Looking a 21st Century Skills

In evaluating the website by the Partnership for 21st-Century Skills (http://www.p21.org/) I found a lot to like, and some things to dislike.  The overall mission and idea behind the website is very on target with much of the research I have recently followed in education.  In fact, as a part of my school's Professional Learning Communities I was put in a group to research this very topic, the changing role of education in preparation for the workplace.  The overall premise of the website was the skills necessary for the 21-st century workplace.  I like a lot of the information.  One of the things I found most interesting was the ideas of topics beyond the classroom.  As a Social Studies teacher several of the things I found fascinating were the emphasis on both global awareness and civic literacy.  These are both hot-bed topics in the Social Studies world and it was nice to see recognition of that outside a strictly Social Studies setting.  Another thing I found fascinating was the implementation of life and career skills.  This section of their framework fits into what it is I try to communicate to my students, the changing world.  So many of my current high school students will work from home, at hours outside of the 9 - 5 workday and on normally off days that it is hard to explain to them.  It is very nice to see such things added into the P21 framework.  It addresses topics such as self-direction, independence, flexibility, project based situations and much more.  So much of this is also in line with research I have conducted through my PLC.

A few things that concerned me about the site include it layout/organization and it major partners/sponsors.  It is driven by major education and technological companies, which concerns me a bit.  Not that these entities cannot be on target with educational goals and a changing workplace, but it would be nice to see a higher amount of educator input in an initiative looking to affect education so drastically.  Another issue I had with the site was I felt it was difficult to navigate and seemed a little unorganized.  As simply a browser, it was hard to tell what it was I was getting into with each link or section of the site.

In looking at the information in the framework, I certainly am able to reinforce many of the ideas I have been looking at for a couple of years now.  Moving in the direction of a different world of work is something I have begun to do in my classroom.  It is something we discuss on occasion, allowing students to realize that they will not enter a workplace like those in the generation before them have been in.  The site offers some tools and other helpful pieces to implement in the classroom.  I hope to continue to find tools to help make my students aware of the changing workplace as well as to help prepare them for it.

If I were to use blogging as a tool in the classroom I would try to use it as a place for students to interact about content.  As Social Studies teachers it is always a goal of ours to encourage students to discuss and question topics.  We encourage students to make a case supported by information, with the realization many different options could be correct and that is what makes our subject so unique.  With this in mind, a blog would be an excellent place for students to post thoughts, ideas and opinions on specific topics and subject matter.

I think blogging with a class would enhance learning by allowing students to put their perspective on a topic, as well as interact and gain understanding from those who have a differing view.  It is this sharing of viewpoints that enables students to have a greater understanding and appreciation for the viewpoints of others.  Every Social Studies class has a place for taking a position, defending it and recognizing the other opinions.  Through these types of interactions students are able to apply knowledge they have to different situations.  Application of knowledge in this manner is sure to enhance any lesson.

Technology and the Social Studies Classroom

I have recently become fascinated with the use of technology in the classroom.  As a Social Studies teacher I am constantly looking for ways to improve upon my use of classroom technology.  Smart Boards are not yet a part of our classrooms and therefore I look for every opportunity I can to add new ideas.  I have used technologies such as CPS for quizzes and PowerPoint.  However, I have become less confident in PowerPoint since reading articles which elude to the fact many teachers fall MORE into the "sit and get" routine because of PowerPoint.  I do NOT want to become that teacher who bores students, instead I want to be the teacher who offers students opportunities to be engaged in their learning.  Our school also has a strong Professional Learning Community set-up which is very well supported by our administrators.  During this time we have deeply engaged in discussion about preparation for our students at many levels including continuing education, the workplace and the world.  It is fascinating that so much of the research emphasizes preparing students for the 21st century workplace and that most often includes familiarity with the latest technology.  Anyone with ideas of technologies they have used in the high school classroom, especially Social Studies, I would be interested to heat your success stories.