Evaluating 21st Century Skills

This week, I would like to share my views on the Web site: Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

The Partnership For 21st Century Skills and its members provide a vast number of tools and resourse to help US education system keep up by fusing the traditional 3 Rs with the essential 4 Cs (critical thinking and  problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity and innovation. 


MISSION STATEMENT
Serve as a catalyst to position 21st century skills at the center of US K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leader. 

MEMBERS 

 Pearson, American Association of School Librarians, Intel Corporation, Adobe, Apple, Microsoft Corporation among others.

RESOURCES 

Tool Kits, PDF Files, Brochures, Videos (speakers bureau), Publications, Online Tools, & Professional Affiliate Development Program

My initial reaction to the Web site was far from impressive because the physical appearance had too many empty spaces and the text was not evenly distributed. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. Therefore, after going beyond the aesthetical presentation, I realized the Web site was after all, really impressive because of the efforts of the organization to collaborate all stakeholders of the education system; teachers, parents, policy makers, students, researchers among others. The organization also attempts to sensitize all individuals whether at the local or international level about the impact of literacy on the society in the global village. 

I was surprised to see uses of technology that I have been exposed since I began this course. For instance, the wide cross-section of information relating to education was presented through blogs, videos, and Wikis. Such new found knowledge is no longer a surprise because this is the era where information is exploding so technology needs to be upgraded to enhance the quality both in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. By and large, we can now see practical examples of how some technologies allow us to do things differently, while others allow us to do different things. For example, the tab Digital Art utilizes adobe systems Inc. works to host digital stories on Adobe’s Digital Kids Club Web site. I was also able to obtain new literacy strategies such as, Family Book Nights, Jumpstart’s Read for the Record Campaign. There are far more creative ways to enhance our lessons with the use of technology from this Web site.

Have you found any fresh ideas to stir the brains of your techno savvy and techno amateur students?

I did not find anything important that I disagreed with but I am sure you can share some of those with me and let us discuss them.

The implications for my students and me as a contemporary educator is that, technology can create a new learning environment. This environment should be embraced because we do not want to remain a static society. Additionally, we should also realize that technology makes traditional teaching strategies automated or completed with more efficiency. To this end, various businesses and organizations are expanding their existence in the online environment for greater recognition as well as to maximize profit. As a result, the education system should take a proactive approach to prepare its learners to meet the new work environment and thus be able to comply with global standards.

This Web site is rated 'E' for everyone. So please let me know your impression of the Web site and how you can apply some of its best practices for in an effort to adapt to 21st century skills.

Contributor: Kerry-Ann Kerr

 

The Joys of Travelling!!

There are so many opportunities that one can obtain from visiting other countries. As an educator, I am always curious to learn about the education system in other countries and compare some of the methods and strategies with those from my country.

My visit to Cuba allowed me to observe aspects of their education system which provides free quality education. The checks and balances that are implemented to ensure the system works such as ensuring students are enrolled in school as long as they are at a certain age. Otherwise, if an individual is no longer in school he or she must be actively engaged in a job.

As a teacher in Japan, the education system is quite different from Cuba's or my home country Jamaica. The Japanese government ensures that each school is adequately equipped with resources of which technology is no exception. Japanese students spend more time in school than other students in other countries which has its advantages as well as disadvantages.

When I examine the education system in Jamaica which has its strengths and weaknesses, I cannot help but think that something is amiss since our literacy rate is low. Is it that our schools are inadequately equipped, is it that we do not placed enough emphasis on learning, it is that our education system needs revamping?

I would like your suggestions about practical ways Jamaican teachers can address the problem of illiteracy. How does your country ensure that its literacy rate is not a world-wide embarrassment?