3 Reforms
The Council of Chief State School Officers (2013) developed a framework to help guide teachers. The InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards “set forth new and high expectations for teachers” (p. 5). The Standards outline “what teachers should know and be able to do to ensure every PK-12 student reaches the goal of being ready to enter college or the workforce in today’s world. This 'common core' outlines the principles and foundations of teaching practice that cut across all subject areas and grade levels and that all teachers share (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 3).” Do such top down approaches really work? Does a 57 page document encourage or inhibit lifelong learning, autonomy, and creativity for teachers?
Part I: Lifelong Learning
Lifelong Learning refers to a teacher’s individual commitment to professional development. The InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers encourages teachers to develop professionally as it recognizes such self improvement as an intrinsic attribute of the teacher (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 50).
Part II: Autonomy
Autonomy means the quality or state of being independent, free, and self-directing. Independence from the organism as a whole in the capacity of a part for growth, reactivity, or responsiveness defines autonomy. The InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards refer to learner autonomy but are silent on teacher independence from the administration, the school board, parents or state standards in the capacity of a part for growth, reactivity, or responsiveness.
Part III: Creativity
InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards mandates teachers use creativity in their practice. The Standards also require that teachers encourage learner creativity. Creating is to produce or bring about by a course of action or behavior. Creativity is the ability to create or the quality of being creative. The English language defines the verb "to create" to bring into existence or to invest with a new form, office, or rank. Definition of create includes CAUSE or OCCASION. These are behaviors the Standards refer to as end states in the learner and the works of a teacher. The document does explicitly state that creativity is a “Key Cross-Cutting Theme” in Teacher practice (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 51).
The Standards refers to Creativity or Innovation in the following ways:
- “Today’s learners need both the academic and global skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the world—attributes and dispositions such as problem solving, curiosity, creativity, innovation, communication, interpersonal skills, the ability to synthesize across disciplines, global awareness, ethics, and technological expertise (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 4).
- “They integrate cross-disciplinary skills (e.g., critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication) to help learners use content to propose solutions, forge new understandings, solve problems, and imagine possibilities (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 8).
- “Standard #5: Application of Content. The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 10).
- “Progression for Standard #5: Application of Content The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues” (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 28).
- “Engage in collaborative research on ways to support learner creativity through independent and collaborative inquiry projects (e.g., arts-based learning, integration of technology)” (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 29).
The InTASC Standards refer to creativity as a cross disciplinary skill but not as an essential skill for teaching.
References
Council of Chief State School Officers. (2013). InTASC model core teaching standards and learning progressions for teachers 1.0. Washington DC: Author.
Lynch, M. (2014). The call to teach: An introduction to teaching. Upper Saddle River: NJ: Pearson.
Walker, Z. (2014, October 13). Teachers as professionals: Nurturing with passion and serving with pride [Video]. YouTube.
Whitaker, T. (2012). What great teachers do differently: 17 things that matter most. New York: Routledge. (Chapters 1, 2, 6, 7)
Williams, J. S. (2003). Why great teachers stay. Educational Leadership, 60(8), 71-74. Alexandria, VA: ASCD
SUNY Oneonta Education Department. (n.d.). Foundations of education. Attribution 4.0 International. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-oneonta-education106/(Free Foundations of Education textbook)