Knowledge vs. Wisdom: A Common Core Conundrum

Knowledge can be gained through standardized lessons in reading, writing, and arithmetic, while wisdom extends beyond knowledge and involves both good judgment and decision making skills that are acquired over time through practice and experience.

Education programs should be focused on cultivating self-directed learners who are emotionally intelligent risk-takers rather than compliant knowledge workers who are proficient test-takers.

 According to the Common Core State Standards web site;

"These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards were created to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life, regardless of where they live."

The Common Core also requires teachers to make instructional “shifts” to properly align with the Standards including…

“Students build knowledge about the world (domains/ content areas) through TEXT rather than the teacher or activities.”

~ Pedagogical Shifts demanded by the Common Core State Standards

The authors of the Common Core seem to view education as a static and standardized information delivery system and complex informational text is the designated means or "vehicle" for transmitting information and increasing student knowledge.

"In particular, if students cannot read complex expository text to gain information, they will likely turn to text-free or text-light sources, such as video, podcasts, and tweets...

As Adams (2009) puts it, “There may one day be modes and methods of information delivery that are as efficient and powerful as text, but for now there is no contest.”

~ CCSS Appendix A ( p4 ) Research Supporting Key Elements of the Standards

David Coleman, the chief architect and lead writer of the Common Core Standards explained in a 2011 Keynote Speech that the power of text to deliver information is second only to the awesome power of standardized tests to control classroom instruction...

“… these standards are worthy of nothing if the assessments built on them are not worthy of teaching to, period…

There is no force strong enough on this earth to prevent that. There is no amount of hand-waving, there?s no amount of saying, “They teach to the standards, not the test; we don?t do that here.” Whatever. The truth is – and if I misrepresent you, you are welcome to take the mic back. But the truth is teachers do.

Tests exert an enormous effect on instructional practice, direct and indirect, and its hence our obligation to make tests that are worthy of that kind of attention.”

Supporters of the Common Core have “promised” to prepare our students for the 21st century but the standards fail to deliver on this promise when they emphasize knowledge and the delivery of information over experiential learning and acquiring wisdom.

Reformers may claim the Common Core will ensure career readiness, yet the standards do not call for diverse trade/vocational pathways and work-based learning activities such as job shadowing, apprenticeships, internships, job mentoring, are nowhere to be found in the standards.

While text may be the most efficient means of delivering information and developing skills that will measured by a standardized test, students can clearly learn so much more by skyping, video conferencing, or tweeting with a historian, researcher, entrepreneur, writer, explorer, artist, poet, musician, etc.

If Common Core enthusiasts were focused on cultivating student wisdom and preparing students for the 21st century workforce rather than standardized tests, the Standards would be more closely aligned with the 6 Drivers of Change and 10 Skills for the Future Workforce that have been identified by The Institute for the Future such as…

Driver of Change #4 New Media Ecology: New communication tools require new media literacies beyond text…New multimedia technologies are bringing about a transformation in the way we communicate.

Skill #3 Novel and Adaptive Thinking: proficiency at thinking and coming up with solutions and responses beyond that which is rote or rule-based.

Skill #10 Virtual Collaboration: ability to work productively, drive engagement, and demonstrate presence as a member of a virtual team. Connective technologies make it easier than ever to work, share ideas and be productive despite physical separation. But the virtual work environment also demands a new set of competencies.

Institute for the Future:  Future Work Skills 2020

Back in 2012 PARCC issued the following disclaimer acknowledging there are essential college and career readiness skills that are not delivered by text or measured by their Common Core aligned standardized test.

“It must be noted that the academic knowledge, skills, and practices defined by the PARCC CCR Determinations in ELA/literacy and mathematics are an essential part of students’ readiness for college and careers, but do not encompass the full range of knowledge, skills, and practices students need for success in postsecondary programs and careers. 

For example, Conley (2012) includes learning skills and techniques such as persistence, motivation, and time management as critical elements of college and career readiness, along with transition skills and knowledge such as awareness of postsecondary norms and culture and career awareness…

Since these non-academic factors are so important, PARCC College- and Career-Ready Determinations can only provide an estimate of the likelihood that students who earn them have the academic preparation necessary to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing courses.”

College- and Career-Ready Determination Policy and Policy-Level PLDs (pgs 2-3) (Adopted October 2012; Updated March 2013) (PDF)

Unfortunately, education reformers continue to rely upon the recommendations of individuals who my be knowledgeable in areas related to information delivery and data collection, but they lack the wisdom and emotional intelligence that is acquired through years of classroom teaching experience.  

Bill Gates shared his knowledge of good teaching and recommendations for improving education during a 2009 TED Talk…

“Putting a few cameras in the classroom and saying that things are being recorded on an ongoing basis is very practical in all public schools… have it so everyone sees who is the very best at teaching this stuff.

You can take those great courses and make them available so that a kid could go out and watch the physics course, learn from that. If you have a kid who’s behind, you would know you could assign them that video to watch and review the concept.

And in fact, these free courses could not only be available just on the Internet, but you could make it so that DVDs were always available, and so anybody who has access to a DVD player can have the very best teachers.

And so by thinking of this as a personnel system, we can do it much better.”

Bill Gates: “Mosquitos, malaria and education” TED Talk, February 2009

Bill Gates seems determined to redeem and resurrect his infamous and annoying virtual assistant by programming a human "Clippy" for every Common Core classroom to facilitate delivery of information and data collection.

"Experts often possess more data than judgment"

~ Colin Powell

Wise and experienced educators know that good teaching is primarily about building and maintaining individual relationships with students, that are based on mutual respect and trust.

Students acquire wisdom along with essential social and emotional skills through purposeful learning experiences and emotional connections in the classroom, rather than "staying connected" to informational text and digitally accessing "good" teachers. 

Students will learn more from empathetic teachers who collect hugs and care about them, than from "highly effective" teachers who are more concerned with collecting data and comparing them to others.

It seems Bill Gates and other data driven reformers have not considered the possibility that a person who is good at operating an information delivery system, collecting data, and prepping students for standardized tests...may not be a good teacher?

Rather than rely on the knowledge of education "experts" like Bill Gates, what if we were to seek the wisdom of experienced students to learn how to improve education programs and what makes a good teacher?

 " One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.

The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and the soul of the child."  ~ Carl Jung