Does the curriculum that you use to teach meet the interests of today's youth?

 
TeAch-nology.com's Teacher Poll of the Week
Does the curriculum that you use to teach meet the interests of today's youth?
Yes, it meets the interests.
In some ways, but needs to be revised in some areas.
No, the curriculum is way out of date.
It doesn't need to meet their interests.


View Results
TeAch-nology.com
 

The majority of teachers who participated in this poll feel that the curriculum they use to teach meets the interests of today's youth in some ways, but needs to be revised in some areas. A lesser percentage of respondents feel that student interests are being met. Even fewer teachers feel that the curriculum is way out of date or that it doesn't need to meet student interests at all.

While boisterous and bothersome at times, today's youth are no different than anybody else on this planet. If they are interested in something they are far more motivated to learn about it. The main reason people develop hobbies is to pursue an interest. Most of us don't decide to spend time and energy on a hobby we aren't remotely interested in. The same can be said of schooling. If teachers and the curriculum manage to capture students' interests then learning increases and academic performance improves.

The problem arises in how best to meet the interests of today's youth. Things change so quickly in the modern world that it is almost impossible to keep up. Parents and educators trying to keep track of the latest trends are hard-pressed to do so. Trying to modify curriculum and implement new lesson when things change so quickly would be ridiculous. Individual, short-term trends can be brought into single lessons but not into the curriculum as a whole.

This leaves us with trying to address more widespread interests of today's youth. Technology is one such interest that is long-term and which appeals to many students. However, even with technology things change so quickly that school could never keep up with all the latest gadgets. Courses which teach the fundamentals behind the newest technology as theory without giving students exposure to the actual item would be more cost effective but not as interesting.

It would be interesting to conduct this poll again in another decade. The answers may be very similar to those of today. While teachers recognize the benefits of gearing curriculum toward students' interests, the practicality of doing this means those interests can only be met in some ways. Curriculum may always be playing catch up.