B.C. schools should group students by ability rather than age, promote personalized learning but not at the expense of basic skills, eliminate standardized tests and provide more frequent reports to parents about student progress.
Those are among the ideas submitted to the Education Ministry after it made a public appeal for suggestions about how to remodel schools for the 21st century. The ministry is continuing to seek comment in what it has described as its “first grand experiment in citizen engagement.”
The “experiment” began in late October when Education Minister George Abbott announced a government plan for education renewal that would include an emphasis on personalized learning, critical thinking and quality teaching. But before developing policy, he said he wanted to hear recommendations from educators, parents, students and others.
To encourage discussions, the ministry posted several questions on a newly created website and invited members of the public to make submissions on what they think needs to change for students and how schools, teachers and parents can help make that change happen.
By Janet Steffenhagen, Vancouver Sun
December 29, 2011
jsteffenhagen@vancouversun.com
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