I had the opportunity to analyze the website The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. I was impressed with the purpose of this website. Overall the mission of this team is to reduce the gap between "the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and the skills they (students) need in typical 21st century communities and workplace" (Our Mission, 2004). A proposal for the solution to this problems is for our countries schools to align our classroom environments with the real world environments that our students will eventually enter. In order to do this, classrooms need to incorporate the 21st Century Skills and facilitate the mastery of them.
I gained an appreciation for this website quite quickly. I believe the mission is clear and meaningful. As educators, it is important to do what is best for the children. If we are noticing that students are having difficulty in the workplace because they are lacking skills to be successful, then it is our job to ensure that we make the appropriate changes in our instruction and teaching environment to resolve the problem.
One reason why I liked this proposal is because it illustrated what all students need to be knowledgeable or proficient in, in order to be successful in the working world. It shows educators what type of education and experiences they need to provide their students so that they can thrive in the real world. I am pleased that these skills are not just limited to using technology based programs. Teachers should also incorporate interdisciplinary themes into core subjects, such as Health Literacy. This is so important for many reasons. For example, the obesity rate seems to be increasing as we speak. Many of us know that obesity can lead to worse situations down the road. My mother had a heart attack 2 years ago and one of the reasons was because she is overweight. Not to mention, our students need to be appropriately informed about drugs and alcohol. So many capable students have walked down the wrong path and became involved with dangerous substances. If they have more information about this topic, they could make a more informed decision when approached by peer pressure.
I was truly surprised that only 10 states are currently partners in reinvigorating 21st century skills. My question is this: If this is such an importance to the children of the future, than why aren’t there more states involved with this collaboration? If it is so essential for students to master these 21st century skills to be successful in the workforce, than more states should become partners with this program. I feel that the U.S. Department of Education should make it mandatory for each state to develop new curriculums that will support these 21st century skills. From personal experience, we continue to receive new curriculums that do not adhere to these skills. We are wasting time and energy teaching skills to children that will not benefit them later in life. We need to create curriculums and standards that will enhance the students' learning and provide them with the expertise they need to flourish on their own.
Resources:
Our Mission. (2004). Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Retrieved January 27, 2009, from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=188&Itemid=110
Skills Framework. (2004). Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Retrieved January 27, 2009, from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=120
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I was also surprised that only 10 states were partners with 21st century skills. I teach in Ohio, and that was not one of the states listed as being partners with the organization. It is very frustrating to me that my local government and state board of education does not find these skills important enough to create change. I believe that some teachers and districts are teaching these skills, but it is not a state-wide mission/vision. I agree that the federal government should step in and mandate curriculums that include 21st century skills and then help fund the program. If we want to keep future jobs in the United States, we need to focus on these skills now with our students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jennifer that it needs to be federally funded in order for the entire education community to really embrace it. When it comes down to state and local school districts pushing for different curriculums that include 21st century skills they want to have the government behind them with the resources only the feds can provide. In our current economic state I highly doubt schools are going to write it in their budgets funds to make curriculum adjustments and changes. They are going to try if anything to scale back, and the only way change can or will be provided will be with federal dollars. The program itself may not cost anything but the technology and resources are not free.
ReplyDeleteProviding teachers with concrete examples is an intricate part of teaching. Missions and goals are all well and good, but nothing replaces real life ideas. This is especially useful for teachers that have years of classroom experience, but not have been exposed to the newest technology.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Meghan, federal funding is a start. However, communities and local businesses also need to invest in the education of their future employees. One of the problems New York State is having, is that many of the students who are receiving a technology services education are not getting it from State schools, rather private institutions. This means many young New Yorkers who can not afford a private education are missing out on opportunities that will help them to become more competitive in the 21st century work force. I have a friend who had to attend ITT Tech simply because no NYS public school provided the quality education she was looking for in technology. This is why it is important to address these issues at the elementary and secondary level. We can not reply on higher education to be the sole source of 21st century work skills.
Megan,
ReplyDeleteLike you I was also surprised that only 10 out of the 50 states have joined the partnership. I could probably understand the low numbers if this partnership was newly founded but it was founded six years ago. As an educator and parent of two young children it is scary and frustrating to see what is happening to education in the United States. The No Child Left Behind Act has not produced the desired results that we need to see in our school system. Instead, it has created a system where teachers are spending most of their time helping their students learn strategies to successful pass the state mandated tests. Because of this unfair and ridiculous mandate schools and teachers are pressured to perform or pay the consequences of their failures. In addition, this type of instruction is not beneficial to our students as they are not learning the skills they will require in the real-world to become successful citizens, independent thinkers, problem solvers, and productive workers in our global society.
The digital divide is another problem because only those who can afford to have a computer , internet access, and other technologies will be the ones who will have some of the skills required in the 21st. century. So what is going to happen to our minorities and low-socioeconomic students? I feel every child in our country, regardless of which school district they attend, should have the same opportunities to technology. It is time for change!
Yolanda,
ReplyDeleteI really valued your post. Although my child is not school age yet, I still wonder what education will be like when she will be attending school. I am quite frightened. Being a teacher, I see many things in the school system that I am not fond of. As you said, teachers are teaching to the tests because that is what it's all about now. Sometimes all people care about is the end result and not how we get there. Using 21st century skills such as critical thinking skills, problem solving, and teamwork (collaboration) are what gets you to the end result. This part is frequently overlooked.
Jsalomon,
ReplyDeleteI became quite unsettled when reading your post. I didn't realize how bad things were in other areas of the country. You would think that public schools in NYC would be able to be more technologically advanced because of the economic status that they live in. There are so many businesses and sites that attract visitors and bring in revenue. Some of this money could be going to a great cause such as funding of technology. You are absolutely right when saying that they need to step up and begin to assist future employees. However, being that NYC seems to be such a melting pot, businesses are probably not worried about this. So many people from all over the world come to NYC to look for jobs. Therefore, the students who receive an education in NYC have a great feat ahead of them when competing with individuals from other countries that are more tech savvy.
How frustrating!!
ReplyDeleteI was so completely frustrated that my state New York was not a partnership in this. My question is who doesn't fell that these skills are important enough to approach in this matter. Is it the state the city or both. I can't believe more states have not come on board with this. I want to know how can we change this?
As another member stated, I was also surprised about the very few amount of schools that had state initiatives on this web-site. I teach in Georgia and we do have 21st century programs in my school district that assist the children. Most of these programs are built around low-income school and not necessarily around the technological needs of the students. With that said, I believe that our funds for this progarm will be cut because of the states budget. I believe that more states including Georgia, need to have more of a focus on skills that will be needed in the workforce. Of course students need to know how to read, write, and count but it goes alot further than that to get a decent job today.
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