The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a partnership of businesses and educators that focuses on integrating 21st century skills in k-12 education in an attempt prepare students for the world ahead of them. As life and the workplace is changing new skills are required for our students to be successful.
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills web site offers extensive resources including tools, database access, professional development, and publications. Under the state resources include lesson plans, assessments, and rubrics.
The site is definitely a good site to keep abreast of 21st century skills and information. I was surprised by the varied backgrounds of board members and founders. The teaching of 21st century skills is vital to our students. We as teachers will need to be creative and look to leaders like The Partnership for the 21st Century Skills to help us update our skills to we can help others.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Blogs in Education
The world of blogging is new to me, very new. I had heard of blogs before but until starting a recent class, I had not given blogging much thought personally or professionally. After doing a good deal of reading, watching videos, and viewing what others have done with blogs I think I am ready to give it a try.
This new found knowledge of mine has come at an opportune time. I teach a seventh grade pre-engineering class.As a part of the class, students form groups for a design project. This year, students researched desk organizers on the internet to get design ideas. They interviewed adults to determine the style, size, and design requirements each had when purchasing a desk organizer. From the data they compiled, the group designed and built an original organizer. Since the project is based on adult wants and needs in an organizer, I wanted the students to present their organizers to an adult audience. Each rotation had been more difficult than the last to get adults to appear for the presentations. The teachers available first hour found it harder to come to the presentations due to other obligations during that time. This was discouraging for the students and me. Blogging offers an interesting alternative.
Through podcasting and blogging, students could open their presentations to a large audience. Adults throughout the corporation, community, and Purdue University Partnership Group, could be invited to watch the individual podcasts and through a blog give the students feedback on their product at their convenience. In addition, students could document their experience and offer advice to upcoming students.
This new found knowledge of mine has come at an opportune time. I teach a seventh grade pre-engineering class.As a part of the class, students form groups for a design project. This year, students researched desk organizers on the internet to get design ideas. They interviewed adults to determine the style, size, and design requirements each had when purchasing a desk organizer. From the data they compiled, the group designed and built an original organizer. Since the project is based on adult wants and needs in an organizer, I wanted the students to present their organizers to an adult audience. Each rotation had been more difficult than the last to get adults to appear for the presentations. The teachers available first hour found it harder to come to the presentations due to other obligations during that time. This was discouraging for the students and me. Blogging offers an interesting alternative.
Through podcasting and blogging, students could open their presentations to a large audience. Adults throughout the corporation, community, and Purdue University Partnership Group, could be invited to watch the individual podcasts and through a blog give the students feedback on their product at their convenience. In addition, students could document their experience and offer advice to upcoming students.
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