I have to admit right from the beginning that I downloaded and printed the whole Partnership for 21st Century Skills report. (http://www.p21.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf) I had a hard time following the material when trying to read the information on the computer. With that said, I do feel the report made some key points about the skills students will need to know as our world has transformed into a global community. Students will need to become life learners due to the constant changes in technology that they will encounter. Teachers need to help students develop stronger critical thinking skills, learn how to apply knowledge to new situations, and collaborate to solve problems and make decisions so they will be ready to use next-generation technology.
I do not think many educators would argue the fact that we need to teach students how to use current technology. However, the main problem for most school district is how to fund the technology schools need to teach students. I disagree with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills when it stated that schools will see an end to current budget constraints. Schools and businesses need to work together to help bring the needed resources into the schools. The website does list specific steps that federal, state, and local policymakers, businesses, and parents can do to work together with education leaders to provide students with the necessary 21st century tools.
As a contemporary educator I will continue to work on having a classroom where collaboration and group work are an important part of the learning process. Students will continue to build strong communication and critical thinking skills as they work with peers on group projects.
I agree that the suffering financial institution for education is far from being over. Just this year I had to furlough five days and there is a possibility of our entire state furloughing ten days in order to just put a dent in the disheartening financial budget. Our district has explained to us if it cannot be purchased through a grant then it will not even be considered to be purchased through the district. With that being said, how are we expected to stay on top of the current technology?
ReplyDeleteAs an educator of almost sixteen years, I have seen the world of education change dramatically. It has all been a positive change and I have tried to stay on top by becoming a lifelong learner. I try just as you to build strong communication and critical thinking skills with my fifth graders as well as problem solving and decision making skills. It is important for students to acquire these skills if they are going to be able to survive in the real world.
I agree with you that the information was very hard to filter through on their website. It was not very well organized. You are exactly right about teaching our students to be life long learners. It is far more important to teach our students how to learn when it comes to these technologies then just giving them information to memorize about a piece of technology. As long as they have learned to adapt and grow with all the new technologies that they will come across in their lifetime then we have done a good job.
ReplyDeleteI concur on the overwhelming amount of information offered by the 21st Century Movement. Like many of you, who have been teaching for while, have become more and more burdened by your district and state to improve the numbers. Numbers being how our students rank after taking the annual standardized state test. They ask us for more accountability, more education, and more ways out of the classroom to contribute to your students overall well being. Now, with time, the focus will once again shift to skills needed for an unpredictable work force, yet not mention of how financially to provide for them. It is like an assembly line creating a product with the hope that there will be a market to sale them into.
ReplyDeleteIf, with all its scattered information, Partnership for 21st Century Skills begins to create a real movement that influence educational reform, than count me in. Their ideas and foundation seem sound, now it is up to us to dig deep to find the true substance that will help us where we need it the most, in the classroom.
Cheers from John M. Alatorre
I agree that the main roadblock to integrating technology into the classroom is funding. The business, education, and government leaders who are members of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills need to spend more time collaborating on ways to fund technology. Just as certain tools are needed to teach the core subjects, teaching 21st century skills require certain tools as well. Until all educators and students are provided with these tools, the discussion about these skills seems somewhat moot.
ReplyDeleteWell said, dfort. Funding for new technologies as they become available is an issue in my district as well as many others I'm sure. I would be interested in hearing more about how P21 feels school districts will see an end to current budget constraints.
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