Article from NYTimes on present status of Common Core standards implementation issues.
The standards, which were written by a panel of experts convened by governors and state superintendents, focus on critical thinking and analysis rather than memorization and formulas.
The idea is to help ensure that students generally learn the same things in public schools across the country.
One goal is to reduce high remediation rates at colleges and universities and help students compete for jobs that demand higher levels of skills than in previous generations.
According to some estimates, about 40 percent of students entering college must take remedial courses before they can enroll in credit-bearing classes. Nancy L. Zimpher, chancellor of the State University of New York, said the system spends about $70 million a year conducting catch-up courses for students.
I have not spent much time looking at the Common Core standards, but I do have experience with standards such as CASAS, Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System. I find the CASAS performance based system useful in choosing objectives, choosing assessments and then designing activities to reach the objectives. I always teach to the test! Why would you not start with the end in mind?
As mentioned in the New York Times article, the focus is on making sure all students learn the same thing. Start with a clear objective derived from a standard, and then the instructor develops the learning activities (DLE) that will be used to measure accomplishment of the the objective. Teachers, being creative souls, can come up with amazing activities to reach an objective.
The issue regarding “critical thinking and analysis” vs memorization is more of a learning process issue. Higher level and lower level thinking skills are both part of the learning process to accomplish the DLE. Think Bloom’s Taxonomy.
For example, back to my personal boating woes. If I need to learn how to dock a boat, I need the big idea . Next, I need the basic vocabulary and process (see a You tube video tutorial), or go out on the Puget Sound and try to get the basics from a mentor on changing gears, making sure the motor is straight (shadow and try in a controlled situation). Next, I need to analyze and think about how to dock a boat…tides, winds, process. Before I dock the boat, I would do well to follow a process that includes memorization of vocabulary and concepts, practice, and critical thinking and analysis.
I realize my example is performance based, not academic. . Yet, I wonder if the Common Core standards are performance based.