The Global Achievement Gap focused on how schools need to change instruction in order to ensure student success in our changing world. It discusses ways that schools should prepare students for the work force: motivating students by encouraging the use of new technologies, teamwork, and multitasking. The author points out that textbooks and standardized tests are not beneficial in preparing students for the work force. The emphasis is for students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. There is a difinitive need for schools to play "catch up" to the changing world, updating the way education approaches instruction.
Many aspects discussed in the book resonated with me as an educator. I see the need for educators to change the way they teach and think about students in this era. The need for student-based instruction is more important than content-based instruction. Teaching 21st century skills is so important to the success of students as well; although, content standards do not focus on students being taught these skills. As educators, we are continually placed in the middle of a difficult conflict: the fact that we need to be teaching students how to thrive in our society and the fact that NCLB tests students and holds schools accountable for information on a standardized test.
Overall, I feel the book made some great points. However, I do see folly in some of the notions as well. For example, the book emphasized the importance of critical thinking, expressing that textbooks should be thrown out. The problem with that is students need background knowledge in order to think critically. How are students suppose to make connections when they have a limited background of information to connect to. I feel this type of teaching will create a gap as well. A gap between the students who have an abundance of learning and life experiences and the ones who do not.
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