Conversation Assignment

What are the greatest benefits and challenges of teaching in the new curriculum?

• Benefits:
  • The new curriculum is more relevant to the 21^st century (more technology)
  • The new curriculum encourages more transdisciplinary teaching and learning
  • More focused on competencies as opposed to content – competencies such as communication, thinking and personal & social development
  • Ignites a new motivation for teachers to learn something new
  • The new curriculum is more wide-ranging – covers a broader range of skills
  • Gives both students and teachers more autonomy – teachers can therefore pursue their own interest’s/students interests
  • Curriculum promotes inquiry – a new way of teaching
• Challenges:
  • Not enough support/training for the new curriculum
  • Training days aren’t planned well – ministry needs to give more direction
  • The new report card is a whole new system, which requires time commitment in order to learn
  • New concepts to learn
  • Having to explain the new curriculum to parents

What questions/concerns do experienced teachers have about implementing the new curriculum?

• Some people don’t like it, because they feel as though someone else is telling them what to do and to change the way they teach
• Q: Where/what are the resources available for the new curriculum?

What do experienced teachers want to communicate to parents about the new curriculum?

• We want to get parents excited about the new curriculum
• We need parents to understand that implementing the new curriculum is going to take time and that there may be some issues at the beginning
• That the new curriculum will better prepare their children for future success