My first impression of the website was I found it to be easily read on a mobile device. Being on the go quite often, it's nice when websites take the time to be mobile friendly. I was a little disappointed Michigan was not on the list of having a state initiative. I don't know if that means we don't have an initiative or maybe it is under construction. Either way, I was surprised. I was happy to see the Apple Corporation as one of the strategic council members.
I was not thrilled to see the p21 have such a strong relationship with the NCLB act. I can't help but think how much more successful they would be without the NCLB idea of focusing on the remedial math and remedial writing subjects. Other important subjects suffer, such as electives and enrichment programs. Some courses have even been eliminated.
I enjoyed the student outcomes and support systems graphic. Students will get a greater understanding with something like that because it demonstrates how the p21 will help a student become successful in the 21st century.
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ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you about your comment about P21 being associated with the No Child Left Behind act. NCLB, while in theory is a good idea, how do help the needs of those who are already ahead? When teachers who are involved in NCLB spend much of their time focusing on bringing along a few to be OGL, what or how do we differentiate for those who are ABGL? This may look like additional worksheets and independent work
ReplyDeleteHow do teachers address NCLB when they have only 1 student. Do they cut ties and let him/her straggle behind, or do they focus a majority of their time on that 1 student and abandon the remaining members of the class who are capable of working on the aspects of P21?,
Jim you were surprised that Michigan was not one of the states on the initiative and I was surprised to see that Ohio was. I never heard of it before and I have taught in Ohio for 11 years! I knew we were handed the technology standards a few year's ago but none of us were told how to go about covering them. The students attend computer classes once or two a week, depending on the grade level. However, our building's computer teacher is classified as an aide, not a licensed teacher. I try to teach the tech standards as best that I can in a math class. In reality, if Ohio is on board with this initiative, each school should have a technology teacher to make sure all the standards are covered.
ReplyDeleteI share your apprehension of all things connected to NCLB. However, I do have hope that by integrating these 21st Century skills into our classrooms, we can address the content needed by our students without relying on a painful teach-to-the-test style of instruction. Perhaps this is a step in the right direction by acknowledging that there are so many other components related to a complete education. Of course, the glass-half-empty response is that we will probably end up with some type of standardized assessment of the technology skills we should be teaching our students. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteMaryland has already tried testing tech standards. Actually I thought they were doing the right thing in that they were only using it as a benchmark. The original testing was to see where our current 7th graders stand with software skills and Internet knowledge. Of course, it's never left as a benchmark. My curriculum specialist rewrote our entire curriculum to teach to this test. Ironically, as soon as the curriculum changed, the state dropped the test. Now we're supposed to teach to a test that doesn't exist. (I didn't change my curriculum with permission.)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that emphasis on math and writing are dragging the attention off of the needed skills for the 21st century. There are many electives that are being taken out of public schools to help increase funding for math and writing. Although, these are two important skills, taking the focus off of technology, sciences and arts are creating barriers for the students in school. Their creativity is not being focused on, their problem solving skills in general are not being focused on and how they interact with others in the world. I think we should be able to give more insight on the school's curriculum in order to prepare our students for the future.
ReplyDeleteI am a teacher in Ohio and I was glad to see us apart of the website. I know Ohio is trying very hard to make sure that 21st century skills are being taught in the classroom (we have had technology standards since I started teaching). Ohio achievement tests is going totally online by 2015 (will this happen I do not know). This will let teachers and students know their score within 15 minutes of taking the test. Do you think this is a step in the right direction for Ohio/21st century learning?( I also agree with your statement about the NCLB comment)
ReplyDeleteI like the fact also that the site is easy to access from a mobile device. In thinking about 21st Century technology and skills cell phones/smart phones are some of the first things that pop into my head. It only makes sense that a website like this would make a seemless transition to mobile devices.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the closeness with NCLB, it is definitely offputting to those of us in education that are close to the action and know many of the ins and outs of the policy. However, we have to remember that the districts and states must think about how they will look in the eyes of the general public, many of whom aren't up on all of the same things we are. As much as we'd like a politician to come out and say "I want to change NCLB because it seems unrealistic" or "I want to re-tool NCLB," I don't think we ever will. No politician in their right mind would ever want to say this because it makes them sound to the general population like "I hate education and I don't like kids." It's all about image, unfortunately, and there are too many uneducated voters that would be outraged by a statement like this.