The Pac-Man Curriculum
What I've been describing at A Day in the Life of a Student and the sample daily schedule is what I have come to refer to as the "Pac-Man" Curriculum. Like Pac-Man, the students are racing through a maze, gobbling up as many dots (facts) as they can. A student's task is to memorize as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and to memorize it long enough to earn high scores on homework, in-class teacher-made tests and especially on standardized tests.
There is no time for deeper learning, for high quality projects, for authentic collaboration or for authentic performance-based assessments. There is no time for personalization of your learning.
Note: Personalized learning is not the use of "adaptive" learning software which takes a student through a series of tests and exercises, designed to guide the student to increasingly higher levels of specific skills, usually in math and reading. Rather, true personalized learning means that the student's unique level of knowledge and skills, past experiences, interests and talents serve to guide student choice and voice in what they will learn, how it will be learned, when it will be learned, and how the learning will be demonstrated. This practice is being implemented with huge success in schools today!
Obviously, this is not possible, or at least is extremely difficult, in the typical "cells and bells" organization of a school. Forty-minute class periods make it a challenge to implement truly personalized and project-based, deeper learning experiences.
There is no time for deeper learning, for high quality projects, for authentic collaboration or for authentic performance-based assessments. There is no time for personalization of your learning.
Note: Personalized learning is not the use of "adaptive" learning software which takes a student through a series of tests and exercises, designed to guide the student to increasingly higher levels of specific skills, usually in math and reading. Rather, true personalized learning means that the student's unique level of knowledge and skills, past experiences, interests and talents serve to guide student choice and voice in what they will learn, how it will be learned, when it will be learned, and how the learning will be demonstrated. This practice is being implemented with huge success in schools today!
Obviously, this is not possible, or at least is extremely difficult, in the typical "cells and bells" organization of a school. Forty-minute class periods make it a challenge to implement truly personalized and project-based, deeper learning experiences.
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Are you ready to re-imagine and totally transform your campus or district into one that is truly 21st century, but you aren't sure how?
21st Century Schools is ready and willing to support you in that mission! Contact Anne Shaw, Director at 21st Century Schools, to find out how we can help you!
In the meantime, please see our Products and Services!
Are you ready to re-imagine and totally transform your campus or district into one that is truly 21st century, but you aren't sure how?
21st Century Schools is ready and willing to support you in that mission! Contact Anne Shaw, Director at 21st Century Schools, to find out how we can help you!
In the meantime, please see our Products and Services!
