LOCAL MOMENTUM BUILDS TO DELIVER UPDATED SKILLS, RELEVANT LEARNING
Schools across Kentucky are in the midst of a pivotal overhaul: moving beyond the outdated world of worksheets, multiple-choice tests, and sit-still-for-a-long-lecture learning. Groups of teachers, entire schools and some districts are opting for a fast-forward to meet a pair of fundamental needs:
> Employers report that new workers are seriously ill-prepared for modern productivity. Collaborative and flexible workplaces need nimble employees who can analyze situations and information, work together to solve problems, and be ready to make changes or customize products. Those skills have taken hold in higher education, civic enterprises, and social interaction. However, schools working in a subject-by-subject, passive mode where facts are disconnected from current conditions, controversies or curiosities are out of sync with the world of work.
> Today’s generation of students are known as tech-savvy natural networkers. They find information in new ways from unexpected sources and binge on interests at all hours. Yet, schools working in a subject-by-subject, passive mode where facts are disconnected from current conditions, controversies or curiosities are out of sync with the students they serve.
Realizing that schools are out of tune — and that testing and accountability plus state laws and regulations reinforce traditional approaches — many educators are opting for updates that redefine expectations and engage students. Their goals are better preparation, stronger achievement, and schooling that draws students and teachers into explorations rooted in community and current issues.
The Prichard Committee is focused on state and local movement toward a more meaningful diploma. It is vital to update the system to better serve all students and deliver the fundamentals — and provide advantages — for adult success.
SPECIAL REPORTING SERIES AVAILABLE NOW
Starting last fall, we visited innovative classrooms across the state. Interviews with dozens of teachers, students, administrators, employers and more are captured in a series of four stories offering an up-close view of new approaches. Go inside classrooms bringing learning to life while practicing modern fundamentals of productivity. The series showcases emerging issues, new techniques and challenges involved in making durable skills and deeper learning available to all students.
The stories cover key topics:
RETHINKING NECESSARY SKILLS AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCES to better prepare students for challenges to learn, work and thrive beyond high school. Visits to schools in Rowan and Jefferson counties offer glimpses of active, relevant learning experiences and how educators are equipping students as communicators, collaborators, problem solvers and more.
UPDATING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS with local “graduate profiles,” greater student voice, and new connections to employers and communities. The Shelby County district is working with even its youngest students to reset expectations and classroom experiences. Over the past decade, the growing move toward deeper learning and durable skills has grown from grassroots conversations about local needs and how schools can better serve students and communities.
RENEWING PROFESSIONAL POSSIBILITIES as educators explore creative options for learning experiences and personalized connections that will spark student interest. The experiences of teachers in Marshall and Fayette counties show how creating deeper learning for students also boosts engagement and relevance for educators.
MAKING STRONGER PERFORMANCE MAINSTREAM by expanding engaging and effective learning environments to replace outdated approaches and preparation. Bringing learning to life and delivering durable skills is now a priority in the state education department’s strategic plan. Regional education cooperatives are playing a key role with school-level coaching and support. A visit to Allen County shows 11-year-olds using local economic development issues as a focal point for social studies concepts. Leaders in the move toward transforming schools share challenges to making promising approaches a fixture of teaching and learning.
The Prichard Committee emphasizes excellence in education and the path to a larger life. The Meaningful Diploma series informs an important conversation with up-close examples and explanations of key issues. It’s a topic gaining steam and overdue in Kentucky’s drive to make sure students and communities prosper.
