The goals for schools are changing, the curriculums of the world are changing, but is the practice in the classroom changing?

An analogy of the world according to Charles Hardy, is that the network we have is critical and we can expand that network by explaining to the world.

• “Who you are?”
• “Who you know?”,
• and “What you know?”

This network is a critical component of the global economy and schools need to support pupils to create the skills required to establish this network.

The Skills Gap

There exists a gap between the individual and economic skills required to thrive in the 21^st century and the skills that schools are producing. These skills included knowledge and cognitive skills and teaching explicit attitudes and attributes. The majority of pupils within the education environment are doing well with regards the development of the curriculum skills, however, with the advance in neuroscience and psychology, research is guiding the education sector to better understand how people learn and develop. This research needs to be applied to the educational environment and the teaching methodology needs to be adjusted to include this research in the classroom. However, the gap between the have’s and have not’s is expanding and the objective will have to be the improvement of all sectors in the education community.

The best way to predict success is to create it, this process will involve developing a goal for the school and then design the curriculum using backward design such that the curriculum supports the process of attaining the goal for the school.

The Framework

The framework that is developed is essentially a lens through which the school can view the process of developing competent and skilled pupils ready for the next phases of their education and a life of learning. The process of learning needs to be supported using a growth mindset.  Thinking of the statement “I am not performing now…” but “I can develop to the point that is required.” The imperative is to focus on performance and close the gap between the present position and the desired future position.

In order to achieve the future position, the strategies and methodologies applied in the classroom need to change to enhance thee learning opportunities focused on the development of cognitive skills, attributes, attitudes and dispositions.

Over the next few posts, I will be addressing some of my learning from the IACESA 2017 conference held in Cape Town this week.