Abstract
This paper reports on an initial website review of Ministries of Education, provincial teacher associations and select school jurisdictions across Canada with respect to their publically available and visible policy commitments to 21st century educational reforms. This review was conducted for the purposes of drawing conclusions about the current state of these reform efforts in Canada and, consequently, to provide implications for the future. Through the implementation of thematic analysis findings revealed that the publically available 21st century reform policy of provincial Ministries of Education tended to be best described by one of three frames: the futurist frame, the political frame and the teacher as change agent frame.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alberta Education. (2008). Supporting the literacy learner: Promising literacy strategies in Alberta. Edmonton, AB: Author. Retrieved from http://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/library/egovdocs/2008/aled/168474.pdf
Alberta Education. (2010). Inspiring Action on Education. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/site/eduilebanff/48763522.pdf.
Alberta Education. (2013). Ministerial order on student learning (#001/2013). Retrieved from http://www.education.alberta.ca/media/6951645/skmbt_c36413050707450.pdf
Alberta Teachers’ Association. (2012). A great school for all: Transforming education in Alberta. Edmonton, AB: The Alberta Teachers Association. Retrieved from http://www.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/Publications/Research/PD-86-26%20A%20Great%20School%20for%20All-Transforming%20Education%20in%20Alberta.pdf .
Alberta Teachers Association. (2015). Renewing Alberta’s promise: A great school for all. Edmonton, AB: The Alberta Teachers Association. Retrieved from https://www.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/Publications/Research/COOR-101-3%20Renewing%20Albertas%20Promise.pdf
British Columbia Ministry of Education. (2012). Enabling innovation: Transforming curriculum and assessment. Retrieved from http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/docs/ca_transformation.pdf
Clarke, J. N., & Binns, J. (2006). The portrayal of heart disease in mass print magazines: 1991-2001. Health Communication, 19(1), 39–48.
District School Board of Ontario Northeast. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.dsb1.edu.on.ca/index.php
Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. (n.d.). About CMEC. Retrieved from mec.ca/11/About/index.html
Good Spirit School Division. (2016). Board of Education. Retrieved from http://www.gssd.ca/Board/Pages/default.aspx
International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century., Delors, J., & Unesco. (1996). Learning, the treasure within: Report to UNESCO of the International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century. Paris: Unesco Pub
Lessard, C., Neault, G., Rioux, G., Bouchard, J., Bureau-Blouin, L., Chabot, L., Thibeault, R., & Canuel, R. (2016). 15 years after the Quebec Education reform: Critical Reflections. Education Canada. Retrieved from http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada/article/15-years-after-quebec-education-reform-critical-reflections.
Manitoba Education (2016). Curriculum essentials. Retrived from http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/essentials/index.html
Manitoba Teachers’ Society (2016). Newsmagazine of the Manitoba Teachers Society. The Teacher, (94)4. Retrieved from https://www.mbteach.org/library/Archives/MBTeacher/Jan-Feb16_MBT.pdf
Ministere de l’Education. (2001a). Quebec Education Program (Approved version): Preschool Education, Elementary Education. Retrieved from http://www1.mels.gouv.qc.ca/sections/programmeFormation/primaire/pdf/educprg2001/educprg2001.pdf.
Ministere de l’Education. (2001b). Chapter 1: A curriculum for the 21st century. Retrieved from http://www1.mels.gouv.qc.ca/sections/programmeFormation/secondaire2/medias/en/1_QEP_Chap01.pdf.
Minister’s Panel on Education. (2014). Disrupting the status quo: Nova Scotians demand a better future for every student. Retrieved from https://www.ednet.ns.ca/files/reports/report_minister_panel_on_education.pdf.
Naylor, C. (2011). 21st century learning: Widening the frame of focus and debate. A BCTF Research discussion paper. BCTF Research. Retrieved from https://bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Issues/21CL/21CL-DiscussionPaper.pdf
Nova Scotia Teachers Union. (2011). NSTU Response to: Steps to effective and sustainable public education in Nova Scotia: The Dr. Ben Levin Report. Retrieved from http://nstu.ca/images/pklot/NSTU%20response%20to%20the%20Ben%20Levin%20Report%20(May%2018,%202011).pdf.
Nova Scotia Ministry of Education. (2015). Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for Education 2015: The 3 R’s: Renew, Refocus, Rebuild. Retrieved from https://www.ednet.ns.ca/files/2015/Education_Action_Plan_2015_EN.pdf
Ontario Ministry of Education (2014). Achieving Excellence: A renewed vision for education in Ontario. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/about/renewedVision.pdf.
Ontario Teachers Federation. (2016). Ontario Teachers Federation. Retrieved from http://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/.
Premier’s Technology Council. (2010). A vision for 21st century education. Vancouver, BC: Premier’s Technology Council. Retrieved from http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/attachments/PTC_vision%20for_education.pdf
Rocky Mountain School District #6. (2016). About us. Retrieved from http://www.sd6.bc.ca/index.php?2-about-us
Rocky View Schools. (2016). 21st century learning competencies. Retrieved from http://www.rockyview.ab.ca/21stC/learning/competencies
Saskatchewan Ministry of Education (2010). Renewed Curricula: Understanding Outcomes. Retrieved from http://www.education.gov.sk.ca/Renewed-Curricula-Understanding-Outcomes
Saskatchewan School Boards Association. (2013). Vision 2025: Strategic Plan 2013-2025. Retrieved from http://saskschoolboards.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Oct12_StrategicPlan_2013-2025.pdf.
Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. (2015). This is the Classroom (web page). Retrieved from http://thisistheclassroom.ca/category/teaching/.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burns, A. A Cross Canada Inventory: Evidence of 21st Century Educational Reform in Canada. Interchange 48, 283–292 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10780-017-9301-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10780-017-9301-6