Not long ago, my colleagues and I were discussing the students on our team and the skill that they need to build for their journey to middle school next year. No, we were not talking about the dictionary skills, or the math facts, we were talking about the skills that they would need to work their way through the organization and life skills needed to survive those dreaded Middle School years. This week, my masters class is discussing and learning more about the skills that our kids will need beyond school. Have we got our work cut out for us.
Luckily, there is a web site with numerous resources to help us along the way:
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/ I spent some time this week taking a look at some of those resources and have a few reflections. The site is set up to link educators to in-house sources, as well as, sources submitted by viewers like you. I was intrigued by a website sponsored by Intel , set up to help educators foster skills that the technology based company is looking for in its employees. The programs that I looked at were designed to integrate the thinking skills needed into already existent curriculum.
As we move our students into an age where we are not sure what technology will bring us next (maybe a smoother transition to middle school?), we need to make sure they are ready with the thinking skills that will help them figure their world out.
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Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteThe site really does gives some great examples of how 21st century skills can be incorporated. I really liked the videos highlighting lessons involving those skills. They were under the Route 21 and then Snapshots tabs. Middle school is definitely a time of transition. Maybe incorporating some of these ideas could develop the critical thinking and problems solving skills that would better prepare the students for the future.
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteYou are right the website is resourceful and beneficial. In fact, there is nothing on the website that a person could not agree with, especially the ITC Literacy Digital. I was very impressed with the “Route 21”; it provides the framework and snapshots of lessons that incorporates 21st century skills. I also agree with you that we need to make sure our students are ready with the thinking skills in order for them to face the real world of the information age.