Teacher Perspective

Blogging

I am pretty excited about having used blogging, a true 21st century skill, with my students yesterday. It is so easy and they all responded really well to it. I am attaching a few pictures and a some video from the experience. I liked using it because you can easily keep up with their work instantly and correct issues with their understanding automatically as you track the blog and their responses. Check out some student feedback about blogging.

Focus on the Positive

Maybe not how the schools are failing students but more about what more we can do to better meet their needs? I work hard to make sure that lessons I create and implement are interactive and engaging. Sometimes I cannot help but take it personally when I spend a lot of time developing an activity that is hands-on and students still are tuned out or declare it boring. I should still ask myself, "what more can I do to meet their needs?" Incorporate more technology? Use color where possible? Encourage creativity or a different approach to problem-solving? The key seems to be---keep trying new things. When you stumble across, or purposefully find, something that works, weave it into your repertoire. Ask the students what they want, challenge them, continue to have high expectations even when it would be easier to let it slide. Meet your students in the middle-start a blog, show a video clip, or go on a virtual fieldtrip. Try something new that you know they will like even if it means going outside of your comfort zone. I just need to continually remind myself to stay positive and not get discouraged, so I know my students will need encouragement to do the same. The less things feel like "work" the more likely our teenagers will be willing to do it.

I Think Not

Our schools have relatively small classes, well-educated teachers, sufficient textbooks and supplies. In public schools, some students learn, develop, mature and grow as learners while others do not. I believe there are more factors influencing the outcomes of students' educations than just the quality of the schools. What about the parents? What about the extended family? What about friends? It is an uphill battle for a school to undo the damage done by neglectful or abusive families. I don't think schools are ultimately responsible for everything young people are capable or incapable of doing. They have to participate in their education as well.

Unmet expectations

As educators we feel overwhelmed by the external pressure of the accountablility standards as well the internal pressure to prepare our students for the 21st century. In addition, we must face the brutal facts that many of our students come to us unprepared and unwilling to risk the fear of another failure. As a result, collaboration becomes an essential part of supporting each other in our search for ways to challenge students at all levels who have shut down or who are putting forth minimum effort. Teachers working in isolation gives little return for the time invested. How do we provide teachers with more time for collaboration without adding more to a plate that is already piled high?

concerns

Sometimes I see students who are really dedicated and take advantage of all the opportunities they are given. Some of them are producing some really creative products. I also see some who have technology available and yet do not seem to understand that they need to leave their problems and distractions outside the classroom and grab the opportunities that can literally change their future.

Preparing Students for the 21st Century Today

Are even our "best" schools failing to prepare students for 21st century careers and citizenship?

"We can teach them the technical stuff, but we can't teach them how to ask good questions- how to think." Clay Parker, President, Chemical Management Division of BOC Edwards

"How do you do things that haven't been done before, where you have to rethink or think anew?" Ellen Kumata, Managing Partner, Cambria Associates

"We are routinely surprised at the difficulty some young people have in communicating: verbal skills, written skills, presentation skills. They have difficulty being clear and concise; it's hard for them to create focus, energy, and passion around the points they want to make....Kids just out of school have an amazing lack of preparedness in general leadership skills and collaborative skills. They lack the ability to influence." Mike Summers, Vice President, Global Talent Management, Dell

"There is so much information available that it is almost too much, and if people aren't prepared to process the information effectively it almost freezes them in their steps." Mike Summers, Vice President, Global Talent Management, Dell

View the following videos:
Education Today and Tomorrow
A Vision of K-12 Education Today
The Lost Generation

In the new global economy where many jobs are either automated or "out-sourced" to other countries and some have not yet been invented, what skills will our students need to build successful careers and be good citizens? Are our schools teaching and testing the skills that matter most?