As you are likely aware, Friends School has never offered AP courses (our students do, though, often take the AP exams and have an extraordinarily strong record on them). This article discusses the change in direction that is underway for the AP, a change that is fueled by the same reasons that we have steered clear of these courses in the past. The College Board is now acknowledging what we have long understood; that the AP approach (with its focus on the memorization of vast quantities of information rather than the development of essential skills) flies in the face of good educational practice and the needs of the 21st Century. "The new approach is important because critical thinking skills are considered essential for advanced college courses and jobs in today’s information-based economy." We at Friends agree wholeheartedly, and have built our Teaching and Learning paradigm around this belief.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/education/edlife/09ap-t.html?_r=1
No comments:
Post a Comment