Exploring the Web site The Partnership for 21st Century Skills
The Web site for The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) http://www.p21.org/ is a well organized easy to manipulate site for a national organization that avocates21st century readiness for every student. This organization provides resources to help educators combine the traditional three Rs with what they have named the four Cs: critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation. I found this mission to be reassuring because I am an advocate of national standards in education. What surprised me about this organization is that I have never heard of it before. What I found encouraging about this organization is the way it has partnered leaders from education, government, and business giants. Apple, Dell, Cisco, Disney, and McGraw-Hill are just a few of the more then 35 businesses named on their site. Currently I am enrolled in a masters program through Walden University, The specialization is Integrating Technology in the Classroom. This semester I am taking a course titled Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society. I see this organization as a crucial driving force that will facilitate the partnership of education, government, and business. I also see P21 be of assistance linking other educational movements like NCLB, High School Reform, and STEM initiative.
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Chris,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you mentioned you hadn't heard about this website or initiative. I can not say that I have heard of it either. I agreed with the mission statement, but did you find any on-line tools that you would utilize in your classroom?
Thanks, Lesia
Sites like this promote using technology to support what we already do, teach.
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of their stance of teaching academics soley from a business financial aspect? They seem to hit on this pretty hard. President Ken Kay chastized the National Math standards for not doing this.
I had not heard of the website before taking this class, either. I think it is a really neat site with some great information. I have the “feeling” that is will become more well known as technology becomes a greater force in education – especially after teachers, like us, take more technology classes. Was you state a part of the initiative? Mine wasn’t, which I think is really sad, especially because it means our students are losing out on needed educational experiences. Our students need to be “tech savvy”.
ReplyDeleteIn their article, “Why the changing American economy calls for twenty-first century learning: Answers to educators’ questions”, Levy and Murnane discuss how the “great danger is the continuing decline in earnings opportunities for Americans who lack the skills to do the growing number of jobs requiring expert thinking and complex communication” (Levy and Murnane, 2006). This is even scarier when you think about the state of the economy and lack of jobs available right now. I think we need more powerful backers for the education system, like the ones listed on the 21st century site. I am sure you agree that something has got to change; we have to take the next step toward technology.
Great blog post
-Tonya
Reference:
Levy, F., & Murnane, R. (2006). Why the changing American economy calls for twenty-first century learning: Answers to educators' questions. New Directions for Youth Development, 2006(110), 53–62