This week we have been discussing 21st century skills that our students will need to become successfull in the ever-changing technological world. To be successful in the future, our students will need to know skills such as information literacy, critical thinking for problem solving, proper global communication skills, teamwork, information technology, leadership, ethics, professionalism, social responsibility and most of all, life-long learning skills. As a teacher who studied how to teach in a more technological world rather than the industrial world of the past, these are all skills and values I personally try to instill in all of my students. Even though I have tried my best to teach these critical skills to my students, I was unaware that these skills were actually referred to as 21st Century Skills. On top of that, I was instructed to observe The Partnership for 21st Century Skills website at http://www.21stcenturyskills.org. Let me tell you, it's an impressive organization and an impressive website.
While first examining this website, I now realize just how big this organization and movement has become. On the website, you can find a bevy of articles stating everything they have done to speak to schools, influence educators, and supply resources for teachers, students, and parents to help foster strong 21st century skills. What really suprised me and impressed me is the impressive line-up of supporters on their roster. Companies like Adobe, Intel, Apple, Dell, Atomic Learning, HP, and even Lego lends their support and have current members of their companies serve on the board.
What I don't understand is why aren't more states on board with this company and this way of educating? Only ten of the fifty states support and are implementing this program. What's even more disappointing is that Maryland, the state in which I teach, hasn't adopted this yet. We were just named one of the top states in the US for elementary education, I'm not quite sure how long that title will last if we don't fully embrace the ideology of 21st century skills.
As stated previously, this website made me feel a little bit better about the teaching I've been doing these past four years. This website makes the importance of 21st century skills widely known and I hope that through this website, I can fine tune my 21st century skills so I can properly convey this important message to my students in the future. I suggest you check it out. These are my thoughts.
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Carmen- I agree that the site shows great credability thanks to it honors and supporters. I also found it interesting that not more states had initiatives to impliment these essential 21st century skill. I teach in West Virginia where we are part of the initiative. I would say that it is a slow moving process, as test scores are always in the spot light. But it is a start. We have actual 21st century standards and objectives that are being introduced and now must be included. The site gave me empowerment in information. Now I have read exactly what is written on implementation in my state I feel comfortable in pushing my students in that direction. I enjoyed your review and too hope to see more states joining p21.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Garvin
Carman, it is very disappointing to read that only a small number of states have jumped on board to the idea of implementing the 21st century skills. I was also amazed at the number of companies that are enrolled in this partnership. They are not just small mom and pop companies; they are big name brand companies that can do a lot of wonderful things for the educational process. Why is it that we are not seeing any assistance from the organizations? It is great that they want to be part of it, but what good are they doing by just being listed as a contributor to this partnership?
ReplyDeleteThere are large computer companies involved in this partnership, and while that is impressive, I, like the others am dissapointed that we have not seen more results. I too would like to see more than ten states involved in this partnership. When is America going to take education seriously?
ReplyDeleteMaybe the state of our economy will shake up the way our country thinks and our values will shift. A major bank in my state of Georgia failed yesterday, Security Bank, and it has everyone talking. Governor Perdue just furloughed teachers for 3 days to help the budget crisis. These are indeed tough times and I'm glad I have a job.
ReplyDeleteEducators just do not get that much respect in our society. Do we need a better product? I think we are heading in the right direction when it comes to educating our future generations but there is still much work to do. Intergating technology into our standards based classrooms will only increase our students interest in education and we have to find every angle possible in peaking that interest.
In the meantime, we must remain steadfast because there are better days ahead. I wish Georgia was a Partner for 21st Century Skills and I will have to find out why we are not.
Coach Bish,
ReplyDeleteI agree that I am extremely thankful to have a job right now. I'm only 5 years out of college and have seen numerous of my college friends find the job they went to school for but now are looking for new work because of being laid off. Times are really tough right now and I'm sorry to hear about the 3 day furlough. They thought of doing that in Maryland, but thankfully, that never came to fruition. Even though I agree that educators don't get that much respect in our society, I guess we still get a little respect knowing that we have a job and that teachers are being furloughed, instead of being laid off. I think with hard working teaching like you and I, we will produce a better product to get all the respect we deserve.
Carman,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about how disappointing it is to see that only ten states have been involved with this program, but am not surprised at the low number. Back when I was looking for a job I was astonished at how many schools did not, in my opinion, have a website that reflected that they were in the 21st century. If something as basic as a webpage for a school is not a priority it stands to reason that being involved with this organization wouldn’t be a priority either.