As part of my master's progam, I was required to view and evaluate the website for the Parntership for 21st Century Skills located at http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php. The site is based on the concept of educating students for the technological world they will be entering. The website was well organized with clear connections to conceptual framework, technology requirements, and the general success stories of classroom integration into the 21st century.
I was surprised by the noted states that have developed full programs to prepare their students for the technological future. The ten states were scattered throughout the nation suggesting that the general grouping of standardized tests is not always indicative of a region's educational advancement.
Unfortunately, this site seems to be yet another example of how teachers should work with technology when it is abundant in the classroom. There was little suggestion as to teaching with limited technology resources. I understand the push for all inclusive education, but some districts (many with the recent economy) simply do not budget for more than a single computer in the classroom and one or two computer labs for the building.
With the technology issues in mind, there are still viable implications from the website to assist in the classroom. There are professional development resources for teachers as well as links to the technologically focused states which may lead to classroom interactions between students across the country. In either case, the main goal is to prepare the youth of today to successfully live in the world of tomorrow.
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It seems that throughout our course, we are learning great ways to use technology in our classroom. The only thing we are not learning is how incorporate technology when there is minimal access to technology in the room to use. Good luck. I hope your district can find a way to increase the funding for technology in your classrooms.
ReplyDeleteJean, I am right there with you. Limited resources make things a little difficult. All of these ideas are great and I am trying to modify them for my classroom but it is a daunting task. Don't give up.
ReplyDeleteJean...totally cool website! My thing is that we here in Wyoming have access to lots of computers and internet access but our higher ups have but such restrictive firewalls on that it is almost imposible to get access to different blogs. We've talked and talked and filled out the 'proper' forms to open the cites but nothing seems to happen. Maybe when the big guys really get on board with technology then we can really see ehat happens!!! Shayne
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