Preparing students with the 21st-century skills required for life after their K-12 education is ever-changing. To prepare students, educators must focus on teaching skills over content. The industrialized models of education in the age of the internet are outdated and ineffective. Instead, educators must look to impliment the 4C’s (NEA, 2002):
Curriculum needs to accommodate project-based learning approaches with real-world applications to help drive students to develop essential 21st-century skill areas. In Sir Ken Robinson’s renowned 2006 TED Talk, he highlights how creativity is being undermined in schools. Robinson argues that creativity is linked to making mistakes, but we, as a school and society, stigmatize mistakes. Robinson also discusses how industrialism is still very much intertwined with our educational systems and has an over-emphasis on academic achievement. Through examples such as this, we can begin looking at the positive impacts of project-based learning and STEAM education. Parents, teachers, administrators, and students, as stakeholders in the educational system, should look critically at the skills taught in our schools to ensure that students prepared.
Sir Ken Robinson's thought provoking 2006 TED Talk
Leveraging digital literacy and tools can also help support the 4C’s. Using the right technology can give students improved access to information, a more comprehensive array of learning modalities, and global connectivity. Through the use of TPACK, we can begin to learn the balance of just how technology, pedagogy, and content interplay with one another (Cain, Mishra and Koehler, 2013). Seeing how these three areas of education are interconnected allows us to ensure we are leveraging the right digital tools for the right situations. With the rapidly changing technological advancements, it is more important than ever that students can access the technology that will best support them in their learning.
While digital literacy and tools should be a strong consideration, it should not be the sole focus or looked at as the solution for implementing these skills. Many cautionary tales help shine a light on the pitfalls that this type of approach can have. In Nellie Bowles, The Digital Gap Between Rich and Poor Kids Is Not What We Expected (2018), pedagogical best practice must be at the forefront of all technology implementation. Throwing technology at this will not solve the issues. In Bringing Teachers Onboard with Tech by David Nagel (2011), he talks about getting teachers on board with educational technology implementation. Without teacher buy-in and training, we can never hope to have the support needed to make digital tools effective.
As we think about the next five years, it is essential to continue fostering skills that leverage our student’s ability to think critically, communicate, collaborate, and think creatively. With these skills, students will have the highest chance of being prepared for the world after their K-12 education. References Bowles, N. (2018, October 26). The Digital Gap Between Rich and Poor Kids Is Not What We Expected. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/style/digital-divide-screens-schools.html. Koehler, M., Mishra, P., & Cain, W. (2013). What Is Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)? The Journal of Education, 193(3), 13-19. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/stable/24636917. Nagel, D. (2011). Bringing teachers onboard with tech. Web log post accessed at http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/01/27/bringing-teachers-onboard-with-tech.aspx NEA. (2002).An Educator’s Guide to the “Four Cs”: Preparing 21st Century Students for a Global Society. National Education Association. http://www.nea.org/tools/52217.htm Robinson, S. (Director). (2006, February). Do Schools Kill Creativity? [Video file]. https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity?language=en
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AuthorMy name is Ryan MacLeod and I live in Seattle, WA. I am currently a K-8 Lab Coordinator. I have a passion for educational technology integration and curriculum design, especially when it comes to the social sciences. Archives
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