Preparing for the Outside by looking In

Partnership for 21st Century Skills http://www.p21.org/index.php

Is an organization that has come to recognize the need for change in today’s educational system which does not prepare students for a changing work environment? The website offers teachers and schools resources to build upon the current curriculum that is not enough to prepare students for a future that requires a distinct individual to compete in.

This site surprised me in how an external organization needed to be created in order to tactical the issues of a failing educational system. Considered a movement, the creators modified the existing core curriculum and used it to scaffold the necessary skills students would need in the future. Those are critical thinking and problem solving; communication, collaboration; and creativity and innovation.

A few states have begun to take measures to change curriculum and assessments that would assist their students for the 21st century skills needed in a technologically based work force. Why so few states have joined this initiative within the past 5 years is concerning to me.

The implications for our students are hard to predict with a system that is slow to change.

Ideas for Blog use with students

Besides the typical use of the blog to have students comment on a particular article or writing prompt, I have linked it with other webpages such as voicethread.com allowing students to contribute to something traditionally done with blogs, yet adding their voice to augment the conditions in which they use Blogs.

In teaching English as a Second Language I have great use for blogs in utilizing computers and the Internet to capture my student’s interest toward developing more their writing skills in English. Similar to forums it can also allow the interaction of opinions and ideas, but not like the social network spaces that allow instant messaging. With blogs, you would post and wait for a response by checking in later. Another aspect of blogs is for students to display their talents for fellow classmates to comment on, hopefully with respect and positive feedback.

When teaching, university students in another country, English as a Second language limits my ability to emphasis the importance of the language if not practiced out of the classroom. With students using blogs at home it is like an extension of my teaching practice to reinforce and encourage continued use even at home.

Which makes it vital tool for teachers. Would you agree? How have you enhanced your blog?