Dear Educator,
Happy 2023! We hope your term is off to a great start. To kick off the New Year, we’re excited to introduce Educator Insight, a monthly blog dedicated to all things K-12 education. Check this space for new topics ranging from differentiated learning strategies to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and student-centered curriculum. Each post also features links to open-access learning resources that will help you apply these ideas in your teaching practice.
This month, we look forward to some of the broad trends in K-12 education you can expect to hear more about in 2023. Look below for a discussion of each trend and related resources for your classroom or library.
1. Student-centered learning
Nearly three years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, most teachers are eager to return to something approaching “normal” classroom instruction. Nonetheless, the rise of distance learning during the pandemic highlighted student-centered approaches to learning as a vital part of any student’s education, regardless of the space where learning is taking place.
The International Society for Technology in Education defines student-centered learning as an approach that shifts students from “passive receivers of information to active participants” in the learning process; a shift that requires content, instructional methods, and assessments to be based on “each individual student’s needs and abilities.”[1] This framing helps illustrate the importance of an equity mindset when introducing student-centered practices into the classroom.
Student-centered learning is also closely related to the concept of inquiry learning. While not perfectly interchangeable, student-centered learning and inquiry learning both assign to students the role of “investigator,” placing them in the driver’s seat of the research and learning process[2]. Student-generated research topics and questions are a great way to initiate a student-centered inquiry learning process in your classroom. Click here for an academic skill-building module that walks students through the process of developing meaningful research questions.
2. Diversity in the curriculum
Growing support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at all levels of education has encouraged serious reflection on the conventions that shape our modern educational system—and this movement has an extra layer of significance for teachers of social studies. The inclusive study of history requires an honest and sensitive approach, as well as curricular materials that offer a diverse range of historical perspectives.
The need for diverse social studies curriculum is real and growing. In 2021, California became the first state to require the completion of a semester-long ethnic studies course as part of its core requirements for high school graduation.[3] Several other states, including Florida and Texas, have implemented requirements for ethnic studies electives. At the same time, the lens of diversity is expanding to include a wider range of racial and ethnic groups; as of January 2023, four states have adopted Asian American history requirements.[4]
One of the challenges educators face in this area is curating resources that are culturally sensitive and historically accurate. Here are three student activities from ABC-CLIO’s American Mosaic databases that model the framing of sensitive topics with content and context:
- The American Indian Experience: Boarding Schools and Assimilation
- The Asian American Experience: Who Was Wong Kim Ark?
- The African American Experience: Jim Crow Laws
3. Civic engagement
Civic engagement has long been an objective of high school civics and government courses, but educators are beginning to recognize the value of this standard to engaged learning in multiple subject areas. In its civics mission for schools, The National Council of State Legislatures states that students should “act politically,” participating not only in voting but “public speaking, petitioning and protesting.”[5] Educating for American Democracy, a research project dedicated to improving civics education, calls on educators to develop students’ understanding of contemporary political debates[6].
All of these objectives are enhanced and supported by a deeper understanding of the history of American society and politics. By drawing connections between the past and present, students can place modern political debates in the larger historical context and develop more nuanced opinions. The challenge, of course, is framing political debates in a way that is conducive to respectful and constructive classroom discussion. For an engaging introduction to political topics, consider this activity from ABC-CLIO’s American Government database on the influence of mass media on politics.
That’s a wrap on our first post of 2023. Have a wonderful January, and we’ll see you next month!
[1] International Society for Technology in Education. “Student-Centered Learning.” https://www.iste.org/standards/essential-conditions/student-centered-learning
[2] SplashLearn. “What is Inquiry-Based Learning? Types, Benefits, Examples.” https://www.splashlearn.com/blog/what-is-inquiry-based-learning-a-complete-overview/
[3] Fensterwald, J. (2021). “California becomes first state to require ethnic studies in high school.” EdSource. https://edsource.org/2021/california-becomes-first-state-to-require-ethnic-studies-in-high-school/662219
[4] Bellamy-Walker, T. (2022). “Rhode Island becomes fourth state to require Asian American history in schools.” NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/rhode-island-becomes-fourth-state-require-asian-american-history-schoo-rcna46720
[5] NCSL. “The Civic Mission of Schools.” https://www.ncsl.org
[6] Educating for American Democracy. “Interactive Roadmap.” https://www.educatingforamericandemocracy.org/
