The website on the Partnership for 21st Century Skills is an excellent source of information in which teachers can take the skills that they already teach and infuse technology to better prepare our students for the professional world. The website discusses the importance of emphasizing core content areas and primary learning skills by using 21st century skills to enhance these skills. As per Partnership for 21st Century Skills, students comprehend and retain more information when the learning is engaging and when they provide a connection to their personal lives (Partnership for 21st Century Skills). Using technology can help students create a deeper connection to the real-world and take what they learn outside of the classroom.
The information that surprised me, is that this infusion of technology is easily done when technology is readily available because we are not teaching brand new skills, but rather building upon the skills we already teach. Another piece of information that surprised me was the distinction that the article made between suburban versus urban schools. As per Partnership for 21st Century Skills, urban schools have a different population of students who may not be accustomed to have accessibility to technology at home. School is a place where they can receive their fill of technological experience, so it must be a worthy one. Suburban schools may feel that their school has outdated technology since they have accessibility to the latest technology outside of the classroom (Partnership for 21st Century Skills). This does not mean that we teach both schools different skills but teach them differently. In an urban school, like the one I work in, I try to use technology during class time so students can have the greatest opportunity to work with it. In these other schools, students can focus on skills and use their technology at home for project-based learning.
I do disagree with one aspect of the website, the quote by Governor McGreevey. Being a resident and teacher in the state of New Jersey, our technology is archaic and needs an update. Recently like other school districts we have been experiencing cutbacks and the technology aspect of the district seems to be lagging. McGreevy spoke about preparing our students for the future workplace, but we need more technology to do so. We have limited time in computer labs and even if we do book the computer lab, there is not enough for all the students. Recently this year, the classes that take priority in the computer lab are the Math and English classes, since they recently adopted online aspects to the courses in which the students complete benchmarks online. As a History teacher I rarely can book the computer labs, so I must make do with the little technology I have. I believe that a greater amount of funds should be allocated to update our computer systems and provide more computer labs to accommodate our large population.
Technology is changing at lightning speed, so as educators we must find a way to adapt to these changes. We must continue to focus on traditional critical thinking and problem solving skills but bring technology in the classroom to not only motivate and engage students but to prepare them for the real-world. Our states need to understand the demand for technology and provide schools with the necessary technology for educators to teach these information skills to our students.
References
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/downloads/P21_Report.pdf
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This website does offer a really thorough overview of why we need to better prepare our students for their future by utilizing technology in the classroom. The point you make about the difference between urban and suburban schools is very valid. I do believe most urban students find better technology in the schools, while their suburban counterparts look at the technology in school as antiquated.
ReplyDeleteI also quote the website on my blog when it discussed how students retain more information when they are engaged in lessons that utilize technology.
As you mentioned, this requires teachers having adequate access to the technology. I also teach in New Jersey, and while I'm sure McGreevey was right about the technology in our schools being better than most other states, we certainly do not have enough. Unfortunately this problem does not seem like it will improve any time soon given the current economic and political climate.
In the meantime we must, like you pointed out, focu on critical thinking and problem solving skills and bring the technology in when we can.
Sincerely,
Tim Mount
I agree that this website offers a lot of information and a detailed overview of P21's goals and objectives.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the fact that our state needs to recognize the need for technology and provide us with the technology needed to help prepare our students for the 21st century. I am lucky and come from a very large school district, so we are up to date on technology. The only disadvantage is that since I teach special education I do not always receive access to the new technology and am usually last on the list to get it. I worry about other schools though who come from a poor demographic and very small districts that they will not receive the technology instruction they need to help prepare them for life after high school. I think it is important we continue to teach the content standards, but also incorporate and focus on the critical thinking and problem solving skills that our students needto be successful in the real world.