21st Century Partnership Gaining Momentum

Another potenctially heated debate looms over U.S. educators

Studies show that U.S. students are falling behind their foreign counterparts when it comes to technological literacy. For years educators have realized the increased importance of integrating technology into the classroom. Until now no one has stepped forward to address this dilemma. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is spear heading the movement to take our students into the 21st century when it comes to technology here in the U.S.

This is an informative Web site with a clear mission to "serve as a catalyst to position 21st century skills at the center of US K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community, and government leaders." This group focuses on learning and thinking skills, ITC literacy, and life skills in an effort to prepare American children to become "effective citizens, leaders, and workers in the 21st century."

Although this sounds like a great idea that we all should be excited about joining, I find it frightening that only ten states are involved with this program. This partnership was founded in 2002 so it seems we have been aware of this pending discrepency of technology in our schools for a long time. So why are other states not getting involved?

We have all seen the forcast. If we do not take an proactive role in educating our students for the 21st century they will be forced to work 20th century jobs. Take a look at the Web site. What are your thoughts? Who should the bear burden of 21st education? Are teachers ready for another poorly funded federal or state mandate to be thrown on them? Can we afford not to be involved? Is it already too late?

Information comes from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Using Blogs in the Classroom

For a 6th grade Social Studies class a great weay to use a blog would be to have three groups discuss the three different groups of ancient Latin America: the Incas, the Mayans, and the Aztecs. Each group would be responsible for the history, technology advancements, other attributes of each culture.

The blog would serve as a way to obtain knowledge and share it with the rest of the class both online and to the class. This would be a great way to revamp the old book report or presentation into a real hands on class/group project.

This is also a great place for students to interact with each other and their teacher about specific topics. It also makes the content more interesting by using the internet to gather information about each civilization.

After the blogs are complete each group can present their blog to the class to share the knowledge they obtained.

Let me know how you think this blog would work and how you think it could be better!

Technology in the Classroom - What are you doing?

Have you recently received a new techno gadget in your classroom? Tell us how you are using it.

I find that as a teacher we are always asked to do more. How do we help the struggling students? How do we push the students who excel? How do we appeal to the different learning styles? What ways are we incorporating differentiated learning? With all the things we have to keep in mind teachers are now faced with the question many of us find simply terrifying: How are we implementing technology in the classroom?

With the newest phase of teaching dealing with technology our schools are writing grants and having fundraisers to get new technology in the classroom. But many teachers get this equipment and then think; this thing is really cool! How do I use it?

This blog is designed to help teachers share quick and easy ways to share what they are doing in the classroom in the realm of technology. So, how are you using your LCD projector? How are you using your ELMO, WhiteBoard, or other new fancy gadget. What is great about your new technology? What is horrible? Feel free to share your successes as well as you horror stories. I think we all can learn much from our victories and our losses!