Podcast

http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/10741

Partnership of 21st-Century Skills

Evaluating 21^st-Century Skills

 

            I am both excited and aggravated by the Partnership for 21^st-Century Skills website.  I am excited that such an organization exists.  There needs to be advocacy for 21^st-century learners.  The students of today need skills and technology to prepare them for the 21^st-century and beyond workplace.  Technology literacy for all learners needs to be the goal for the Unites States.  Other countries are preparing their citizens with the skills they need now.  It is a shame that only fifteen states are on board with this organization and trying to do something to prepare their students for the future with appropriate skills.  Many of the current jobs are outsourced because we are not preparing our students for these jobs.  However, I love that the Partnership organization is trying to work collaboratively with educators, business, and government and community leaders to better prepare our students for the future workplace.

            I was surprised to see so many companies and organizations associated with the Partnership for 21^st-Century Skills.  Many of them are big name companies that we all know: Apple, NEA, Dell, and Verizon to name a few.  I was elated to see that the Partnership is also pushing for professional development.  Teachers need to have professional development to aid in preparation of our learners.  It was also great to see that there was a readiness guide and information about how to get involved.

So far, I have not found anything that I disagree with.

            If this Partnership could get the whole nation involved, it would be interesting to see if all graduates would be a commodity that would be desired by employers inside and outside of the U.S.  Not only will our students be prepared for the future, many of them will be able to pull themselves out of poverty.  Our nation’s poverty rate could potentially decrease dramatically.  Students in every classroom will be prepared to meet a 21^st-century workplace and have a sense of confidence knowing that they have the appropriate skills.

Week 2 Application

In my third grade classroom, I think I would use a blog initially for informational purposes and then later on to showcase student work.  My students have very little keyboarding skills since we lost our computer lab three years ago due to budget cuts.  I would like to start with the students first seeing the site and what it can do for our classroom and community.  Students and parents will see information about what is going on in the classroom.  Concepts we are learning for the month, what tests will be coming up, lunch menus, birthdays, etc. will be posted for all to see.  Then I would then like to build upon that by having students submit at least one assignment a trimester (hopefully more depending on their keyboarding skills).  Hopefully this will encourage the students to improve upon their keyboarding skills and practice at home.  I would also like to add onto this site links to things we are learning about or PowerPoint presentations about lessons being taught in the classroom.  Students and parents will be able to get help with things that students are having trouble with.  Additionally, I could possibly post the homework on here for students to get, in case they forget their homework.  I think a blog is a good tool because it can help make connections with the parents and what is going on in the classroom.  Parents will be aware of what is going on and be able to support their child at home when the child asks questions about an assignment.

Searching for Classroom Technology

At the end of the 2010-11 school year, my SMARTboard was finally installed in my classroom.  The program is being installed on my school's laptop this summer.  So, the search begins for programs to use with my SMARTboard.  I am so excited to begin to bring my classroom into the 21-century by utilizing technology to help meet the needs of the diverse learners in my classroom.