While exploring the website Partnership for 21st Century Skills, I can understand the need to revamp and update education to incorporate 21st-Century skills. In addition to the core subject knowledge, students must learn essential skills of critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration. The P21 committee is focused on student success in a global economy which means they want students to be successful as citizens and workers in the 21st century.
Quite honestly, I really did not like the way this site was organized and had a little trouble navigating my way through it. If one purpose of this site is to make educators want to become a part of P21, I would think that the first page would be a little more inviting. On the other hand, P21 consists of business community leaders, education leaders, and policy makers. Actually, this makes sense to form an alliance with these groups if we want to prepare our students for the changing business world and the global world. In order to help our students, we must align the classroom environments with real world environments through the three R's and four C's (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration; and creativity and innovation).
This is a federally funded project that was formed in 2002. It is almost 10 years later and still only 15 schools are participating. I am curious to learn about the results/findings they have collected since implementing the program. If it is meant for all of the US, why aren't more schools jumping in?
As a contemporary educator, it is my duty to help my students develop good communication skills, become self-learners/critical thinkers, and work well with others. After all, I am preparing them for the 21st century.
It seems to me that more schools are not on board because ninety percent of the site is dedicated to what 21st century skills are as opposed to publishing lesson plans to blaze the trail for newbies to a 21st century education. Educators are all about show me how.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that website is not very interesting or inviting. In response to your comment to me, I knew that Ohio had technology standards (I have a set in my room), but I did not know that we belonged to this partnership. Neither did any of my colleagues know when I questioned them. Apparently, those in charge of this project aren't interested in knowing if those who belong are actually participating.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that P21 wants teachers to contribute and become a part of this project. I would leave the website within 2 minutes if i found it from search engine.
ReplyDeleteIf you create a free account and log in (under any of the participating states' pages) there are hundreds of resources organized by star ratings, examples and videos of 21st century skills in action in today’s classrooms and the option to add your own resources. Many leaders in education (teachers) have submitted their own wikis and websites which are filled with resources and specific ways to infuse 21st century skills into your curriculum. The organization leaves the "show me how" to the experts in the field - their purpose is to bring us all together.
ReplyDeleteThe Partnership for 21st Century Skills website did not seem inviting for teachers like you said; in fact, it does not seem to be geared much to teachers at all. It came across to me as addressing the public of what it wants to do for the good of eduction, not incorporating much of the teachers role. I am a little confused as to what would be expected of us and how we are going to implement the three R's and four C's!
ReplyDeleteI would also like to see results from the original states. What programs and initiatives have been implemented? How have they tracked results (which is always the issue)? Do participating teachers feel it is successful in moving students to the "four c's"?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would expect a national program to be 2.0. I would expect the conversations to be more effective at state or local levels. Cindy said she was able to access state level resources. This is the level where I would expect to find discussions and blogs.