I’m still not sure what to think about the Partnership for 21st Century Skills website. The site itself is easily navigable and it’s full of information. It’s a lot to process and maybe just a bit too much. This is my first experience with the Partnership for 21sst Century Skills website and I’m a bit overwhelmed. I’m not sure what to look at first.
My main concern is that there doesn’t seem to be many states backing this or at least the state initiatives seemed to be lacking. If this is such a huge deal and we should be making a push towards the “21st Century,” why am I not seeing more support? Perhaps I’m not seeing or understanding it correctly.
I find surprising all of the articles, newsletters, and publications made available and the click of a mouse. I found that the 21st Century Skills map they provide for English somewhat matches what my district has lined out for our 7th grade standards. It’s energizing to know that what we are trying to accomplish at our school is also the focus around the country, or at least other states. Gives me a sense of validity.
I understand leaning toward science, technology, engineering, and math, however I don’t see a big push for that in schools. Certainly more funding seems to be heading that way as extracurricular activities and the arts are cut from our subjects, at our students’ loss. I see our schools lacking motivation when state mandated tests are thrust upon teachers and students. School has become a “teach to the test” basis for learning. Our state test consists mainly of Language arts/literature and math.
I anticipate that jobs of the future will be more technologically involved than I could ever foresee. They need to build their 21st century skills and I’m not sure teachers are doing their part. Most schools and districts are struggling to stay afloat in this advanced world, which leaves our students far behind the ever-growing, yet shrinking world.
The partnership for 21st century skills. (2004). Retrieved September 30, 2009, from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills Web site: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org
I agree that the website was full of information, and after a while, it was easy to navigate through. I was also shocked to see that so few states were involved (mine was not on the list). I see my school and district teaching more to the tests than to our students' futures as well. I definitely see a need for both, because what our state test is looking for is important, but so are the skills students will need after graduation.
ReplyDeleteMiners and Pascopella (2007) explained that there is a mandate under NCLB which requires students to be literate with technology by the time they leave 8th grade. Well, I'm a high school teacher, and I can assure that is not happening in my district! There are just too many requirements and tests and initiatives to cram into the day. If all of these theories were combined and overlapped in a clearer way, teachers could "kill two birds with one stone." Right now, most teachers think they should do one or the other, and the tests are winning.
Sarah
HS-Special Ed/English
References
Miners, Z., & Pascopella, A. (2007). The new literacies. District Administration, 43(10), 26–34.
The partnership for 21st century skills. (2004). Retrieved October 3, 2009, from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills Web site: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org
I found this website to be quite overwhelming as a first time viewer. I was mostly shocked to have never heard of it prior to this week. Based on this site and the other resources for this week, it seems to me that our nation is grasping for the next best thing to improve and make our country stand out. What is lacking is any type of structure to achieve this. You do not hear that schools across the nation are joining together to resolve the problem. Each state does their own thing which I feel is a huge problem.
ReplyDeleteThere is a discrepancy between NCLB's push for competency in reading, writing and math and the critical needs our students must possess to be functioning members of the 21st century. Miners and Pascopella (2007) pointed out that technology standards go untested. Is testing them the answer? How would under performing districts survive if we tested technology standards? Something has to give but NCLB is not just going to disappear, something will take its place. I fear that this country will crumble as a result of the current educational system in place.
Miners, Z., & Pascopella, A. (2007). The new literacies. District Administration, 43(10), 26–34.
Michele
MS - D/HH
I think your initial reaction to the website was perfect. I think so many will react that way initially. Once broken down, however, most find a comforatble way in which to navigate it.
ReplyDeleteI feel that you are insightful in your recognition of the website's clear support of the monumental chasm which exists between 21st century work places and 21st century education. I think that most educators (especially those involved in continuing their educations) are becoming more and more aware as to where the deficiencies lie, and how they might be impactful in closing the collosal gap. The problem I think that is occuring is that although there may be pockets of educators who "get it," the total committment on the part of the "powers that be" don't. They aren't ready for the required paradigm shift that must take place. Sure, many districts are investing large sums of capital for the revamping of their technology labs and hardware, but what are they wanting educators to do with them? "Use the labs!" they preach, but with what directive. They still need kids to pass "the test."
Miners and Pascopella in their paper "The New Literacies" make the point the most clear in their subtitle: Students are immersed in 21st Century technologies, but are schools preparing them for the future? Well, our kids are spending enough online time: how's an average of 27 hours per week grab ya (Miners and Pascopella, 2007)? Problem is, that is at home! Only 15 minutes per week on average is spent online at school. Yes, we're dropping the ball.
Miners, Z., & Pascopella, A (2007). The new literacies. District Administration, 43(10), 26-34
Sometimes, I think schools will always struggle to stay afloat because of the sheer cost of the technology. Although, as Friedman (2005) noted, the cost of the technology is decreasing, it is still expensive to buy en masse as school districts must do. It is also expensive to maintain, and after only a few years, it becomes obsolete and must be replaced. For districts in wealthy areas, this might not be much of a problem, but for many districts, particularly in rural and urban settings, this is cost prohibitive. Thus, for schools to do their students any technological justice, there must be solid, reliable funding from someplace, and it is unlikely, in my view any way, that tax payers will want to pay more in taxes to fund the technology (and training!) that these researchers are claiming is so vitally important.
ReplyDeleteGerdie,
ReplyDeleteIF THIS IS SUCH A MASSIVE INITIAVTIVE THEN WHY AREN’T MORE STATES INVOLVED. THAT IS A MAJOR CONCERN TO ME SINCE THE DOWNWARD SHIFT IN THE ECONOMY HAS MANY WORKERS WHO ARE NOT QULAIFIED TO WORK IN THIS EVER CHANGING TECHNOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NITIATIVE, AND MANY STATES NEED TO TAKE A STAND TO BECOME INVOLVED. IT MAKES ME WANT TO WRITE MY LOCAL CONGRESSMAN, AND ASK WHY WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS INITIATIVE. IF PARENTS WERE AWARE OF THIS, I THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO TAKE A LEAD IN MAKIG THIS A PRIORITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF COUNTRY AND PROSPERITY IN THIS “FLAT” WORLD.
DAWN