Creating Student Agency In a World of Big Curriculum
Isn’t there more to learning than passing state tests?
In 2019, I accepted a job teaching English at a local high school. I was still a fairly green teacher, having spent two years teaching at another district, and I was excited to bring my skills to a new workplace.
As I started this new job, my department and the district central office had just finished finalizing the purchase of a new department curriculum. Gone are the days of the old textbooks, and into the future, we went with brand new, technology-based programs designed to engage a new generation of students!
The new program, StudySync, was created by McGraw Hill, one of the biggest names in Edtech. According to its website, the program “leverages technology and media to engage and inspire students in their academic pursuits. StudySync provides educators with an easy-to-use platform to deliver adaptable, interactive, and equitable learning solutions.”
This is corporate jargon for “helps kids maybe, kinda, sorta, do better on state tests.”
My district paid about a million dollars for the program. That included access to a digital learning tool, four physical workbooks for each student, and professional development provided by McGraw Hill trainers.
