Partnership for 21st Century Skills

http://www.p21.org/

The link above will take you to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills website.

This website is easy to maneuver and simple in its design and you will find it easy to access their mission, views, resources, news, and initiatives. My biggest surprise was the fact that Michigan was not on the list of state initiatives. I probably should not have been surprised, however, knowing the state of Michigan’s educational system and the governments’ anti-education actions.

I found it hard to disagree with their mission, education does need to support student knowledge of technology to better serve the society and workplace of the future. I especially like the framework for 21st century learning. It is important to note that life skills and learning skills are a major portion of the classroom learning environment, not just the teaching of core instructional skills. Another important aspect is the continued professional development of the educators, even when this might only be with the guidance of peers in accessing an online gradebook or understanding email.

The implication is that a teacher must find a way to incorporate the new. A teacher should always seek ways to improve his/her lessons and to be innovative with their approach to instruction. Teachers who strive to be effective teachers will strive to promote students who are critical consumers of knowledge.

Technology disconnect

I feel that the classroom teacher who uses the technology available to them and strives to meet the unique needs of the individual is doing all they can to prepare their students for the future. Each classroom teacher works under different circumstances, some with greater resources available some with relatively none. The learner is often self taught, in my opinion, and those with an aptitude for technological devices will strive to use and learn as they feel comfortable. What we are able to do is to teach them how to see technology as a friend, and not fear it. We are able to teach them HOW to learn.

Sure we can teach them math, reading, science, etc., but as important is teaching them how to get along, how to work together, and how to assist those in need. We also strive to teach them how to access information and use the resources we didn’t necessarily have when we went to school. Where we used dictionaries, they use the internet. When we needed to check spelling they can click a button on a desktop. We take classes to learn to fly, drive, and defend ourselves, they use simulators.

The disconnect between education and business is often because of the cuts made in education. We are not an industry where there is a valuable product produced (or are we) that we can sell for a profit tomorrow. So the dollars invested in the business world are lacking in the educational world. The disconnect can be shrunk but never truly eliminated. We can learn to use it to more efficiently access information, network socially, and communicate ideas, but “technological advances will go beyond simply making us more efficient at what we already do. They're going to change where we work, how we work, and even the nature of work itself” (Hoff, 2007). While I was not taught using the technology available today, my students will be using technology in the work place that we can only imagine. I had to learn (as an adult) and so will they. We all adapt as needed to fulfill the needs of our work situation and our students will as well.

Reference: Hof, R. (2007, August 20). The end of work as you know it. Businessweek.com. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_34/b4047426.htm?chan =search

Blog in Classroom

Use of a blog in my classroom would first entail communication with parents. I would see using the blog as a virtual newsletter, informing parents of upcoming events, current classroom news, links to sites of interest, and a place to ask questions, elaborate on instruction, or share ideas. Through this communication with parents, I could share content instruction information, offer suggestions for home follow-up and even offer links to sites to assist a parent in their role as educator (in a sense educating the parent as well).

I am not ready to introduce my students to blogging and though there may be several appropriate, tested, and proven positive outcomes, the class that I have this year is not ready for such technology.

Creating a Blog

It would appear that I have successfully created another blog.

Blogger is blocked at our school and Wordpress is accessible. Don't quite understand why.

I am a 3rd grade teacher in Coloma, Michigan and am in my 3rd year of teaching. The use of technology in the classroom has intreagued me as this appears to be the future of education. The readings this week express the importance of understanding that. Where we go from here is up to us as we press those who resist change into making the decisions that will enhance student performance in the classroom. Technology does this, enhances student learning, offering access to technology that they will continue to use as they continue the journey of life long learning.

Welcome to my blog.