According to Jacobs, the three key questions for upgrading content, “What is essential and timeless? What is not essential or dated? What should be created that is evident and necessary?” all need to be addressed concerning curriculum design and implementation. Once the various stakeholders have been organized and the people who decide how these questions will be answered are established, discussions for actual planning can begin. It was refreshing to read about social studies as the first choice. “It is ultimately the study of ourselves as human beings that is the basis for addressing contemporary issues.”(Jacobs, 2010).This is a brilliant idea for initiating life long learning and encouraging students to become the “social scientists” necessary for state, national, and global awareness.
Our newly formed high school has planned integrated curriculum across the content areas, and have organized teams to address the needs of the whole child. This plan is in its initial stages, and it is a fluid process that will be manipulated and guided throughout the process over a period of several years. We are fortunate to have forward thinking administrators leading the way. They must have copies of this book!
Another good idea she described was to combine health and physical education into one curriculum. Pasco Count schools in Florida are doing just that, but they have taken it a step further with online P.E. classes. Some part of the curriculum does involve a computer monitor, because it is instruction about health and wellness topics, nutrition information and education about drugs and alcohol. Students have to submit a log of their physical activity verified by an adult, such as a coach, YMCA trainer, or their parent. The feedback has been positive with most reporting more physical activity than students in a traditional physical education class. This virtual school has been in operation since the 1990’s, and in 2009 Florida required all districts to provide online course options. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education said, “Online physical education in neither inherently good or bad.” What do you think?
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I also thought it was interesting, but great to see Social Studies as the starting point for planning a curriculum. It always seems to be ELA or Math as the subjects most important to the curriculum, when in fact a variety of subjects is best for the well-being of the students. The standardized tests required in schools throughout the nation focus on ELA and Math skills, while ignoring the other content areas. It is a shame that the focus is so narrow. We need to broaden the students' views of the world around them, and Social Studies seems to be the place to start.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to online physical education, I question how truthful the physical activity logs are. I think I am on the traditional end of the spectrum on this subject. Physical education classes, with actual performance of physical tasks or being physically active are best taught and learned in a classroom setting. Being with peers of about the same physical ability is an advantage to increasing skills. I think sport skills are better learned when modeled by the teacher or coach and then practiced by the student. Yes it is great to keep a log of physical activity, and I think students should be physically active outside of the classroom. On the other hand I also think students should be part of a class where they learn the correct way to perform certain sport skills.
I would have loved the online Phys. Ed. option in High School. I was an athlete, running Cross Country in the fall and Track in the spring. I ran every day of the week and lifted weights several times a week, too. In the winter I would swim or play indoor soccer. It always frustrated me that I had to take Phys. Ed. classes on top of all of that activity, especially because the level of intensity of my workouts was far more than in class. While I was running every day, many of my peers were playing on teams and felt the same level of frustration that I did.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I can understand the benefit of learning the basic skills of many different sports to broaden interest and abilities, I think that could be done in the elementary and middle grades and students could choose their own activity interests in High School. I think an online log of physical activity verified by an adult would be a great option for student athletes. There are even programs out there for free that help you monitor your workouts like MapMyRun.com. I love this idea!