Comments on: Innovation And Its Discontents http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/innovation-and-its-discontents.html Education News, Analysis, and Commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:45:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Ken H http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/innovation-and-its-discontents.html/comment-page-1#comment-219072 Ken H Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:13:08 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3904#comment-219072 Out here in California, things are pretty much on hold - we've already been cut back and if the new budget thing doesn't go though, things are going to get pretty bad. Although teachers are still teaching and concerned about education, self-preservation is moving to the forefront - especially in the current us versus them "blame the teachers" climate. Out here in California, things are pretty much on hold – we’ve already been cut back and if the new budget thing doesn’t go though, things are going to get pretty bad. Although teachers are still teaching and concerned about education, self-preservation is moving to the forefront – especially in the current us versus them “blame the teachers” climate.

]]> By: Jules http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/innovation-and-its-discontents.html/comment-page-1#comment-71017 Jules Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:35:20 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3904#comment-71017 The Time Magazine article brings up a great point. The standards which different states hold themselves to are all over the map. I linked to both this blog and the Time article in my blog The Time Magazine article brings up a great point. The standards which different states hold themselves to are all over the map. I linked to both this blog and the Time article in my blog

]]> By: Sandra Stotsky http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/innovation-and-its-discontents.html/comment-page-1#comment-70784 Sandra Stotsky Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:09:09 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3904#comment-70784 Walter Isaacson's article on national standards rings many alarm bells. But one that it should have rung is why no one seems to expect the participation of the nation's mathematicians, or their two professional societies, in the construction of national mathematics standards for K-12. No other nation would even dream of developing national mathematics standards without a sign-off by the country's mathematics community. Perhaps the exclusion of mathematicians from meaningful involvement in the shape and assessment of the K-12 mathematics curriculum is one reason that this country's children do not do as well on the international scene in mathematics as we would like them to do. Massachusetts' students' scores in math and science on the 2007 TIMSS suggest that the involvement of mathematicians and scientists in the development of its nationally-recognized mathematics and science standards and assessments made a difference. Sandra Stotsky (former senior associate commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Education) Currently: Professor of Education Reform, University of Arkansas (479 575 7282) Walter Isaacson’s article on national standards rings many alarm bells. But one that it should have rung is why no one seems to expect the participation of the nation’s mathematicians, or their two professional societies, in the construction of national mathematics standards for K-12. No other nation would even dream of developing national mathematics standards without a sign-off by the country’s mathematics community. Perhaps the exclusion of mathematicians from meaningful involvement in the shape and assessment of the K-12 mathematics curriculum is one reason that this country’s children do not do as well on the international scene in mathematics as we would like them to do. Massachusetts’ students’ scores in math and science on the 2007 TIMSS suggest that the involvement of mathematicians and scientists in the development of its nationally-recognized mathematics and science standards and assessments made a difference.

Sandra Stotsky (former senior associate commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Education)
Currently: Professor of Education Reform, University of Arkansas (479 575 7282)

]]> By: John Dewey http://www.eduwonk.com/2009/04/innovation-and-its-discontents.html/comment-page-1#comment-70672 John Dewey Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:38:40 +0000 http://www.eduwonk.com/?p=3904#comment-70672 In Walter Isaacson's essay on the need for national standards he states: "That's why it would be useful to have the standards-setting body be advised by recruitment officers from the infotech, biotech, medical and, yes, financial sectors." Does he think it might also be useful to have mathematicians from universities involved in the setting of math standards, or does the current edu-fad thinking still prevail that mathematicians know nothing about teaching so leave them out of it? In Walter Isaacson’s essay on the need for national standards he states: “That’s why it would be useful to have the standards-setting body be advised by recruitment officers from the infotech, biotech, medical and, yes, financial sectors.”

Does he think it might also be useful to have mathematicians from universities involved in the setting of math standards, or does the current edu-fad thinking still prevail that mathematicians know nothing about teaching so leave them out of it?

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