“Despite widespread enthusiasm for “21st century learning,” researchers and policy makers around the globe are still trying to articulate exactly what 21st century learning is (Johnston, 2005; Partnership for 21st Century Skills, n. d.)... There is, for example, no specific curriculum regarding what 21st century learning should entail and how that should inform K-12 schooling and curricula” (Jenson, 2).
I have been working for some time now in schooling both as a student and sometimes as a teacher. I can say that this quote(s) is definitive of the backward public education offered in this country. It is frustrating to watch. Studies come out showing the lack of quality education offered but results are few and far between. The curriculum in my opinion needs some radical changes.
I can recall one experience in my first year of education at placement, I remember I was placed in a Careers class. Now this subject is not only boring for majority of kids, useless for most (because they are 15), but also too drawn out and can be done in two weeks rather then two plus months. I remember one kid, who was a smart student, and my job was to get those who do not do work to try and do work. I went to this student, on his spare time and during class just writing complex code. This student was to not effected by this course but also realized the pointlessness of it. Not only that virtually in every other subject that he takes he is an 80+ student. I mean every kid in the course would mention how they want essentially a six-figure job. Good for them to reach high, but statistically this will not happen, how does the educators not see this and say, “you know this course is not realistic”. The point is that digital is the way of the future, IT is the largest growing industry in today's economy and our education hardly reflects that. Education not only does not educate for the times but also allows widespread discrepancies to flourish. Among boys and girls, and also among those computer literate and those who are not.
I remember my schooling as dreadful, i was so excited to go home and play GTA or COD, schooling was boring, and often i did not see a point. During my high school years i dropped math and sciences as soon as i was allowed, i was not interested and there was nothing about computing offered. I liked to talk so i took the classes that allows you to think and formulate opinions. Social sciences.
“The appeal of digital games for players has its roots in the same basic impulses and desires as the games that have come before them. We play games to learn new skills, to feel a sense of achievement, to interact with friends and family, and sometimes just to pass the time” (Fullerton, 22). Education never really got that, never understood what games do for children, for me it was all about enjoyment, to escape but for others it was skill. My roommate is a competitive Counter-Strike player, the sheer breadth of skill blows me away. This person never graduated high school, has zero formal education and yet holds a steady high paying job writing code. The system taught him nothing, instead he loved computers and began hacking (immoral) others. He taught himself what the school system never could. He got a job because of his skills not because of a piece of paper.
In conclusion, education is extremely frustrating for me exactly because it is a passion, and to see this blown apart by the lacklustre system provided breaks my heart. It is not reality-based education it is full of shit (excuse my language). Not a single kid in my careers class wanted a trade, (which are called gold-collared, because of the potential for lots of money). I think this is wrong, education has misled thousands into thinking the only way to succeed is to go to university and get a degree, do more university to get a more specialized degree and then hope you are not overqualified. The simple reality is, that we are in a digital age, and the education hardly reflects that.