Innovation in Education: Students May Be Required to Think

An Associated Press article in the Herald Dispatch article today says “Governor says Ohio schools need new focus.”

The news brief says:

Concepts such as problem solving, critical thinking, cultural awareness and media literacy would overtake memorization and pencil-and-paper tests in an educational overhaul trumpeted by Gov. Ted Strickland.

Strickland’s education aims in his two-year budget proposal would not only change how schools are funded, but also how students are taught. Ohio’s curriculum would be infused with so-called “21st Century Skills,” a buzz phrase in the education world whose framework has been implemented in 10 states and in individual schools across the country.

The goal is to move students away from the memorization and regurgitation of facts and instead require them to apply their knowledge in problem-solving situations, often with the use of technology.

American students have been performing poorly on problem-solving skills in comparison to students from many other industrialized countries. A growing body of research in cognitive psychology suggests that minds learn best when memorization of facts is blended with critical thinking exercises to use that knowledge, noted a recent report from the think tank Education Sector.

I’m not sure if the right response to this is “duh!” or perhaps from a more positive stance “FINALLY!” (Although does it trouble you that the reporter refers to this statement as being “trumpeted” by the Governor?  Not exactly a vote of confidence there!)

One thing is clear, we have to get over being afraid of technology. If we put half the energy and resources that people current devote to finding the negative effects of media in developing ways to harness technology for education, we’d be a lot farther ahead. And more importantly, our kids would be developing the skill set they will need in a highly competitive, globalized world.