The Framework for 21st Century Learning website is new to me. This organization's mission is to ready every student for the 21st Century by helping provide tools and resources. I found the P21 website to be an exciting combination of resources, information, and news about 21st Century Learning. There is much to explore, but following
are a few areas I found thought provoking:
In the
Overview section, I really like the graphic of the Framework for 21st
Century Learning. It is clear and
effective in describing how the 21st Century skills fit like an
umbrella over the core subjects, but how everything is blended as well. The Learning and Innovation Skills -- the Four C's -- are exactly what we have been reading about in our course studies.
I was very impressed by the list of the Strategic
Council Members, including Apple, Verizon, Dell, Pearson, Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt, and many more from various aspects of the business world. These are ‘heavy hitters,’ which speaks
to the increasing importance being placed on 21st Century Skills.
The Tools and Resources section for Educators provides a
plethora of PDF files and materials, including self assessment tools and
implementation guides.
I am also eager to explore Route 21, which will help me
start a plan of action. This looks
like a great area to get started on what my district can do with 21st
century skills.
Under State Initiatives, I noticed my state of Minnesota
is not one of the members. State
governors have to apply for membership, as well as submit the state’s plan of how it will use the three
Rs and the four Cs within their standards. It is apparent that more and more importance is being placed
on these skills as states embrace this P21 organization. I will be anxiously awaiting news that
Minnesota has joined the movement officially.
One gets the impression when visiting this site that this is 'cutting edge,' that the P21 movement is going to explode, resulting in huge changes for our students and schools. It is exciting to feel like I am a part of it.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteWhen I read though this website I also became excited! I was envisioning how much our students would learn and enjoy from abiding by these skills--there seemed to be a lot more action going on! I also valued the field trip ideas that were embedded in some of the different subject areas. Without a doubt, I think it would be extremely beneficial for each and every state to be on board. My hopes are that in the very near future, they all will be.
Stacy
Mary-
ReplyDeleteI too found the site very informative and useful. I loved the resources available to educators and was highly impressed by the, as you so eloquently put it, "heavy hitter" companies that are members of this movement. I was also a little surprised to find that my sate is on board with this movement and yet I heard about this site for the first time this week. It makes me wonder what the requirements are for the states that are on board and whether or not the are funded and followed up on to ensure that they are implementing the 21st century skills established through this partnership?
Thank you for your post I hope your state get on board soon, as well.
Daniela
Mary,
ReplyDeleteThis is an exciting time to be a teacher, but it is also a time of exploration. The 21st Century website is a great resource to help teachers get on their feet and move into a more technology driven teaching environment. Motivating teachers to use and try new technologies, I think, is the easy part. Getting these things into our schools is another story. I teach in a technology rich environment, but this does not come without added struggles. There are so many new devices and internet resources available to us that picking and choosing what to use and spend money on can and is a timely struggle.
My school, after three years of investigating, teacher piloting, and countless hours of professional development, have come to the consensus that we are going to fully integrate the use of the iPad in every classroom. This was not a "on the spot decision" we tested many different forms of Touch Technologies, laptops, notebooks, and even an online learning environment (A+). Moving into the 21st Century and teaching students 21st Century skills is one thing, but integrating 21wst Century technologies is something that really needs to be researched. If schools are going to spend money (a lot of money) they need to be sure that these devises can and will be effective in the learning of the student.
This website gives me great hope that we are moving in the right direction. Schools in this country are going to need outside help getting new technology into our buildings and in the hands of our students. I see a lot of positive plays taking the necessary steps in helping schools integrate into the 21st Century. I would still like to see more following in their footstep! These businesses have just as much responsibility for their future employees as we do our students to teach and provide 21st Century skills.