Why We Need to Teach 21st Centruy Skill-And How to Do It

WOW!



This artical by Bob Regan just lept off the page and connected with every I've learned so far here during my 2 years here at Bank Street College. When I read the following quote:





According to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the skills we need to be teaching include the following:
•‑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 started to make the connection that this was in part the definition of the curriculum of Bank Street, i.e. using Social Studies as the core.



Regan mentions that even though the context in which our schools operate has changes, the goals have not. AND, how he connects this with John Dewey's core theme: LEARNING BY DOING, I connected with the mantra used by Diane Newman, "Theory and Practice". Meaning that to excel in one's learning, we need to put the theory (what we've learned from reading texts and discussion in the classroom) into our actual practice as Educators. Just what Dewey said! I also like how Dewey gives a classic example of this by saying, "We don't want to teach our students about science, we want them to become scientists". This is what some might call the notion of ACTIVE LEARNING.



So basically what we have here is the responsibility of caring out Dewey's plan of "emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking". Regan mentions who this Theory/Practice can be carried over into today's classrooms where so much new technology is readily (in most cases) to more students, he refers to this as, "Multimedia Applications". The car model may have changed, but it still serves the purpose of getting us from one place to another.

I was also drawn to the idea of how technology was furthering the practice of how content crossed over to other subject areas. "Visual memory is strong, so the more you can involve the student in creating or re-creating a visual, the more you’re imprinting that information in their minds," "We’ve been using arts classes to raise standard test scores in math, reading, and writing." When students take a picture and have to describe it, they’re learning how to verbalize the essential meaning. When they read a story and illustrate it, they’re showing reading comprehension, but they are also engaging at the level of synthesis. They are choosing what element to focus on and creating a visual representation.

Also, for the visual learner, " some students, especially those with learning disabilities, digital media provides a means to engage with and express ideas. For many students, text can present real hurdles to learning. While still working through issues with text, students can supplement core ideas through the use of interactive digital experiences".

In closing, Mark Johnson from Crestwood Junior and Senior High Schools raises probably the most valuable point one should take away from this article, that point is that most students today in a Technological Scholastic Environment learn from not just the work from fellow students in class, but from other students, WORLDWIDE......................... Very Cool.