high school class of 2007—scored at least one 3 on an AP test. The tests are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, the highest score. The mean score on the nearly 2 million AP exams taken by students in last year’s U.S. public graduating class was 2.83, down from 2.9 in 2004.
- Gifted Black Students Pressured to Underperform
Gifted black students who underperform in school may do so because of peer pressure to “act black,” according to new research published recently in the journal Urban Education. The study’s researchers found that peer pressure to “act black” was significant among a group of gifted African-American students in two Ohio districts. The study analyzed survey results from 166 students—some in a low-performing urban district; others in a suburban, higher-performing district—who were in grades 6-12. The survey asked them questions about their behavior and attitudes toward academic achievement, as well as their perceptions of social and peer pressures. To that end, the researchers asked students to describe what the phrases “acting white” and “acting black” meant. Most of them described “acting white” as speaking standard English, doing well in school, taking advanced courses, being stuck up, and not acting your race. In describing what it meant to “act black,” they used phrases such as being laid-back, being dumb or uneducated, and pretending not to be smart. The authors conclude their study with recommendations to address underachievement, including counseling on how to handle peer pressure, mentorships with successful African-American adults, and multicultural curricula
- Teachers' Buying Behavior
A majority of teachers surveyed reported using the Internet when buying classroom and teacher materials, according to a report by Quality Education Data, a Denver-based division of Scholastic Inc. that conducts research and provides marketing services for the education market. The report also found that a majority of teachers ask their peers for advice when buying professional-development materials and classroom supplies, and that the peak decision-making time for school purchases occurs between March and May.
Game Aims to Curb Youth Conflicts
