21st Century Skills in Practice

The website created by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/) seems like a great resource for teachers looking to improve the implementation of technology in their classrooms. I enjoyed reading about the Partnership's mission and the information provided is very valuable to a newbie such as myself. I find myself overwhelmed at the vast array of new material we, as educators, need to address in our classrooms. This resource helped put my mind at ease and gave me some tools I can utilized to begin assisting my students in practicing these 21st century skills.

It is common knowledge nowadays that the workplace is a very different environment today than it was yesterday. Employers expect their prospective employees to come to the job knowing much more than the core subject content knowledge we teach our students today. "To cope with the demands of the 21st century, people need to know more that core subjects. They need to know how to use their knowledge and skills--by thinking critically, applying knowledge to new situations, analyzing information, comprehending new ideas, communicating, collaborating, solving problems [and] making decisions" (Partnership for 21st century skills, p. 11). It is this difference between yesterday and today that needs to inspire educators to change the methods and content they teach to their students. Our students' successes in the "real world" depends on our ability, as educators, to adapt to the ever-changing nature of society and the skills required to succeed.

I was surprised at how many of these 21st century skills I already incorporate into my classroom. For example, collaboration plays a large role in my class--it is through this collaboration that students learn important communication skills, respect for new ideas and perspectives, empathy, productivity, self-motivation, drive and self-direction, as well as accountability, adaptability, and social responsibility (Partnership, p. 11).

The BIG all-encompassing question remains: How do educators begin to address the new 21st century curriculum while still addressing the core "standardized-tested" content required by the state? I believe this question needs to be seriously considered by administrators and all involved in curriculum development. Many of these skills are brand new ideas for students, and that needs to be taken into account--the time factor plays a role in everything we teach. Do we have time to address these new needs on top of everything else the state already requires us to complete in a short 180 days?

The value of these skills is limitless, and the necessity is present; trust me, I am going to do everything in my power to prepare my students to the best of my ability, but I am stressed about the time factor. More professional development definitely needs to be offered to ease the stress presented by this new curriculum/expectation. It is for the best of all of our students to begin implementation of 21st century skills into our everyday lessons--we just need to be given the proper tools to do so...

RESOURCE:
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.blogger.com/www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf

Blogging in the Science Classroom RESPONSE to Comments

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the suggestions! I really appreciate any advice you all can offer; this is all so new to me, so I don't always think of everything (understandable I hope). Since there were so many comments, I thought it would be best to make one blanket response to all.

I am lucky enough to have a set of laptops in my classroom most of the time and eight classroom desktop computers when the laptops are out of my room, so the blogging process would not be a huge inconvenience other than waiting for students to login.

I think the best solution to all the presented issues may be to post the blog prompt at the beginning of class on Monday (as a weekly assignment)--discuss briefly to get the juices flowing and then assign the blog post for homework due by Friday. I also like the suggestion of working the journal in to the end of the period--I usually leave five or ten minutes at the end of class for reflection and homework completion. That time could be used to get the few kids who do not have home computers or internet access on the computers.

Thanks again for all the advice...Please, keep it coming!
Erin

Blogging in the Science Classroom

The course material this week has turned me into a believer in blogs in the classroom. The possibilities are nearly endless. I love how the integration covers so many content standards across the curriculum board including the hidden curriculum--teaching students how to interact properly with their peers in a social environmental. I have to say, I was a bit skeptical at the thought of utilizing a "blog" because I did not realize how serious the kids become when they realize what they are typing is read by the whole world. It changes them at the core of their being as a learner.
In my classroom, not unlike Mrs. Kathy Martin in the DVD program, I would easily be able to utilize a blog as a means of journaling for my students. At the beginning of every class, we write in what I call an "Inquiry Journal" where I pose a science question (usually related to what we are studying) and students respond in the form of discussion. In most cases, we run out of time right when the discussion is getting good. The blog would offer a way for the class to continue those discussions.
I am definitely going to attempt to begin a blog for my classes next year...and I cannot wait to see what kind of discussion and valuable learning will take place!

How would you utilize a blog in your classroom?

Long Time Reader, First Time Blogger

Hi Everyone,
This is my first ever blog entry! I am thrilled to begin experimenting with and utilizing new technology in my classroom such as blogging, podcast and wiki. The possibilities seem endless right now. Many of my students already have experience with these technologies, so I am glad to be catching up with them (finally)--and they are more than happy to help me in my quest to eliminate my technological deficiencies. Has anyone implemented a blog or message board in their everyday classroom? I am interested to hear how they have been used and how they work...