Critical Skills
ASCD Smart Brief’s two leading articles this week focused on Waldorf Schools and Visual Arts. One explained how Waldorf-style teaching, that emphasizes student exploration, self-directed learning, and hands-on lessons, can boost test scores in the long run. The other emphasized how the arts build critical thinking skills.
Waldorf education seeks to match learning to natural development. Readiness, relationships, and an emphasis on a triad of head/heart/hands are at its core. So, maybe this doesn’t exactly dovetail with traditional schooling but there are useful take-aways. The strong focus on applications of content knowledge to critical thinking is relevant to all schools.
The discussion of arts education focused on how pressure to raise test scores has resulted in narrowing the curriculum and, for many urban students, the elimination of arts, music, and other electives. As this digital generation spends more time with visual literacy, it is vital to teach them how to “read” visual images and information and also to express their ideas visually. The arts can build students' natural curiosity and creativity, help them conceptualize their ideas, and strengthen critical thinking skills.
The assessment of these skills is not outside the realm of educational testing. The assessment of 21st century skills is possible. It is all within the reach of classroom teachers as well as standardized test developers. Our new mission in education is to build these skills in students
and equally as important, to assess these skills.
posted by Assessment Network @ 7:09 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
Two things came to mind when I read this. One, is that I totally believe in the Holistic Student approach to teaching students, even more so with Special Education students. The Waldorf style definitely speaks to this. Which is why it is not fair for students to have to pass rigorous exams in the core subjects when they achieve so well in the vocational subjects. If one can make a rocking chair in a technical education class that looks like it was bought from an Ethan Allen store, yet cannot pass the CAPT for Math, shouldnt dismiss that student as being a capable young adult. Often times those students who do well in core subjects do not take as many of the elective classes because they believe that being assessed in English and receiving a high grade is better than being assessed in Art Education class and receiving a high mark. When actually the new standards call for higher order thinking which deals with being creative and thinking outside the box, which is what classes like art do for a child. So, eliminating these abstract and nontraditional classes does a disservice for that Holistic Child.
Also, I had read an article last semester about trying to incorporate Art into the realm of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), and that it would be called STEAM. Now although I have a Science content strength, does not mean that I think that Art is not as important. With technology, the type of programs that are being created now a days in my opinion qualifies as art. Take away the technical jargon and you have creating software that can then allow students to be creative (artistic) corresponding to curriculum. Also, in the holistic approach, pushing for STEM does not create a well rounded child, and what about those kids who just are more interested in art. They need to know that society will still value them and that they have a lot to offer. Which is why having courses like AP Art can put that high standard on a vocational/elective course, which in turn would help that child do well in other subjects too. Having fun, and enjoying other disciplines is important in education.
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