21st Century Skills

MISSION STATEMENT

Serve as a catalyst to position 21st century skills at the center of US K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leaders.

This organization has teamed up with independent companies, state and national governments, K-12 school districts and communities nationwide to expand the opportunities given to our children. They want to make sure that they possess the skills necessary to compete on a global scale by the time they reach adulthood. 

Our world has changed in the past decade because Americans are not on an equal playing field as many other nations. With the introduction of technology into the workplace, anyone around the world can have the same opportunities as anyone else. 

One of the things I enjoyed most about the 21st Century Skills Organization was documented in a recent press release. They were integral in getting state and federal governments to put together a 21st Century Skills Incentive Fund Act where the federal government will match any funds given by state governments to enhance the skills of K12 students. 

The Route 21 link on the website offers teachers the opportunity to look at lesson plans, assessment strategies, professional development and standards. This organization is not only assisting in the growth of students but teachers as well. 

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

How Can Blogs Benefit My Classroom?

I currently teach high school U.S. History in Hermiston, Oregon (Watermelon Capital of the World!). I can use blogs in my classroom for many purposes. Here is a list of the following uses that I have for my blogs in my classrooms for the upcoming school year:






1. To enrich student contact with classroom material. Homework assignments, articles and websites, etc.)

2. Have a classroom discussion board online. This can motivate students to communicate who are shy in the classroom.

3. Improving student use of technology

4. Excellent opportunities for students to read and write

Hi-Tech Cheating: Cell Phones and Cheating in Schools

Overview
Common Sense Media commissioned the Benenson Strategy Group to conduct a poll of teenagers and parents on the use of digital media for cheating in school. Two-thirds of teenagers today own cell phones*, and most 8- to 12-year-olds will own a cell phone in the next three years**. And those numbers are only a small representation of our kids’ 24/7 media world.
The results of the poll show the great dilemma our children face today. Personal technology has been a real game-changer for education. Information has never been easier to access, and the Internet provides powerful ways to collaborate, communicate, and create. Many believe the mobile phone also has potential as a learning tool. But as this poll shows, the unintended consequence of these versatile technologies is that they’ve made cheating easier. Digital life, by its nature, is distant, hard to track, and often anonymous, which can diminish the impact of action and consequences.
The call to action is clear: Parents and educators have to help our kids apply the same sense of responsibility and ethical behavior whether they’re online or off.

Article from Education Week