As we stress in our recent review of online instructional tools, the adoption of the Common Core State Standards seven years ago led to unprecedented levels of information and resource sharing across states. Technological advancements and a growing movement towards open-source educational resources have further contributed to a huge explosion of choice on the K–12 curricular marketplace. And while choice can be a good thing, many educators remain completely overwhelmed by the vast array of curricular and instructional resources now available.
A new Education Week special report released last month, comprising eight separate articles, aims to help educators “navigate [this] increasingly diverse marketplace of new—and often promising—curricular choices.”
The series kicks off with a helpful overview of several national organizations conducting independent reviews of curricular and instructional materials (such as EdReports, Learning List, and the State Educational Technology Directors Association). It highlights several recent state and district efforts to create curriculum from the ground up, such as Louisiana’s recent partnership with LearnZillion to create a new English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum for the state, and weighs the relative advantages of online versus traditional print resources (such as real-time assessment and student data reporting features).
Additional articles cover: (1) the recent trend towards “open educational resources,” which are “materials for teaching or learning that are either in the public domain or [can] be freely used, changed, or shared with others;” (2) the potential benefits and downsides to online, educational “playlists,” or programs that customize student learning; and (3) tips from educators for vetting online curriculum.
The report concludes by flagging common student data privacy concerns and security “red flags” educators should consider when using online educational apps in classrooms.
As Cory Koedel and Morgan Polikoff conclude in a recent study, “non-trivial gains in student achievement are attainable simply by choosing more effective curriculum materials.” While somewhat random in nature, EdWeek’s collection of articles nonetheless provides educators with helpful information and issues to mull over as they navigate an ever-increasing curriculum market.
SOURCE: “Special Report: Navigating New Curriculum Choices,” Education Week (March 2017).
