UK Unveils New Technology-Rich Public Education Standards

While individual teachers and schools can be a source of great innovation where educational advancement is concerned, as a whole, government entities that oversee education can be painfully slow to adapt to new ideas and practices. For example, the state of Indiana shocked the nation only two years ago when it took cursive handwriting out of the curriculum, meaning that it would be made available for instruction but no longer required, and would be replaced by a greater emphasis on computer readiness at a much younger age. Today, England released an announcement of its new and far more rigorous set of educational standards, ones that will place a greater emphasis on building a global community of learners that reaches the same standards as other international educational foundations, while focusing on higher math, more in-depth study of language and literature, and a much stronger foundation in technology, including computer programing for students as young as elementary school. According to a statement by Prime Minister David Cameron about the new curriculum,”We are determined to give all children in this country the very best education—for their future, and for our country's future. The new national curriculum is a vital part of that. This curriculum marks a new chapter in British education. From advanced fractions to computer coding to some of the greatest works of literature in the English language, this is a curriculum that is rigorous, engaging, and tough. As a parent this is exactly the kind of thing I want my children to be learning. And as Prime Minister, I know this revolution in education is critical for Britain's prosperity in the decades to come. This is a curriculum to inspire a generation—and it will educate the great British engineers, scientists, writers, and thinkers of our future.” Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, also said, “We are introducing a tougher, more rigorous national curriculum. Schools will focus more on essay writing, mathematical modelling and problem solving. For the first time children will be learning to programme computers. It will raise standards across the board—and allow our children to compete in the global race.” As often happens with announcements such as this one, the teachers’ unions have not been overly receptive to the ideas presented in the new curriculum standards, seeing it instead as an effort to play a game of catch-up against other countries rather than an actual effort to produce a more qualified student. UK Unveils New Technology-Rich Public Education Standards is a post from: E-Reader News

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