Authentic Assessments Are a Progressive Thesis

Under the Act, educational professionals work within the existing institutional framework. Teaching is still an authoritarian model rather than being student-centered. Learning is assessed using the measures that have failed many children in the past. Instead of changing the methods of teaching and assessment, the No Child Left Behind Act bolsters them.

A far cry from progressive education, No Child Left Behind has become highly controversial and in need of reform. Progressives from all sorts of political and ideological backgrounds can appreciate the need to move away from No Child Left Behind and toward true educational inclusiveness.

4. Educating the whole child is a term used widely in Montessori, which is a progressive philosophy of education. The whole child theory assumes that children are naturally curious and eager to learn (the Montessori School). Moreover, the whole child concept takes into account social development as well as academic skills acquisition. Educating the whole child is a core progressive concept, focusing on the learner and not the teacher. Students learn at their own pace and are free to apply course content to whichever applications they find meaningful to them. Thus, the authentic assessment methods coincide with educating the whole child.

5. Jones (nd) points out that conflict-ridden countries and regions require a special approach to education. That approach takes into account political, economic, and social realities ranging from war to disease epidemics to acute disaster scenarios. Education that makes a difference sprouts from the need to nurture young learners in the most conflicted environments and is rooted in progressivism.

Based partly on the progressive concept that education does not occur in a vacuum, education that makes a difference reflects the Critical approach to education. Social commentary can offer young learners the chance to frame current events in ways that allow them to learn directly from their personal experiences. Education that makes a difference also acknowledges the role of educational institutions in shaping local communities and economies. Making a difference means helping students and community members overcome as well as to understand conflict.

References

Foundation for Excellence in Education. Retrieved Jan 29, 2009 at http://www.excelined.org/Default.aspx

Jones, T.S. (nd). Education That Makes a Difference: Success Stories for Conflict Resolution Educators. Conflict Resolution Education Connection. Retrieved Jan 29, 209 at http://www.creducation.org/resources/Success_Story_1/success_01.htm

The Montessori School. "Educating the Whole Child." Retrieved Jan 29, 2009 at http://www.montessorischool.net/educating

Mueller, J. (2008). What is Authentic Assessment? Retrieved Jan 29, 2009 at http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/whatisit.htm

United States Department of Education (nd). No Child Left Behind. Retrieved Jan 29, 2009 at http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml