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I enjoyed this interactive, organized website. It had a number of good goals that we have been studying to prepare our students with the skills needed for the 21st century. I was surprised at the extensive amount of information, links, classes, and games that were available and the skills and ideas that were explored. One I will share with my students teaches checking the accuracy of a site through triangulation. Most of the micro modules would be above my third graders' heads.
While I really don't disagree with anything on this site, I find it to be more focused on research than functionality. I prefer the Online Resources for Big6 Informational Skills any day for my purposes and age group. The organization is better and it is more practical than academic. I think teachers would get more out of this focus on "information literacy skills".
While I really don't disagree with anything on this site, I find it to be more focused on research than functionality. I prefer the Online Resources for Big6 Informational Skills any day for my purposes and age group. The organization is better and it is more practical than academic. I think teachers would get more out of this focus on "information literacy skills".
I think that the implications of this partnership of corporations and states for the betterment of the students and for education will be for the good of all. Their advocacy for our students is important and I appreciate that they aim to help teachers infuse these 21st century skills with core subject information. Not many states are on board at this time- but that doesn't mean that teachers can't utilize these sources independently. Following in the footsteps of commendable organizations including that National Council of Teachers for Mathematics or the National Science Teachers Association, this site offers great frameworks and overviews that can avail teachers to great ideas and resources, but will ultimately play second fiddle to state standards and the practical needs of teachers.
Heather,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for adding such wonderful links. Somehow I missed the triangulation, and I too felt had very valuable information for my students. I was also impressed with the Online Resources for Big 6 Informational Skills. I had never seen this site before, and after a brief examination, I believe I prefer this site as well.
You make an excellent point that although states are not official partners, teachers can still utilize the information. However, I saw the scarcity in state involvement more as an indication of the lack of "buy in". It was clear from the induction process (http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=505&Itemid=189 ) that each state needed political support. I concur with your conclusion, and herein lay the problem: Teachers have access to a lot of valuable information that we can personally utilize in our individual classrooms. But, we are swimming upstream when we know what is beneficial and advantageous to our students, nevertheless we are mandated by state and government standards. Until teachers are empowered, and our professional opinions are respected, we will continue to be subjected to mandates that do not reflect the best interest of students or our global society.
Thank you for your provocative viewpoint.
"...[T]his site offers great frameworks and overviews that can avail teachers to great ideas and resources, but will ultimately play second fiddle to state standards and the practical needs of teachers."
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head. If we can prove "all this 21st Century 'stuff'" improves test scores, maybe we'll having a fighting chance!
Heather, thank you for the more valuable resource! I too have to agree with you, Deana, and Lauren and say that I didn't really get much out the Partnership site.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you all that we need to have our opinions heard and respected, because ultimately, I do believe that we know what is good for our students!
Heather,
ReplyDeleteYes, the triangulation was great. It takes you step by step which was clear and concise. I, too, will be using this and sharing this with my cohorts at Phoenix. It is quite funny that I mentioned on the discussion board that it is essential for students to have the knowledge of what is creditable and what is not. This is very important to teach students because they can be great at researching information. However, it would be waste of time if their report on the subject was based on false information.
As you said, there are not many states that are following. I wished that Texas would open its eyes and see that there is a dire need to have students immersed in technology. Perhaps someday, the nation will soon realize it after the gap between the corporate and educational world has become too disconnected.