http://www.21stcenturyskills.
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a very cool site. I think it would be awesome if my state was doing more to allow all children access to technology. The site gave advice on how to write an email. I feel like I've wasted my students time doing 5 paragraph essays. This site really changed my views on a few things. I our country needs to do more as well as our states. The only way my county or state would do more was if there was money involved.
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Unfortunately money and budgets are the underlying theme with many states when it comes to education. This is such a shame and I do feel that this partnership offers but you are right, our country needs to help out more.
ReplyDeleteWhere you amazed at how so few states have become members of this partnership? I can't believe there were only 12 or 13 states that were active members. Do you think money plays are role in that or do you feel that still so many in our country resist new forms of technology?
Knowing how to write an email is a good skill to have, but I also took note that the 21st century skills group states that the 3R’s are still important in education. The 4C’s of which they speak, are to enhance what we already do.
ReplyDeleteI know that Dell and Apple are bigger corporations involved with this project; I wonder if they could step up and donate computers to schools? If North America is falling behind the rest of the world in 21st century skills, and if North America needs to take a big step forward, maybe some of the big corporations could lend a hand. Besides safety and liability, money plays an important factor why schools are not expanding technology in the classroom programs.
I like Rusty's notion of Dell and Apple making contributions. A school I was at previously received a gift of 20 used computers from a company that was updating their systems. The computers were 5 years old. Much better than the 8+ years of the existing machines in their media center. The company received lots of press for their donation and I'm sure some write-off. Three parents devoted a weekend to getting them networked under the guidance of the IT guy. Why isn't more of this happening? The entire school witnessed 21st Century skills firsthand as this was collaborative, teamwork, creative thinking, technology, ... the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteDonna, I really like Rusty's idea, but my county is weird about gifts. Last year the teacher that taught a college course at my high school was given a smart board from the college she was affiliated with. My principal made her give it back because she did not think it was fair to the other classes. Mind you, no one complained. My county can be a little backwards at times.
ReplyDeleteRusty I love your idea. Now how do we get big corporations to donate?
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