Partnership for 21st Century Skills (http://www.p21.org) is an educational website designed to inform schools and states about incorporating the 21st Century Skills into education. The website has resources, tools, news, announcements, and many other helpful information about 21st Century Skills.
The website teaches about 3 r’s and 4 c’s. The three r’s include reading, writing, and/or language arts; mathematics; science; foreign languages; civics; government; economics; art; history; and geography. The four c’s include critical thinking and problem solving; communication; collaboration; and creativity and innovation. These help pull together other subjects and other skills. I can now see how important it is to take these 3 r’s and 4 c’s and use them to help teach a good solid knowledge base for academics and skills needed to survive in the workforce when the time arrives.
If you are an educator of any type, this website is definitely a site worth learning about. This site does make a lot of sense. The site surprised me because it has a variety of fun things for teachers to read through, even grant competitions and an online library. I really liked the organization’s mission statement. The mission statement is to serve as a catalyst to position 21st century readiness at the center of US K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community, and government leaders. I was surprised to not see Michigan on the list for state initiatives. I really do think this is a great program for the students. The website is very user friendly and easy to get interested in for hours.
I agree with what this website is trying to accomplish. I did notice that in the Get Involved section, it states that it is no cost to become a P21 state partner; you just need to fill out an application. That is fine, but I was not clear on if a school cannot use this until our state becomes a partner. Michigan is not on the list as being a partner. After reading through how to become a partner, I realized schools in Michigan may not be able to do this program.
The implications I see students having is the need of the 3 r’s and the 4 c’s as they progress through their academic lives. As teachers this is placed on us to make sure the students gain knowledge and skills of what they will need after graduation and moving on to a career. Am I teaching what they are going to get the skills needed for the future? Do I have the technology available to help teach these skills? These are questions that I have to ask myself. If I do not have all the technologies, I still need to figure out a way to teach my students a way to learn these skills such as, how to be flexible, creative, collaborate in small and large groups, and/or good communicators.
There are a few problems I see a teacher may have. First, he or she might not have enough time in the day to get through what is asked of him or her. Teachers are held responsible for so many things now a days, such as No Child Left Behind, that there could just be no time to add these skills in. Secondly, her or she may not have the resources or technology needed to help the students properly succeed in learning the skills for the workplace. This is where I feel the creativity comes in. Teachers are capable of using his or her creativity to successfully introduce the skills to their students.
Until next time, keep it real homies!
Mr. B
Okay so I get the C's but, where do they get the 3 Rs from? Any thoughts? I think your point about not having the technology is valid. Schools would need a lot more financial backing if these standards became mandated.
ReplyDeleteIm not sure Carrie why they call it the 3 r's. To me it looks like the academics part.
ReplyDeleteI also explored how to become a part of the partnership. I wanted my state to be a part of this group and was a little disappointed to see that they are not on the list. I wonder if states do not get more involved in P21, if the partnership will not try to link up with more schools rather than the state as a whole. I am not sure of the legal issues that might stem from this, but with the political backing they have it doesn't seem to be out of the question.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what you said about attempting to teach these skills regardless of the level of technology access is well stated. These skills are important and we as educators must find a way to prepare our students for the world they will enter regardless of our current situation. That is supposed to be a 21st century skill of a teacher.