I have spent a great deal of time this week exploring the Partnership for 21st Century Skills website. At first glance, the website appeared dry, and downright boring. It certainly did not have the colorful and appealing pictures which usually attract my attention to a website.
Upon further scrutiny, though, I found this website to be full of resources for teachers, administrators, and parents. The purpose of this organization is the preparation of students in grades K-12 for the 21st century workplace they will be entering as adults. This organization encourages a dialogue about what 21st century skills really are, and provide a framework for their implementation in the school environment.
One aspect of this site which I found particularly helpful was the "MILE Guide Self Assessment Survey". This survey made me think critically about what my students actually know and are able to do, not only with the factual knowledge presented, but the skills I teach in my classroom. After critically analyzing my school, and my classroom, I am much more aware of where my students are right now in terms of the 21st century skills, and where they need to go next. This survey made me even more committed to working with my students on the 21st century skills because I can see clearly how the basic skills I teach in my 1st grade classroom (reading, writing, and basic math) will help shape and will be shaped by the use of technology in their future class and work environments.
One aspect of the website which I did not agree with was it's report from 2006: Virtual Schools and 21st Century Skills. While I agree that virtual schools can be a very good way to reach students who are less comfortable working in the traditional classroom environment, I worry that virtual schools do not provide the socialization skills necessary for success in the workplace. Children already spend a great deal of time working with computers, and I agree that using computers to teach is a magnificent idea, but I think that this needs to be balanced with active social situations, which one can only find in the classroom environment. Students need to learn how to socialize and work with people who look, act, or think differently than themselves. Students need to learn how to listen to others in a large group discussion, and how to actively think and participate without the option of deleting and editing before posting. In the workforce, during corporate meetings, there is no delete button when a sarcastic comment comes out, and no way to hide facial features showing agreement or disagreement. These are skills students need to learn when they are young, and unfortunately students who only attend virtual schools miss out on these skills, and they have difficulty with face-to-face communication as a result.
I agree that 21st century skills MUST be incorporated into schools and individual classrooms, but I think we must not forget the importance of social interaction in a face-to-face setting as well.
Reference:
Grant brings e-learning, accelerated courses to Hawaii schools. Retrieved from:http://hawaiidoereform.org/enews/2012-03/Grant-brings-e-learning,-accelerated-courses-to-Hawaii-schools
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. http://www.p21.org
It seems like a few of us had the same first impressions about the site. I found the navigation to be complicated. Once I found something of interest, I had a hard time finding it again. There were many great resources and I also took the Mile Assessment Survey. My answers were pretty much what I thought what was happening in my school based on what I do in the classroom and what I know of others. It showed us to be in the transition stages in many of the categories. I think that’s a good place to be. Even if you were in the early stage…it’s a beginning!
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love the idea of virtual schools (that’s why I chose Walden) I do agree with you that they do not really fit the framework of a 21st century skilled school. As young people, they need the interaction and social element in a school. How else are they going to acquire those skills to use in their future workplace? Don’t you wish there was an undo or delete button?
I absolutely wish there was an undo or delete button! Oh goodness have I put my foot in my mouth! But I was lucky enough to have learned those lessons early, before they could negatively impact me in my work environment! I know I would not have learned these valuable lessons without that face-to-face social interaction!
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