My first reaction to this site was that it had a great deal of information on ways to integrate 21st century skills to students. There are many members affiliated with this organization that support the need for using 21st century skills to prepare students for future jobs. It was key that they added the skills necessary for the 21st century with the core subjects that need to be taught. These skills are important and can be taught to coincide with what students are already learning.
I was surprised to see the resources that were available to teachers. This organization has provided teachers with tools that will help us integrate 21st century skills into education without starting from scratch. They have taken the burden off teachers by supplying us with standards, assessments, student outcomes, and support systems. Everything is broken down and provides detail of student outcomes and support systems.
As a teacher, this encourages me to provide my students with an education that promotes both the core subjects that they need to know in addition to the 21st century skills they need for the future. We cannot expect students to leave school with just basic knowledge skills and need to encourage expert thinking and communication. It is not going to be an easy task if everyone is not on board. All teachers need to be focused on teaching core subjects in addition to 21st century skills. This is something that all states should promote. Students today are expected to know more than just reading, writing, and math skills. We need to encourage students to become lifelong learners and focus on their creativity, expert thinking skills, communication, and collaboration. These skills can be taught effectively in the classroom by using technology. If we want our students to be competitive with others for jobs, we need to provide them with the skills they need to be successful. I will need to do all that I can to support these skills and ensure that students have a great understanding for their importance in today’s society.
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The teacher resources was one of my favorite parts of the website as well. You can plan an entire curriculum with the resources they provide. I will definitely be using the 21st Century Skills website throughout my upcoming school year.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they provide so many resources that will help us in the classroom. I think this site showed that it is possible to incorporate the skills along with the current curriculum. Is your state already part of this organization?
ReplyDeleteNo we are not. Oregon seems to like to do things to be the beat of their own drum and not care what others think of us. I do not see why it would be an issue if individual teachers or groups of teachers in a school really try and incorporate some of the ideas the the 21st Century Skills Org. has to offer.
ReplyDeleteI also found the website & teacher resources to be an amazing amount of information and I look forward to incorporating more of these skills in my class during the upcoming school year to help my student be more well rounded and better prepared for the future. I must say I was really surprised at the low number of member states given the fact that it has been in existance since 2002 and that it has such valuable and important business partners. It would seem as states are looking to increase business opportunities for their respective states that they would want to have students graduating from schools with the necessary skills to be competetive for high paying jobs. Why do you think more states haven't joined? Do you think the focus has been too much on AYP and not on technology?
ReplyDeleteMy state is not on the list either. I agree with Aaron that teachers or groups of teachers could come together to incorporate some of the 21st century skills that students need.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many states actually know about the website? It may be an issue of not knowing about it having to do with not many states listed. I think to some degree states have focused too much on AYP and not technology. Technology is something that should be used to enhance what students are learning and then maybe we would not have as many issues with schools not meeting AYP if they are learning and retaining what is being taught.