Cultural Whiplash

Slaying the Learning Gap and Effects of Socio-Economic Status in American Education Corbin Campbell 2013 (from research conducted Oct. 2011)   The learning gap has infiltrated the minds of American educators and parents, making everyone wonder why there’s a gap at all, and what it means. I address this issue in a previous post. In this article, I suggest some possible solutions as indicated by research I’ve reviewed. It’s entirely possible that conflicting research exists, as well. There is a noteworthy plethora of learning initiatives and research innovations being tested to better understand the process of learning. Such a wide range of approaches is not likely to occur in many countries in the world, and is a welcome perspective for developing curricular and educational policy. Perhaps someday this approach will arrive at a ‘best for every student’ solution (perhaps a soon-to-be outdated mode of thinking is that what works for students in one place doesn’t wo...

The Learning Gap: Understanding It Dear Parents, Educators, Curricular Writers, and Educational Policy Makers, In the United States, there is something known as The Learning Gap. It occurs in elementary school, when learning is supposed to proceed without interruption, and is terribly distressing in educational circles (as well as to children experiencing the gap from beneath it). There are two important things to note about this gap. The first thing to note is that it has been documented and exists. The second thing to note is that it is misunderstood. The learning gap that does exist may vary somewhat from state to state. However, it is helpful to think of this gap as existing due to a fundamental flaw in curriculum and application of curricular theory. Curricular theory must always take cognitive development into account when curriculum is developed. Curriculum that ignores cognitive development can be counter-productive. The current problem with the learning gap (as I ...

A BROAD TO NARROW PERSPECTIVE ON INFORMATION LITERACY AND HOW IT APPLIES IN EDUCATION Consisting of the following sections: [Information Literacy Defined Broadly; Socio-Cultural Dimension of Information Literacy; An Academic Information Literacy; Information Literacy Integrated with UDL Curricula; Information Literacy Degree of Implementation Based on Grade Level; Origin and Use of the Term: Information Literacy; An Educational Definition of Information Literacy; Addressing 21st century literacies and Information Literacy used in Education; Information Literacy as Envisioned in a Multicultural UDL Classroom; Information Literacy in the First Grade; In Conclusion; References] INFORMATION LITERACY DEFINED BROADLY Information Literacy is difficult to define. While it is possible to rely on a single definition of Information Literacy a person must be careful which definition they use. Most definitions that are available are currently slanted toward one or another group’s agenda,...