Why We Need to Teach 21st Century Skills

After reading Regan's article, it became even more clear to me how vital learning skills to operate technology really are. Teacher are always teaching the future generation, and because our country is continuously increasing our use of technology, it only makes sense that teachers should be teaching the skills that students will need in the years to come. Our job is to prepare our students to function independently in society. Therefore, without incorporating these skills into our lessons and curriculum, we are actually doing a disservice to our students. Regan raised a very important and intriguing point when he mentioned that we must first figure out what skills need to be taught and what are the best ways to teach those skills.

I found it interesting to think about how the general, overall expectations of skills our students need have not necessarily changed over the year, but the tools which we can use to teach those skills have. I also was intrigued by the emphasis in this article that was placed on the economy and students being able to function and interact with the economy. This is something that I have not really given much thought to before. Maybe it is because I teach such young children (five year olds), but I can see the connection to the teaching philosophy of teaching and learning by doing. This is a philosophy I try to maintain because I too agree that students' learning is most meaningful when they experience it first hand. I was really drawn to the point when Regan stated, "we don't want to teach students about science, we want them to become scientists." I have also always favored progressive education, but had not always thought about technology when thinking about progressive education. After reading this article, I can now see the strong connection between the two. Technology can support so many different types of learning styles and can help to make all students feel successful and heard.

The author also raised a good point. That although some teachers may feel hesitant about exploring new forms of technology, the students are not as apprehensive because they see it everyday outside of school. In this way, technology can also bridge the gap between home and school. This can lead even further into incorporating global awareness into the classroom and lessons. The internet now can help students better understand the world in which they live, and in turn, help prepare them to be more well rounded citizens.