What should change with our K-12 Education/Schooling in ALberta?

Thank you to Stephen Murgatroyd for posting the following today. "Alberta Education and the ATA are engaged in a serious conversation about the curriculum in our K-12 system. One issue is that there are far too many outcomes and another is how engaged students are with what it is we are asking them to learn. What should change?"


This is a topic that I and many others have been discussing and hearing feedback and thoughts on for some time now. Recently it seems that the conversation has taken on a life of its own and people are really engaging in a thoughtful and meaningful way. I would like to try and capture YOUR thoughts and suggestions. I will also add a list of readings that have inspired me and helped me understand 'education' better. Please feel free to recommend others. I would like to host an education forum later in the Fall to share what has been captured here and figure out where we go from here...


Below is the Facebook strand that I started and Trustee Esme Comfort added to. I will create a new post with a reading list and look forward to your recommendations. 


YOUR voice here... 

14 minutes ago · Privacy: ·  · 

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    Eryn Kelly I'll start... Lets begin with standardized tests (need to go) and learning environments. No child learns best sitting at a desk the majority of a day. More physical and creative learning opportunities/experiences throughout EVRY day. Move to disciplines rather than individual subjects...oh boy, this topic gets the juices flowing :) Grading...are we really doing this to improve student learning /opportunities?
    

    14 minutes ago · 
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    Esmé Comfort Oh - where to begin? A core curriculum should be established for the elementary grades but flexibility needs to be incorporated through out the system so students are not fixed in place by their "manufacture dates" but by their talents and abilities. Eryn Kelly, you are right - this means a whole different way of assessment... and teaching/learning. Stop me now.
    
    
    
    
    
    

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      Eryn Kelly Nope...keep going please:) I will create a place on my blog so that we can really get this conversation going friends!!
      

      6 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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      Esmé Comfort I'll link it to my blog and then send a message out to my contacts to weigh in.
      

      6 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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      Connie Jensen You ladies are the best. I have a few topics to throw out there: Standardized testing has to be addressed. I don't think you will find a professional educator who would defend it. Also, there ought to be discussion about the role of computer technology in the learning process. A wonderful tool when it is used appropriately, but a terrible stumbling block when faced with a roomful of lap tops, several of which are not working, for instance.
      

      6 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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      Esmé Comfort ‎Vi Sandford, Carol Picard, Jane Neil Janice Tanton, Corina Corinna, Cori Fraser - for starters - what do you have to add?
      

      6 hours ago · 
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      Cameron D. Ansorger Basic ecological literacy: thermodynamics, carrying capacity, energetics, least-cost/end-use analysis, how to live well in a place, limits of technology,appropiate scale, sustainable agriculture/forestry, steady-state economics, environmental ethics + more time outside, moving, non-structured exploration, multi-age/generational classes. Ditto on the disciplines rather than subjects.
      

      6 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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      Cameron D. Ansorger and Eryn Kelly 4 Premier :)
      

      6 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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      Esmé Comfort ‎Connie Jensen, good point. We have to find a way to address the tech part. It can be a wonderful tool, but also an obstacle. Teacher training has to transform also, if we are to transform education. All of this will take a long time... we need to be smart about how we do it. Need to give teachers and admin the training, time and resources to get there.
      

      6 hours ago · 
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      Eryn Kelly You are hilarious Cameron D. Ansorger and must TEACH me about thermodynamics, carrying capacity, energetics, least-cost/end-use analysis :)
      

      6 hours ago · 
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      Janice Tanton I think we need to reflect well on the inclusion of history in a more detailed manner. There is not enough overall context provided in the Social Studies programming. Further application of creative critical thinking (and teachers need training in how to deliver this.) MUCH more art. There just isn't enough to allow for different learning styles to begin to find ways to express knowledge without including the arts in a more well-rounded way within all aspects of curriculum.
      

      5 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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      Cameron D. Ansorger A couple episodes of Star Trek and/or Macgyver will teach you all you need to know about thermodynamics, et al.
      

      5 hours ago · 
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      Cameron D. Ansorger ‎'The Upside of Down' by Thomas Homer-Dixon is a great way to learn thermodynamics, I recall.
      

      5 hours ago · 
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      Angela Paige Awesome: I am grateful to see this kind of discussion happening. I am with Sir Ken Robinson - let's give Left Brain study a helping hand... and take our education system out of the Industrial Revolution!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCbdS4hSa0s (if you don't have 55 minutes: there is also a12 minute RSA Animation - it's like the Coles Notes of this talk)
      

      
      

      Sir Ken Robinson - Changing Paradigms

      www.youtube.com
      

      Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson will ask how do we make change happen in education and how do we make it last?

      
      

      4 hours ago ·  · 
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      Eryn Kelly That's a great one isn't it Angela:) He spoke in Red Deer last year adn was wodnerful. I also recommend his new book, The Element.
      

      3 hours ago · 
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