Core Content standards and modes of communication in education

Education

Over the last several years, educators have been facing considerable challenges in meeting rising expectations for performance. This is because a host of solutions (such as the No Child Left Behind Act) have not addressed the lack of student achievement. Instead, academic performance has continued to linger and become worse in some areas (i.e. mathematics and science). (Hannah, 2012)

In New Jersey, the Core Content and Common Core Curriculum standards is designed to provide clarity on specific subjects and topics students must learn in order to graduate from high school. To fully understand how this occurring requires examining the way it is related to the concepts from Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses and a contemporary issue. This will be accomplished by focusing on the modes of communication, its shape and the way the literature can provoke cultural insights. Together, these elements will highlight how the Core Content and Common Core Curriculum standards are addressing selects challenges using Metamorphoses as a source. (Hannah, 2012)

Select one cultural lens (graphic organizer)

The graphic organizer is concentrating on how science curriculum is taught based upon common cultural beliefs and practices. This is an area of contention, as American students have been underperforming in science for many decades. What makes the situation so troubling; is these levels are becoming consistently worse in the last few years. These issues are creating an environment where students do not want to learn about key concepts for both disciplines. In the future, this will more likely result in reduced innovation and productivity for many firms. (Rich, 2012)

Generally, how do various modes of communication shape intended messages?

The forms of communication will determine the kinds of words that are utilized. For instance, when someone is talking, they will say things differently vs. If it was written. In the last several years, writing is changing with many short phrases and initials used to convey various ideas. This shapes the intended message by showing the underlying amounts of emotion and the sophistication of the individual. (Wandberg, 2000)

How can literature provoke cultural insight beyond the text itself?

The literature can lead to cultural insights, through offering a better understanding of different concepts from contrasting perspectives. This is because each author will have their own interpretations about various events and their underlying meaning upon them. These opinions will shape how someone looks at various events and their impact on them. (Wandberg, 2000)

Two Scenes from the Play and the Core Content and Common Core Curriculum Standards

The two scenes from Metamorphoses that will be examined are Cosmogony and Erysichthon & Ceres. Cosmogony is explaining the creation of the world. This is taking place with: a scientist, a women and Zeus narrating. All changes were in response to chaos that was created in an effort to restore balance and order. This is achieved through the gods intervening and letting the natural order unfold. ("Science Standards," 2013) (Zimmerman, 1996)

These ideas are related to creationism and evolution. Creationism believes that the natural order of things can be disturbed directly or indirectly through god. To achieve these objectives he will often use the natural order as a tool in his favor. Evolution thinks that humankind evolved from a single species over the course of millions of years. The differences are the natural order was chosen based upon the principle of survival of the fittest. There is little to no interference from deities or other forces in the process. ("Science Standards," 2013) (Zimmerman, 1996)

In this case, Metamorphoses is telling a story about the creation of the world. To do this, the main characters will take two perspectives. This mirrors what is taught through creationism and Darwinism. As a result, this is a classical way of understanding the challenges impacting stakeholders and the long-term influences on them. ("Science Standards," 2013) (Zimmerman, 1996)

Erysichthon & Ceres is taking a theological and mythological approach when it comes to the existences of the gods. This takes place with Erysichthon refusing to believe in the power of the deities and subsequently chops down a sacred tree. His actions anger the god of hunger. He makes Erysichthon starve, until he eats himself. To protect his mother against further embracement, she is turned into a child. ("Science Standards," 2013) (Zimmerman, 1996)

This relates to the Core Content and Common Core Curriculum standards by illustrating the importance of understand mythology and ethics. From a social perspective, his actions were designed to provoke outrage and condemnation. This is something that the code is focused on in the classroom by teaching students these skills. These objectives are achieved through using this as a tool to provide them with fables they will remember for the rest of their lives. When they are interacting in the real world, the lessons they learned will influence their behavior and actions. ("Science Standards," 2013) (Zimmerman, 1996)

Conclusion

Clearly, the Core Content and Common Core Curriculum standards are having a dramatic impact on stakeholders. This is because these changes are seeking to improve student achievement in science and mythology through using these concepts to teach them new ideas. In this case, these transformations are occurring through using Cosmogony and Erysichthon & Ceres from Metamorphoses to illustrate the best practices.

Both are using religion to teach everyone about the beginning of the world and the most common factors for any change (i.e. The desire to instill order and stability). At the same time, it is providing ethical insights using mythology. These areas are illustrating new techniques for making each subject exciting and fun. This is occurring through working in conjunction with the main ideas from the Core Content and Common Core Curriculum standards. In the future, these concepts are creating new way to teach and engage students. This is the key for improving academic performance.