The New Three Rs: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
Erik Amerikaner, Editor, editor@glencoe-TechZine.com
Every school year, we teachers have a new chance to influence our students' studies, careers, and success. Legislation such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Perkins Act reinforce how learning both academic and technical skills is an essential part of every student's education. Computer education teachers play an important role in supporting the new "three Rs" of learning:- Rigor: Instruction that supports core academic subjects to help students succeed on high-stakes tests.
- Relevance: A curriculum that ties learning to school, work, and home.
- Relationships: Projects that support connections to school and community.
Rigor: As educators, our goal is to increase students' success through standards-based learning. The core academic subjects of reading, writing, and math are the foundation of future success in college and in the workplace. Computer applications courses offer many opportunities for teachers to make connections to core academic standards. For example, when students are working in Excel, they are dealing with math concepts. Working through worksheet formulas with students can help them see how what they are learning in their computer applications course relates to what they are learning in their math class. As students use Word to create business letters and other documents, they are also reinforcing the writing and grammar skills emphasized in the English language arts classroom. Many teachers have integrated core subjects into their lesson plans. By supporting the core curriculum, teachers show students how they can use the skills learned in the computer applications classroom to increase their success in the core academic subjects.
Relevance: For a high school education to be effective, there must be a meaningful connection between students and what they learn. We educators are committed to showing relevance between classroom learning and real-world applications. This typically means linking school to the broader worlds of work and community, and to the skills associated with different professions. Most computer applications classrooms contain students of varying abilities and experience. Some students have used computers since early childhood, while others have had limited exposure to this technology. Our courses need to include lessons that will keep all of these different students engaged and motivated. Activities that are based on real-world scenarios show students how computer application skills can be used beyond the classroom. These activities can both challenge advanced students and help keep at-risk students involved by making learning relevant to their needs and interests. Learning in the computer application classroom can thus improve the achievement of all students—including those who will begin their careers directly after high school as well as those who will obtain four-year degrees and beyond.
Relationships: In addition to traditional academic skills, your students will need strong communication and technical skills to compete in the workplace. Students need to develop their interpersonal, or “soft,” skills to learn how to collaborate successfully to create projects that are high quality and on schedule. Many employers report that new workers have not been trained to work together and have difficulty in group settings. Computer applications courses can include both one-on-one learning opportunities and projects that are team-based, requiring students of varying skills to work collaboratively. Real-world projects can also encourage students to look beyond the computer applications classroom to see how they can use their technical skills in their school and community. Students may find that they can use their abilities to create brochures, newsletters, or budgets to help their favorite sports teams or volunteer organizations!
Glencoe's new iCheck Microsoft Office 2007 is the latest Glencoe text to emphasize the three Rs. Developed specifically to meet the needs of secondary students, the program incorporates national mathematics and English language arts standards along with the new Microsoft Certified Applications Specialist (MCAS) and International Society For Technology Education (ISTE) NETS standards. By integrating the teaching of academic skills into the teaching of technical skills, the iCheck program helps teachers support the need for rigor in the computer applications classroom. Real-world activities and projects help students connect what they are learning to school, home, and work, while reinforcing essential twenty-first-century interpersonal skills. The iCheck program supports teachers in their goal to help students develop the academic and technical skills they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
