21st Century Skills (.org)

My initial reaction to the website was that it was user friendly. After I surfed a little, I wasn't quite sure what it was that I was searching for. Also, my home state of Ohio was not one of the ten listed in the drop down for "State Initiatives." I really enjoyed that there were updated articles readily accessible.

I was most surprised to see that Cisco systems was a primary sponsor. I know that Cisco is a huge contributor to most innovative technologies and to see that they were involved in such a great concept was intriguing. Thinking now, I am not certain how much of a surprise that would be to have such a large technology based firm back a techology based mission. I suppose my biggest surprise was when I read that there was no cost for a state to become a P21 state partner and that all they had to do was submit an application.

I do not disagree with anything on the site and feel that all intentions are pure and true to the concept of improving the status of education and providing an enriched learning experience for our students modeled by modern strategies.

I suppose that the implications for my students and for myself are to be more involved. If the district does not provide adequate funding, ask someone that may have the power to grant you some. Be proactive. The more important lesson to be learned is that we, teachers and students, need to be on the same team in the learning process and be able to learn from one another. I get the feeling that 21st century learning will become a vital tool for our students in their lives outside of the required years they are to be in the school system. What then? Aren't we supposed to prepare them for their future? Whom better to help provide an outline for that then their future employers?

www.21stcenturyskills.org

How to use a blog in a classroom

I am not certain if this is the proper place to post my thoughts on how best to utilize blogs in my classroom. I currently teach 5 classes of senior government, psychology & economics. I also have 1 class of freshman U.S. and world history. I may use a blog in my classroom as a source for discussions that would be furthered in the classroom. I could simulate what is required of us: make a posting or so on a regular basis and require students to respond to others' posts and carry on discussion. I could also use a blog to get ideas from other teachers about various topics that could be incorporated with one another on a "team teach" basis. Another idea for classroom use could be to have them post various resource links or sites that could help enhance one another's project or assignment.

It could also be a place to submit assignments or maybe used as an alternate homework activity for my college prep classes. Using a blog definitely could enhance the lesson if used this way because it would require them to further learning on a particular subject. This would also allow them to work with one another in a less traditional environment and maybe even one that they are more comfortable with (via the internet). The key for any lesson is to enhance student learning and to maximize their potential. I believe that utilizing blogs in this realm would definitely accomplish both of these goals.

Care to Share?

I was assigned to start a blog and the best thing that I thought fellow educators could contribute to would be lessons that were effective. What better than a place we can bookmark and check regularly for new and effective lessons that we are assured have worked before. I am constantly looking for new ideas and love when I can use lessons that other respective colleagues have already tried and found successful.

Please just be certain to identify the GRADE LEVEL and SUBJECT that you teach before you make a posting that I am sure someone will find valuable. I intend on using my blog as a template for not only helping myself but helping others be more successful in their own respective classrooms. I enjoy utilizing quotes and one that I find simple but true is from Shawshank Redemption when Red says to Andy "get busy livin' or get busy dyin'." What a great way to look at things.

Don't be shy, start with giving a lesson that you find useful and if we all do a little, nobody has to do a lot!!!