Want your kids to become entrepreneurs & innovators: How to give your kids a head start
Released recently by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada the Pan-Canadian Assessment of Mathematics, Reading and Science (PCAP) showed some interesting shifts in performance. During 2010, 32,000 Grade 8 students (secondary II in Quebec) in 11 jurisdictions completed the assessment, which primarily focused on math with minor assessments in science and reading. Results are encouraging and concerning at the same time, and warrant discussion.
Overall, the news is very good with 91% of Canadian students performing at expected levels in math and almost half performing above their expected level. Ontario students did very well and were top performers in all three categories. While there was no gender difference in math performance, girls significantly outperformed boys in both reading and science.
So, the good news is that the attention paid to engaging girls in science over the past two decades appears to be showing positive results. The bad news, however, is that boys are at increasing risk of falling further behind.
We simply cannot afford to leave anyone behind. Science underpins our daily lives, our economy, and issues of global importance such as energy, environment, health care and agriculture. If we are to develop 21st century citizens and innovators we must adopt strategies that embrace and engage all learners.
The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada will soon release a PCAP companion ‘Contextual Report’ that will provide more information about how the context of learning impacts the results of students. I am particularly interested in that report because context is critical. A recent Angus Reid Vision Critical poll, commissioned by Let’s Talk Science and Amgen Canada, showed the importance of parental attitudes towards science learning. According to this survey, the vast majority of parents polled (84%) believe that science education is very important for today’s youth and 62% believe that jobs and careers will require more science training than they do today. The majority of youth surveyed (63%) said that their parents have had the greatest influence over their education. However, only 23% of parents responded that they take the time to talk with their children about their educational goals, and science, in particular.
Let’s Talk Science engages boys and girls of all ages in meaningful science explorations. Our national flagship outreach program connects youth with 3,000 postsecondary and industry volunteers. These wonderful role models also foster conversations with kids about the role of science in their future.
At CurioCity.ca, teens can explore the science in their lives through
engaging content, hundreds of insightful articles written by experts in
their fields, videos, career information, online discussions and more.
The content focuses on issues that are of importance to teens, such as
health, current events, technology, sports, entertainment and the
environment. Information found on the website is accurate and credible
and confronts, in a positive manner, the assumption by many teens that
science just isn’t for them.
Let’s celebrate the wonderful achievements shown by the PCAP results but
also work together to ensure that all Canadian youth will be prepared
to thrive in the 21st century.
Article was written for the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation blog at http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/blog/index.php/2011/12/bonnie-schmidt/
