Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
21st century skills
I was particularly fascinated with the 21st century skills website. I initially clicked on the video on Math at the pond since my content area is Math to view the video. I was impressed with the way the teacher had those elementary students busy in her math class. This is one way of looking at math in the real world. We expect that children must learn the six basic areas of math in number systems but had we previously connected it to their everyday life? She made very good use of the smart board in her daily routine. I was impressed that these students were so engaged and behaving quite responsibly in carrying out their everyday routines. In such a situation you find students who want to come to school everyday because they want to know what fun thing are we going to do today. It helps them to be more responsible and to feel valuable.
While exploring the website I realized that this practice was in West Virginia. The State Superintendent of Schools in West Virginia in 2007 proposed his initiatives and executed his plan to prepare more students for success in the 21st century. He reiterated our general concern as teachers which always is are we really preparing our students for success in a competitive world? Our students are competing with other students from other nations, for instance Japan and Korea where they have resources at their convenience also discipline. Are we giving our students the edge, the advantage for success? This made me think of the teacher who has been teaching Algebra for thirty years using the same lesson plans, not using manipulatives and that is their idea of teaching success. How does this method help students who are kinesthetic or visual learners? I believe we are shortchanging our students.
I gave my students a group project to do recently and my coworker walked in and saw them on task. She commented by saying I never use manipulatives let alone projects in my room. I have no time. It made me go HMMMMM... And we are preparing our kids for 21st century work environment. Her approach may work for her since she only has the honors kids but can I really do that with students who have learning and behavioral issues. I don't think so.
In summary I appreciated this article because it gave a detailed insight of what it really takes to prepare students for success in the 21st century. There were even professional development outlines that could be shared on our mandated PD days. I think it is a good idea, that way we actually learn something useful on such days.
While exploring the website I realized that this practice was in West Virginia. The State Superintendent of Schools in West Virginia in 2007 proposed his initiatives and executed his plan to prepare more students for success in the 21st century. He reiterated our general concern as teachers which always is are we really preparing our students for success in a competitive world? Our students are competing with other students from other nations, for instance Japan and Korea where they have resources at their convenience also discipline. Are we giving our students the edge, the advantage for success? This made me think of the teacher who has been teaching Algebra for thirty years using the same lesson plans, not using manipulatives and that is their idea of teaching success. How does this method help students who are kinesthetic or visual learners? I believe we are shortchanging our students.
I gave my students a group project to do recently and my coworker walked in and saw them on task. She commented by saying I never use manipulatives let alone projects in my room. I have no time. It made me go HMMMMM... And we are preparing our kids for 21st century work environment. Her approach may work for her since she only has the honors kids but can I really do that with students who have learning and behavioral issues. I don't think so.
In summary I appreciated this article because it gave a detailed insight of what it really takes to prepare students for success in the 21st century. There were even professional development outlines that could be shared on our mandated PD days. I think it is a good idea, that way we actually learn something useful on such days.
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