Partnership for 21st Century Skills

http://www.p21.org/
I found the website of the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills to be very interesting.  I think that the organization has set great goals and ambitions in helping today’s youth become ready and successful in the 21^st century.  U.S. schools lack the tools and resources to prepare their students for the technology filled world that lies ahead of them.  P21 provides those tools and resources to U.S. schools to help them keep up with the changing world and workforce.  These tools and resources will help students to gain the skills they need to be productive and successful members of society.

While exploring the P21 site I came across some information that was quite surprising to me.  As I was looking over the framework for 21^st century learning I was taken back by how much emphasis is put on career and life skills, learning and innovation skills (collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity), and information media and technology skills.  I always knew that educators had to incorporate these skills into their pedagogy, but I never realized how much emphasis was really put on it.  When I think of “school”, especially the elementary level, I automatically think of reading, writing, and math.  Then, of course, I think of the other subjects such as health, science, social studies, etc.  I think that the emphasis on career and life skills, innovation skills, and information media and technology skills has definitely grown in the 21^st century due to the boost in technology and modern technological gadgets.  Students need to be prepared for the real-world and a major part of that is knowing how to use technology and programs that they will be introduced to in the workforce.  Reading and understanding the framework has helped me to understand the issues surrounding 21^st century skills.  I also reflected upon myself as an educator and thought of strategies I could use in my teaching to teach my students these skills and help to prepare them for their future in the workforce.

I have to be honest, after taking time to browse through the P21 website I found that I agree with almost everything P21 is trying to accomplish and all of the information the website provides, in fact, I couldn’t find anything I disagree with.  I think that everything the website says is true.  In particular, students need to be prepared for the world that lies ahead of them and there is a gap between what they need to know and what is taught in schools.  P21 also suggests that assessment needs to be balanced and should include standardized assessment along with effective classroom formative and summative assessment.  Schools put a huge emphasis on standardized tests and seem to neglect other forms of assessment. I don’t think standardized tests are entirely effective.  They should be partnered with other forms of assessment to ensure that all of the 21^st century skills are being taught and achieved effectively.

As a contemporary teacher I need to be aware of the 21^st century skills that my students need to learn and achieve.  I need to incorporate these skills into my daily lessons to ensure that my students are prepared for their future and the workforce.  In addition to teaching the basic core subjects such as reading, writing, and math; I need to teach them life and career skills, learning and innovation skills, and information media and technology skills.  These are skills students must know in order to be successful in their futures and in the real-world.  I also need to consider assessment and the types of assessment I use to determine if the students are successfully learning and applying 21^st century skills.  I need to incorporate a variety of balanced testing styles into my lessons to make sure all learners are being reached and all skills are being achieved. 

Today’s students have a challenging road ahead of them and educators need to start preparing them from the beginning of their school careers.  The gap between 21^st century skills and what is being taught in the classroom needs to be closed and it’s our job as educators to do so.

Using A Blog In My Classroom

In my first grade classroom blogs would be a great way for me to communicate with parents and other teachers in my building about upcoming classroom and school events.  I could also communicate with parents about upcoming assignments, projects, tests, assemblies, etc.  Doing so will avoid the common problem of parents “not knowing” about a project, test, or other important piece of information because their child failed to convey the information.  The blog would serve as a means to keep parents abreast of what’s going on in our classroom and school.  Parents could check on the blog as often as they want and post on the blog as often as they want.  This will build a strong connection between the parents and teacher as well as make the parents feel like they are included and a part of their child’s learning experience.  Parents will be able to ask questions and post concerns they may have on the blog.  It will also give them a place to communicate with other parents.

I would use the blog to post pictures of the classroom and various projects that the students created, allowing parents and other teachers to see what’s going on in the classroom.  It will allow me to display student work and achievements.

Considering the grade level and age of my students, I wouldn’t expect them to blog.  I would not use blogging as a way for students to interact.  However, I would use the blog to showcase student work and share their learning with the larger community such as the school as a whole and the school district. 

The blog will give me a place to post a description of expectations and benchmarks for my first grade class.  Doing so will allow parents to know what is expected of their children throughout the school year and where they are expected to be before leaving first grade.  I would not post individual student grades or benchmarks on the blog; that is personal information that should only be shared with the parents of that student.  However, if a parent has concerns or questions they can be asked on the blog, or, a parent/teacher meeting can be set up using the blog.

I think that a blog would be a great instructional tool because it would give me a place to outline class goals and expectations as well as post upcoming assignments, projects, tests, etc.  It would also give me a place to showcase student work and achievements and display pictures of our classroom.  In addition, the blog would be a great place for open communication between parents and teachers.  All of these factors would enhance my teaching experience and well as the overall learning experience of my students.

Reflecive Practices Among Language Arts Teachers: The Use of Weblogs

My student teacher shared this article with me.  She had to read it for one of her classes.  I didn't get a chance to read the whole thing yet, I just skimmed through it, but I thought it seemed interesting....

http://www.citejournal.org/vol8/iss1/languagearts/article1.cfm

It's an article by Beverly B. Ray and Gail A. Coulter from Idaho State University.  The article examines the importance of reflective teacher practices and whether the use of teacher blogs reflected their practice.  It might be very insightful!

Interesting Articles on Technology

Thornburg, D. (2004). Technology and education: Expectations, not options. (Executive Briefing No. 401). Retrieved from http://www.tcpdpodcast.org/briefings/expectations.pdf

Associated Press. (2008, May 9). Technology-rich classrooms render textbooks useless. Teacher Magazine. Used by permission.