Common Core or Changing Education Paradigms?

houston@figment-consulting.com

Support for Common Core in a Free Fall

According to an August 20th article from U.S. News & World Report support for the Common Core Standards is in a free fall. Many supporters are now turning away from it and even opposing it.

In a country as diverse socially, geographically, financially, and others, one has to wonder if common ever had a chance in the first place. And, with half the states in America receiving a waiver in 2012 from the NCLB mandate of achieving 100% of students deemed proficient, one also wonders if enacting new standards is the answer when existing ones evidently cannot be met?

What is the solution to our educational problem? I believe we first need to make sure we are asking the right questions, and I am not sure we are doing that just yet.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Ruts and tire tracks

The ruts that are most difficult to spot are those that appear to be tire tracks.

It may seem smooth but eventually you find out you are still stuck.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Changing education paradigms

If you have not seen this TED Talk by Sir Ken Robinson, I would encourage you to watch it. If you have seen it already, it bears watching again. The RSA Animate gives it a unique perspective.

houston@figment-consulting.com

The school of possibility

Is it possible to inspire students to learn instead of teaching them how to memorize a base of common knowledge?

Is it possible to embrace the curiosity inherent within children and guide the learning process instead of mastering dates, times, and events for a test?

Is it possible to develop the individual child instead of teaching to the middle?

Is it possible to foster the skills of finding solutions instead of seeking correct answers?

Is it possible to measure the growth of each child individually instead of comparatively?

Is it possible to celebrate failure as part of the learning process instead of only rewarding correctness?

Is it possible to pursue individual dreams instead of group compliance?

Is it possible to learn the child instead of teach to the test?

Is it possible to place value on the question instead of just the answer?

Is it possible to have learning environments instead of classrooms?

Is it possible to stimulate the mind instead of numbing the senses?

Is it possible?

The virtual school shelf space

Twelve years ago there was no path to follow, no road already taken. At K12, Inc. when I started there back in 2001, we were trailblazing because that was the only way to do what we were attempting -- virtual public schools.

Fast forward to today and now the virtual school shelf space is crowded and similar. More disconcerting is they are beginning to look more like their brick-and-mortar counterparts.

Where has the innovation gone? Why build another virtual school and place it on the same shelf with the others?

Why not build something unique and edgy? If you want to get lost in the crowd then build for the shelf space. If you want to offer a breakthrough product then be bold, even outrageous.

Start with the customer (the student, the parents) at the true center and see where it may lead you. Go to the edge, the precipice, then . . . jump.

What is the common core for homeschoolers?

In a recent blog I discussed the diversity that exists within the home school market. Diversity such as this brings with it a mosaic of reasons for choosing this form of education. And, as you can imagine, the reasons families have chosen this form of education are as varied as the overall multiplicity within this market.

What then is the thread that binds this divergent group together? The most consistent one, ideologically speaking, is the conviction among home school parents that they should play a large role (solely responsible or partially responsible) in the education of their children.

This conviction is the common core for homeschoolers.