New+Academic+Standard+Directions

There are yet another set of NEW curriculum standards on the K - 12 Educational Landscape.

[|Common Core Standards] are a new set of curriculum standards designed to be more relevant to students' everyday lives. Common Core is a relatively new organization but the standards are based on the core curriculum topics starting with Language Arts and Mathematics. Three-quarters of the states adopted a new set of common academic standards in the first six months of 2010. *To note, many online educational companies such as Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and others are rallying to adjust their products to align with the new common core standards. [|Curriculum Mapping of these standards]by grade levels has some interesting integrated units that include assessments, book lists, and more, which will be available for comments in fall 2010.

The Partnership for 21st Century has a set of standards based not only on the three R's but also on the four C's - Critical Thinking and problem solving, Communication (effective), Collaboration and team building and Creativity and innovation. 14 states have aligned with these standards. A June 2, 2010 news article acknowledged the common core standards but "we urge them (states implementing standards) to do so in a way that honors the fusion of the three Rs and four Cs (critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, communication and creativity and innovation). The states and CCSSO should work together and seek out models from across the country to make this happen."

Explanation of four C's
**Critical thinking and problem solving**—including the ability to make decisions, solve problems, and take action as appropriate; **Effective communication**—the ability to synthesize and transmit your ideas both in written and oral formats; **Collaboration and team building**—the ability to work effectively with others, including those from diverse groups and with opposing points of view; **Creativity and innovation**—the ability to see what’s NOT there and make something happen.

In an American Marketing Association 2010 Critical Skills Survey (see below executive summary), the following was found:
 * Proficiency in reading, writing, and arithmetic has traditionally been the entry-level threshold to the job market, but the new workplace requires more from its employees.
 * Employees need to think critically, solve problems, innovate, collaborate, and communicate more effectively—and at every level within the organization. A ccording to the //AMA 2010 Critical Skills Survey//, many executives admit there is room for improvement among their employees in these skills and competencies.
 * Reason for shift are seen as nature of work, global competition, pace of change, and organization structure.