"The Collaboration Age"

After reading the article titled: "World Without Walls: Learning Well with Others," I was very inspired. I was intrigued by Laura Stockman, an eleven year old blogger. She has so many readers from so many different parts of the world. She is a community volunteer. And all at the age of 11? I'm impressed. What a great way for this developing mind to learn and share her ideas. I suppose this is what the Collaboration Age is all about.

After reading this article, I couldn't help but make a connection back to my own childhood. It might seem like a stretch, but this form of collaboration amongst young children reminded me of having a "pen pal" when I was about her age. Granted, I was writing to one person in another state somewhere, with a pencil and paper, snail mail, and the whole nine yards. Now, Laura (and probably many others her age), have taken it to the next level with blogging. She is collaborating with multiple people at a time, giving and receiving feedback through the Web.

This article suggests that this linear curriculum that surrounds us is on it's way out the door. I can only hope they are on to something. Students are discovering new ways to obtain information. Textbooks are no longer a go-to tool. As technology changes, education needs to be changing with it, especially curriculum.

Curriculum Planning and Development

As a Title I Ed. Tech. (or long term sub), I don't have as much involvement in the planning and development of the curriculum as I would like. My main role is to supplement the curriculum by providing student with extra support.
 
In RSU 64, the math curriculum is based around the Common Core Standards. RSU 64 uses the Envision Math Program to meet these standards. A scope and sequence is created and defined by the grade level teams. My role in this math program is to provide students with extra support, including re-teaching, extra practice, and intervention.
 
The district where I am currently employed uses Lucy Calkins as a guide for the writing curriculum and DWA as the assessment piece. Again, the grade level teams create the scope and sequence for the writing curriculum, basing it off of the Lucy Calkins writing program. All of the literacy topics are decided upon by the grade level teams and literacy coach.

All of that being said, I know how the curriculum is planned and developed in my district, I just am unfortunately not a part of it just yet.