Comments on: 21st Century Snake Oil http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/02/03/21st-century-snake-oil/ Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching Content Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:03:38 -0500 hourly 1 By: Robert Pondiscio http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/02/03/21st-century-snake-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-5521 Robert Pondiscio Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:01:41 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1970#comment-5521 I'm with you on that, Deborah. No one disputes the idea that critical thinking, problem solving, etc. are essential components of education. The danger comes in the belief -- acquired mistakenly or deliberately sent -- that skills and knowledge are mutually exclusive. When that happens, it devalues the importance of content, which makes those important skills impossible. They cannot exist in the abstract. I’m with you on that, Deborah. No one disputes the idea that critical thinking, problem solving, etc. are essential components of education. The danger comes in the belief — acquired mistakenly or deliberately sent — that skills and knowledge are mutually exclusive. When that happens, it devalues the importance of content, which makes those important skills impossible. They cannot exist in the abstract.

]]> By: Deborah Vrabel http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/02/03/21st-century-snake-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-5520 Deborah Vrabel Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:55:50 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1970#comment-5520 I don't agree with the word "after." Is it possible to acquire a "good education" without simultaneously developing the seven skills? Wouldn't those skills help students master content knowledge? I don’t agree with the word “after.” Is it possible to acquire a “good education” without simultaneously developing the seven skills? Wouldn’t those skills help students master content knowledge?

]]> By: tm willemse http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/02/03/21st-century-snake-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-5519 tm willemse Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:04:31 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1970#comment-5519 <i>Frankly, the seven skills he lists — critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, initiative, communication, analysis, and imagination - seem reasonable enough, but they are also so vague as to be unhelpful in informing schools about what to do.</i> This sounds more like a list of the seven habits of highly effective people. But these are skills one acquires after acquiring a good education. Frankly, the seven skills he lists — critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, initiative, communication, analysis, and imagination – seem reasonable enough, but they are also so vague as to be unhelpful in informing schools about what to do.
This sounds more like a list of the seven habits of highly effective people. But these are skills one acquires after acquiring a good education.

]]> By: Crimson Wife http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/02/03/21st-century-snake-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-5518 Crimson Wife Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:05:57 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1970#comment-5518 I have noticed that there has been a shift from incidental cultural references (like the Bugs Bunny one) to more self-consciously deliberate ones (like in the "Baby Einstein" cartoons). It's not that the latter are bad per se, but they do have a bit of a didactic tone about them rather than blending naturally into the overall piece. My DD is currently reading the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, which were recently on the New York Times best sellers list. They are full of references to Greek mythology, but there's a lot more accompanying explanation than what is found in classic children's literature. The older authors assume that their audience is familiar with the source material so the allusions can be more subtle. I have noticed that there has been a shift from incidental cultural references (like the Bugs Bunny one) to more self-consciously deliberate ones (like in the “Baby Einstein” cartoons). It’s not that the latter are bad per se, but they do have a bit of a didactic tone about them rather than blending naturally into the overall piece.

My DD is currently reading the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series, which were recently on the New York Times best sellers list. They are full of references to Greek mythology, but there’s a lot more accompanying explanation than what is found in classic children’s literature. The older authors assume that their audience is familiar with the source material so the allusions can be more subtle.

]]> By: Robert Pondiscio http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/02/03/21st-century-snake-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-5516 Robert Pondiscio Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:29:59 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1970#comment-5516 I wonder how many of us know common melodies from classical and folk music courtesy of Bugs Bunny and Looney Toons. Quite a few, I'd wager. http://www.emusic.com/lists/showlist.html?lid=17602622 I wonder how many of us know common melodies from classical and folk music courtesy of Bugs Bunny and Looney Toons. Quite a few, I’d wager.

http://www.emusic.com/lists/showlist.html?lid=17602622

]]> By: Stuart Buck http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2009/02/03/21st-century-snake-oil/comment-page-1/#comment-5515 Stuart Buck Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:14:39 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1970#comment-5515 Great point about the Bugs Bunny cartoons. Think of the Bugs Bunny cartoon <a href="http://stuartbuck.blogspot.com/2007/06/nea-chairman-dana-gioia-recently-said.html" rel="nofollow">with a cry of "Leopold"</a> -- how many people would grasp a similar cartoon today? Great point about the Bugs Bunny cartoons. Think of the Bugs Bunny cartoon with a cry of “Leopold” — how many people would grasp a similar cartoon today?

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