If you listen to my "first podcast" in my initial blog you hear State Superintendent Steven Paine state that their is a new set of skills to be taught to WV students. Reference is made to a corporate call for the development of those skills. Also, educational leaders and organizations are listening and considering ways to answer that call.
I might be wrong but those who read this blog may not be the traditional WV teacher. The interesting thing for me about blogging (new for me) will be who, if anyone, posts a comment. And so this digital immigrant tests the waters of the digital natives, maybe at depths beyond my comfort zone.
The central topic here is the need to create in students skills that go beyond traditional school learning. Why? Because never before have people seen the exponential growth and change that happens every day. I think all are in agreement with that element of life today. The implications are daunting.
So, my question on this topic focuses on the future of our schools. What they should look like. How we address this issue of teaching a new "set of skills". As a part of the 21st Century Institute "elevator interview" I was assigned to pose the following question to Dr. Paine and other educational stakeholders:
QUESTION: Five years into the future, what would you like to see happening in West Virginia schools that would better prepare students for success in the 21st Century?
I look forward to your responses.
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3 comments:
To be prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century, students must think critically, solve problems creatively, and work collaboratively. Schools must reflect these expectations. Learning must be interesting and useful to the learner.
By incorporating problem based learning that requires critical thinking, collaboration, and application of knowledge, students learn for a purpose and immediately apply what they learn. Students must be able to quickly locate information, know how to interpret it, and have numerous strategies to apply and effectively communicate their learning. Learning in such an environment challenges students and encourages creative problem solving preparing them for continuous change.
Mr. Yoder,
You inquired: “Five years into the future, what would you like to see happening in West Virginia schools that would better prepare students for success in the 21st century?”
I believe that in West Virginia, we are poised to make a huge impact on student learning with the teaching tools required to make such an impact a reality. What I sincerely would like to see happening is a focus on student/teacher collaborations through the use of technology. The technology infrastructure in West Virginia has evolved to the point that our teachers and learners have high-end access to a wealth of global learning resources. Resources that can better prepare them to interact in a world that not only requires, but demands the skills needed to be both a productive and contributing member of society. This includes the capability to interact with and learn from one another anytime, anywhere, and on any topic. Students will become contributors to the education of others, including their own teachers. The barriers of time, distance and physical boundaries have come down with the advent of the Internet, thus allowing teaching to extend beyond the typical school day and reach into the home on a regular basis.
I envision in the near future that all teachers have ready access to 21st learning environments such as those that we have created in Marshall County with our turnkey 21st Century Digital Learning Centers. Our DLCs, now installed in classrooms from Pre-K to senior grade levels afford our teachers and students with the latest in interactive and integrated presentation strategies to best maximize teaching and learning. This model has proven ultra successful in our school district and it is my hope that it can be replicated and made available to all students and teachers statewide. Only through effective collaboration of educators and students can we attain what is needed for the 21st century. Educators who embrace technology and passionately share it with students in the teaching and learning arena will make the most impact on 21st century learning and best prepare our future citizens to meet any challenge with confidence and the required skills.
Bill Burrall, Director of Instructional Technology
Marshall County Schools
Well written article.
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