Faceoff? Ed. Tech Plan vs. Common Core Standards

Faceoff

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dannebrog/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

I had the rare opportunity today to open my (paper) copy of eSchool News.  I’m not sure how/why a subscription is mailed to me, but it’s actually nice to read a paper periodical that is chuck full of articles I enjoy.   Two articles in particular caught my eye:  “Feds release new national ed-tech plan” and “U.S. moves closer to common standards“  (I read the technology plan article first.  Surprise!)  

Team A

I was thrilled to see the new ed-tech plan, Transforming American Education:  Learning Powered by Education, is accepting comments for its 114 pages and has a lovely Wordle-like font on its cover.  I haven’t yet read the 114 pages, but eSchool summarized the the plan’s five organizing themes:  learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure and productivity.   It was great.. technology will be collaborative and integrated into the curriculum, teaching will be a team sport, assessment will be authentic and can be enhanced through technology,  infrastructure must be robust and proactive.  As an ed-techie, I couldn’t have been happier.

Team B

Next up:  the Common Core Standards.  Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about Common Core standards.  I believe in setting high expectations for all students, but I’m not sure that a hefty content check list that every teacher in every classroom needs to follow is the way to go.  Also, I’m suspicious that the Common Core Standards Initiative is led by two groups who are pretty far removed from the classroom (The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers).  The article discusses the pros and cons of national standards for math and language arts.  

Then it hit me…

It doesn’t seem like the Ed. Tech Plan team has been talking with the Common Core Standards team.  In fact, if both of these plans move forward, there will be a faceoff!  As far as I can see, the Common Core standards don’t specifically discuss the role of technology in the classroom…and the Ed. Tech Plan doesn’t specifically outline the content that should be enhance with technology.   Where is the collaboration, folks? 

These teams need to shake hands before someone drops the gloves. 

dropped the gloves

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenmama/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 

PS:  Let’s Go Flyers!

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