Information about Traditional Education

Traditional education is usually the absence or target of destruction by Education reform. In the eyes of reformers, traditional methods must be transformed to a high performance system. However, many parents and conservative citizens prefer retaining time tested methodology. In order to define reformed methods, it is first necessary to define what is traditional. Most of these issues are similar in other nations.

In the United States, education reform is usually cast in contrast with Traditional education methods.

Here is a list of some of the areas of traditional education, and how they compare with some popular reform movements. The associated educational philosophies may also be linked to.

Instruction Centre

Topic	Traditional approach	Alternate approaches
Person	Teacher centered instruction: Educational essentialism Educational perennialism	Student centered instruction Educational progressivism
Materials	Book based instruction: What is the nation's capital?	Project based instruction: a student might be asked to build a model of the US Capitol out of 100 toothpicks

Marking

Topic	Traditional approach	Alternate approaches
Goal-setting, Varying expectations of ability	Letter grade: A is excellent. Students will graduate with different grades, and some will be allowed to fail.	With Standards based grading, some A students may fail to meet the standard, while some D students may pass (source: parents guide to WASL). Under Standards Based Education all students are required to pass a state test benchmarked at certain standards.
Grade inflation/deflation	Achievement based on standard for today. An A yesterday is the same as an A tomorrow.	With Continuous improvement, a student or school may be classified as a failure if s/he does not show improvement over a prior year. WASL.

Subject Areas

Topic	Traditional approach	Alternate approaches
Mathematics	Traditional mathematics: 2+2=4	In Standards-based mathematics a test in Washington state did not require a correct numerical answer for full credit, while a correct numerical answer without an explanation would not receive full credit.
Science	Fact based science: The earth orbits the sun	With Inquiry-based Science a student might be asked to devise an experiment to prove the earth orbits the sun.
Language learning	Phonics: See spot run	With Whole language the child is exposed to rich, relevant politically correct language such as "recycling is beneficial to the environment", rather than the mechanics of phonics or spelling.

Miscellaneous

Topic	Traditional approach	Alternate approaches
Multiple tracks	Academic track and Vocational tracks. Students choose different classes if they plan to go to college, work, or be a homemaker.	With School to work, academically weak students must take AP calculus, while the college bound may have to spend half-days job shadowing at the local automobile dealer.

•  • [ e] Standards-based education reform

Theorists: John Dewey  • William Spady  • Jean Piaget  •Benjamin Bloom  • Robert Carkhuff • Marc Tucker • Maria Montessori Theories: Standards-based education reform  • Outcomes-based education  • Developmentally Appropriate Practice  • Holism  • Constructivism (learning theory)  • Block scheduling  • Holistic grading  • NCEE  • Active learning  • Discovery learning  • Inquiry-based science  • Inventive spelling  • Open-space school  • Small schools movement  • Inclusion Values: Excellence and equity  • Meaningful high school diploma  • High standards  • High expectations  • Continual improvement  • Accountability  • Closing the achievement gap Standards: National Science Education Standards  • National Reading Panel  • Standards-based mathematics National History Standards Federal: No Child Left Behind Act  • Goals 2000  • School-to-work transition Assessment: Authentic assessment  • Criterion-referenced test  • Norm-referenced test  • Standards-based assessment State Assessment: AIMS  • CLAS  • WASL  • MCAS Diploma: Certificate of Initial Mastery  • High school graduation examination Reading Instruction: Balanced literacy  • Decodable text  • Guided reading  • Phonics  • Reading research  • Whole language Traditional Education: Traditional education  • Traditional mathematics  • Direct instruction  • Decodable text  • Rote learning  • Grades  • Lecture  • Tracking (education)  • Standard algorithms  • Correct answer