The Partnership for 21st Century Skill's website was a very user friendly site. This site was created to bring together the business and the education communities in oder to find ways to implement these skills into the education arena. The site was easy to navigate and gave detailed information on what this partnership is all about and what it can actually do for our students. I think everyone should take a look at this site.
It surprised me to see that there were only 10 states who have implmented the programs with state initatives. I would have thought that it would be more than just 10. I really didn't disagree with anything on the site. With our class studying and creating blogs, I would have thought that there would be some sort of blog or online chat forum discussing the pros and cons of implemening these skills into each state's curriculum.
These skills are very important skills that lead to lifelong learning. I think each state should implement these skills, but in their own time. Every state is not as fortunate as others, and therefore may not have the resources available to use. These skills will bring about a sense of self-direction and professionalism that students will take with them for the rest of their lives. As teachers, even if your state doesn't have a state initative, we could find a way to incorporate one skill or more at a time. Each skill learned will be beneficial to our students as they enter the workforce of the 21st century.
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I agree, even if your state is not a member, our students can only benefit from incorporating these skills. And,if you start now, when your state joins, you will become the leader at your school!
ReplyDeleteI think in order to further prepare our students for the 21st century we need to embrace the fact that many of our students are not getting the preparation needed to fully succeed into today's society. A society that is introducing new technologies everyday. If we get this understanding across it will come down to the almighty dollar and whether or not districts, states and the federal government are willing to put funding into these changes. Some of the skills can be taught by making minor changes to a curriculum, but others take larger adjustments, time, and money. It needs to be a change that is supported. With only 10 states apart of the leadership team, how many are really supporting this change?
ReplyDeleteVirginia, I hope my state joins because our students are in need of those skills to make them successful.
ReplyDeleteCorey, I agree that many of our students are not getting the preparation to fully succed. So many things are rushed now, students hardly get all that is supposed to be taught in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right that states, and regions within states for that matter, differ widely in their ability to provide technological opportunities to their students. In this difficult economic time, I don't see that changing soon. As always, it falls on teachers to do the best they can with limited resources to prepare the students as much as possible. The heartening thing is that there are so many teachers willing to step up and do this. I wonder, too, why there are only 10 states involved. Perhaps it reflects the interest that state's leaders have in education.
ReplyDeleteI had the same impression about the number of member states. Hopefully more states will get involved. I live in West Virginia (which is one of the member states) but teach in Virginia (which is not). I am familiar with the standards of both states and they are so different. It makes no sense too me at all. Their respective citizens share workplaces, as do all states bordering each other, so why shouldn't they share educational standards. One set for the entire nation would help us move into the 21st century more efficiently.
ReplyDeleteDaryl, you know that happens a lot. In regards to the bordering states not having similiar standards. I know many educators in our state department have made mentioned to the number of standards South Carolina has for its students. They even made a joke about how long it would take a teacher to actually teach ALL of the standards listed for each grade level and subject area. I don't understand why each state doesn't have some sort of consensus and why the standards are so different. This is also seen within the different counties in each state.
ReplyDeleteThis also takes a tole on the student especially if their from a miliatry family because they tend to move often. Many students are either ahead or behind tremendously when they move from school to school. In having those things happen, it really does, in my opinion hinders or hurts a child's education.
Excellent Post!! Our students are not given the appropriate skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. It is up to the teacher. the teacher's job is to take the resources that are available and make them work. I feel the best teachers are the ones that do that. I especially like your comment about lifelong learning! That is the goal of education.
ReplyDeleteDaryl, aren't the national standards the ones presented by National Boards?
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