21st century skills

Technology is not what it used to be when I was growing up. It has become a necessity in our lives, and in the lives of our students. They are growing up in an era where they will skills for their future jobs that perhaps when I was growing up wasn't necessary. Teachers need to keep in mind this and incorporate it in not only their lessons, but the culture of their class. We need to let students explore other realms of learning. We also need to eel in mind that everyone has different learning styles, and that a textbooks don't offer that hands on experience that will remain with them forever.

The use of technology can only enrich and make the students' learning more meaningful. Although Bob Regan (2008) mentions that @1st Century Skills suggests, that teachers need to be teaching different skills such as " Information, media literacy, and communication skills; Thinking and problem-solving; Interpersonal, collaborative, and self-direction skills; Global awareness; Economic and business literacy, including entrepreneurial skills; Civic literacy" I belief that we should still teach what we are teaching now and incorporate these suggested skills. Students should be made aware of all of the skills mentioned above, but at the same time they still need the academic skills to make that are being taught in school now.

If a student has the necessary 21st century skills and the regular academic skills being implemented by schools now. Then this student is worth more than a student who has only limited set of skills. We want our students to be prepare for the future, but at the same time we want them to be well rounded and engage in all sorts of topics. As teachers we need to use our discretion and think about what is going to work for our students without limiting them.