21st Century Learning Skills

Are you a digital native or a a foreigner in a digital land?  If you have no idea what I am talking about and you are education, have I got some news for you.  I've discovered a new recipe for an old standby.  "Doing school" with paper and pencil is a thing of the past.  Technology is the way of the future.  As educators, we need to be lifelong learners and this is one area we need to jump on before it and our students pass us by.

I know what you are saying.  "I can't do one more thing!"  "What!  Another computer something!"  "I just don't get computers!"  Well, I hate to tell you, but we live in a digital age and our students are digital natives.  They have the knowledge, but they need some guidance.  They live in a world of social networks, IM's, cell phones and texting.  We need to take their desire to use technology and make them better students.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills website is a great place to start.  Here you will find what is means to be a 21st Century learner.  You may have to be the learner first in order to be the teacher later.  You may already feel ready to take on the challenge.  Wherever you are in the spectrum, give this website your attention.

You may be surprised like I was with all the corporate sponsors.  The market place understands the importance of making sure our youth will be prepared to meet the challenges of the future workplace.

I know when you first go to the site, you might be a bit overwhelmed.  Check out the Tools and Resource section.  Pick one area that interests you.  For me it was Route 21 in the Online Tools.  Do what I did.  Pick an article that you want to learn more about or that relates to what you teach.  Ask yourself, how can I help my students using the information this article is giving me.  Or just take a look at what some of the states are doing to promote technology in the classroom.

Like it or not, our students are digital natives.  We need to lead the way instead of following behind.  Just like trying a new recipe for the first time can be a little nerve racking and frustrating, having a new recipe work for you is just at exciting and rewarding.  Remember today's new recipe is tomorrow's favorite!  Give  the 21st Century  Learning Skills a try!  Remember what momma told you, "Don't say you don't like it if you haven't tried it!"

The 1st Ingredient

     Ok, if I'm going to keep the theme of soup, I need a few ingredients.  Just like a chef trying a new recipe for the first time, I'm feeling a bit nervous about blogging my thoughts.  I've never been much of a writer, so sharing my thoughts seems a bit "revealing".  Like the nervous chef, waiting to hear the reviews, I'm putting myself out there in cyber world.
     So, the first ingredient to our stone soup is courage.  Technology can be a bit overwhelming and scary.  Many of the new technology gadgets we have available to us as teachers lead us to an unknown world.  We have to see ourselves as pioneers as we travel the road of technology.  We don't want to be left behind. We have to work and we have to get dirty.  We have to pave a trail as we lead our students.
     So, let get that technology pot ready for a heapin' helpin' of courage.  Go out and try a blog.  It really is easy.  It's so easy....even a teacher can do it!

     I teach computer to the lower school students (grades 3-6) at my school.  The first thing I am going to do is show them how easy it is to blog and how much fun it can be.  I'm also going to talk with my principal and see how I can help the classroom teachers as they prepare writing assignments.  One area I think would be neat to do is to start my computer class with a writing prompt.  One week they could write their own response and then next week, they could respond to another student's prompts.  One thing I already do in computer lab is collaborate with the classroom teachers.  I try to do the "extra" things that they can't do in the classroom.  Using a blog for each homeroom would be a great way to connect the learning that is taking place in the classroom.
     I also teach science lab to the 2nd - 6th grade students.  I think we could make blogs for each grade level.  They could post what they are learning.  They could create review sheets to share, project ideas or we could do a science newsletter.

Hello to All!

This is my first attempt at blogging! Ready or not, here I come! Stone Soup for all!