Why Ford PAS

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(No Transcript)
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What Is An Academically Rigorous Curriculum in
the 21st Century?Ilene KantrovEducation
Development Center, Inc.
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Traditional Definition of Rigor

• What would you say is the typical definition of
  rigoror a rigorous curriculum?

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Traditional Definition of Rigor

• Number of Courses
• 4 English and math courses
• 2 courses in laboratory sciences
• 2 courses in foreign language
• Perceived Difficulty of Courses
• 2 Advanced Placement courses
• No remedial courses

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Whats the Problem?

• Students who are successful . . . often succeed
  in spite of the curriculum, not because of it.
  They may have a greater aptitude for abstraction
  and a greater tolerance for a curriculum that
  does not offer immediate understanding of the
  subject's utility.
• Gary Hoachlander (1999)

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Whats the Problem?

• Essential 21st century knowledge and skills
  are not the focus of traditional academic
  courses
• Professionalism/work ethic
• Oral and written communications
• Teamwork/collaboration
• Critical thinking/problem solving
• Are They Really Ready to Work? (2006)

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Whats the Problem?

• What competencies essential for adult success
  are not being taught because there is currently
  no college-entrance requirement or national test
  for them?
• Tony Wagner (2006)
• The traditional conception of rigor persists in
  education because rigor defined as more content
  coverage is easily measured and predicted.
• Catherine Wallach et al. (2006)

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Redefining Rigor

• Rethink what it means to master academic
  knowledge and skills.
• Expand the scope of essential knowledge and
  skills.
• Change the ways in which students learn necessary
  knowledge and skills.

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Redefinition of RigorMastery vs. Coverage

• Focus on
• Essential knowledge and skills
• Depth vs. breadth

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Redefinition of RigorInterdisciplinary

• Rigorous curriculum builds students capacity to
  call upon knowledge from different disciplines to
  solve real-world problems.

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Redefinition of Rigor21st Century Skills and
Content

• Communication skills
• Thinking and problem-solving skills
• Creativity and innovation skills
• Collaboration skills
• Interpersonal and self-directional skills
• Information and communications technology (ICT)
  skills
• 21st century content (e.g., global awareness,
  financial literacy, civic literacy, health and
  wellness awareness)
• - Partnership for 21st Century Skills

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Redefinition of Rigor21st Century Pedagogy

• Students are supported in real-world
  investigations by teachers, other adults, and
  peers who
• Pose questions
• Model thinking processes
• Teach necessary skills (in context)
• Identify relevant information, resources, and
  tools
• Offer alternative perspectives
• Provide critical feedback

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Redefinition of Rigor

• New definition of rigor encompasses
• Relevance Students are engaged in exploring
  the real world
• Relationships Students work closely with mentors
  who have high expectations and guide them, and
  peers who collaborate with them

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Redefinition of RigorImplications for Career
Academies

• Real-world contexts for learning
• Career focus
• Business/community partnerships
• Small learning communities
• Relationships with teachers, mentors, and peers
• Interdisciplinary

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Redefinition of RigorImplications for Career
Academies

• Focus on mastery of academic core
• Teach and assess 21st century skills
• Employ 21st century pedagogy

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Example of the New Rigor

Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS)
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Ford PAS

• Curriculum
• Challenging academic content in mathematics,
  science, social studies, language arts
• Concepts from business, engineering, technology,
  and related career fields
• Integrated approach that encourages inquiry- and
  project-based learning
• 21st century skills

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Ford PAS

• Partnerships
• Secondary schools, school districts, colleges and
  universities, community-based organizations,
  government agencies, scholarship organizations,
  and the business community
• Technical Assistance and Professional
  Development
• Provide support for program implementation
• Create a broader learning community

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Ford PAS and the Redefinition of Rigor

• Promotes mastery of well-articulated learning
  goals
• Engages students in real-world projects
• Develops disciplinary knowledge, skills, and ways
  of thinking
• Connects ideas within and across disciplines
• Builds 21st century skills
• Provides opportunities to interact with people
  from business, higher education, and community
  organizations

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Ford PAS and the Redefinition of Rigor

• Our school saw Ford PAS as a way to take
  projects to the next levelas an alternative to
  Advanced Placement classes. . . . Real-world work
  and the Ford PAS curriculum get kids pointed
  toward college.
• Ford PAS Teacher
  Providence, RI

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Ford PAS and the Redefinition of Rigor

www.fordpas.org