This document discusses several current trends, challenges, and issues in education. It addresses how teachers need to serve as caring models for students and prepare them for caring relationships. It also discusses how the rise of technology is increasing the skills needed for students to obtain jobs and how schools need to better incorporate technology into the classroom to prepare digital native students. The document also covers how the increasing diversity of students requires teachers to relate to diverse populations and present multicultural curriculums. Finally, it examines the goals of No Child Left Behind and Common Core to ensure all students succeed and receive a uniform standard of education.

1. Connections:
Current Trends,
Challenges, and
Issues in Education
Angela Jenkins
MED/560
May 16, 2015

2. Teachers as Carers
• Teachers are models and as
such demonstrate caring in
education.
• Teachers need to develop
caring relationships with
students and prepare
students for caring
relationships with others.
• This affects the secondary
student’s relationships with
others.
• Students need to practice
caring before they become
carers. Group work can
assist with this need if
handled correctly.
• In an incident of bullying
the teacher-carer responds
to both victim and bully.
Trend
Source: Noddings, N

3. Technological Revolution
• Employers are demanding
more skilled workers.
• US workers are having to
compete with less skilled
workers around the globe.
• As a result high school
students will need
postsecondary education to
compete.
• This affects the secondary
student’s ability to get a job and
be successful.
• A few years ago students would
drop out of school at 16 to go to
work. While they might not have
made a lot of money they were
able to be successful.
• Today dropping out of school is
not going to equal a paying job or
success.
• Students need to stay in school.
Issue
Source: Rouse, C. E., & Kemple, J. J.

4. Technology
• Schools need to increase the
amount of technology
offered within the classroom.
• School systems struggle to
purchase technology needed
for classes. Finances are
tight.
• Teachers need to learn how
to use technology as part of
the curriculum.
• This affects both the teachers and
secondary students.
• Students are digital natives thus
technology is equivalent to air for
them. Having technology within the
classroom would increase their
learning curve.
• Students need to use technology on a
daily basis to prepare for real world
situations.
• Teachers are digital immigrants and are
not familiar with technology usage.
• Without improving their use and
knowledge of technology, teachers lose
the ability to relate to today’s students.
Challenge
Source: Kellough, R., & Kellough, N.

5. Diversity
• Student demographics are
changing.
• “Browning” and “graying”
are changing the student
population in schools.
• 1972 statistics depict white
student population at 78%
compared to 2005 statistics
at 58%.
• This affects both the teachers
and secondary students.
• Teachers need to relate to a
diverse student population.
• Teachers need to present a
multicultural curriculum.
• Without a change in teacher’s
approach to curriculum and
students the secondary student
will not be able to compete on a
global platform.
Trend
Source: McCray, E. D., & McHatton, P. A.

6. NCLB and Common Core
• No Child Left Behind’s
purpose to was that each
student succeed in school
and not be left behind in
their education.
• The purpose of Common
Core is to have uniform
standards of education
across the entire nation.
• This affects both the teachers and
secondary students.
• A teacher’s responsibility is to
present curriculum based on
current state standards and
Common Core while ensuring
that no student is left behind.
• Teachers are responsible for
preparing students for standard
tests.
• Students are affected when
curriculum is not taught. This
results in he or she being left
behind.
Challenge
Source: Kellough, R., & Kellough, N.

7. Rankings
1. Teachers as Carers
2. Diversity
3. Technology
4. NCLB and Common
Core
5. Technological
Revolution
I ranked my connections
from highest to lowest.
Basically teaching starts with
the teacher so if they aren’t
carers, aware of diversity,
and becoming
technologically sound then
nothing else in the classroom
matters. A great teacher can
create their own curriculum
based on standards and can
prepare students for their
future and convince them to
stay in school.

8. References
• Kellough, R., & Kellough, N. (2011). Secondary school
teaching: A guide to methods and resources (4th ed., pp.
4-300). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education.
• McCray, E. D., & McHatton, P. A. (2010). Current
demographics and challenges: The education imperative.
Race, Gender & Class, 17(1/2), 47-50.
• Noddings, N. (2010). Moral education in an age of
globalization. Educational Philosophy & Theory, 42(4),
390-396. doi:10.1111/j.1469-5812.2008.00487.x
• Rouse, C. E., & Kemple, J. J. (2009). Introducing the issue.
Future Of Children, 19(1), 3-15.