After viewing the Partnership for 21st Century Skills website, I was very impressed with the amount of information that was available describing what the goals of the program are and how the program is meant to help students become better prepared for the professional world. I was also very surprised to see the amount of resources available on the website. I did type math in the search, and many different resources popped up. Some were not very related, but there were plenty to look through. However, I was displeased to see the support of cognitive tutor (collaboration with computer based learning with a focus on application). After working with the program for a couple of years, I noticed that it was very helpful when it came to test scores at the end of the year, but when it came to skills practice, the students did not retain much of the information.
I think that the groups mission is essential for students, but I believe it to be hard to establish in the classroom due to time constraints, and the large amount of information that is forced upon teachers and students. If these obstacles did not exist, I believe that the program and its goals could be a great asset to educators and students. The students would improve essential skills while they are learning the essential material.
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Some of the resources will be very helpful. I agree that the time constraints is an issue. Some of the resources and instructional ideas would be more time consuming than other teaching strategies. I am all for new things and i believe that the concept could be successful but time is always an issue, simply expanding a lesson by 10 minutes can through off the schedule. Also I think that the ideas mentioned in the Partnership for 21st Century Skills website are great there was a lot of information presented and although it is all relevant important information I think that it is a lot for a teacher at once when we are dealing with so many other things.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you. I really thought the purpose and the ideas behind it were great and spot on - but the practical application of it seemed lacking to me. I teach Foreign Language and did not come away with much from the site that I could use beyond what I already have been doing. And yes, unless the state/fed gov changes their stance on testing I don't see how we can emphasize a lot of those skills because they don't correlate to the tests that determine our AYP, etc.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you as well. The ideas and purpose behind the program are great, but reality hits when it comes down to the time costraint. Our skill drills us all the time about teaching to the curriculum and our AKS, but how do we go outside of that in order to meet AYP and prepare the students for their end of the year standardized test.
ReplyDeleteBefore I comment on what I have read, could someone please define the acronyms being used throughout the comments above? Presently, there are so many letters, numbers, and abbreviations being used in academia that unless one decodes the acronyms, I have a difficult time following conversations.
ReplyDeleteIt alarms me the number of times that the comments above mentioned standardized testing, "teaching to the test", etc. I must state that I teach social studies and this area of education has yet to make the pages of current state/federal mandated testing and I am not teaching in a state that sets salaries on a basis of merit pay. With that said, perhaps, I have no business commenting on these issues.
In the state of Iowa we are the last state that has yet to adopt state standards. Within the next four to five years the "Iowa Core Curriculum," will be in the process of being integrated throughout each district's standards/curriculum throughout the state. Why Iowa held out for so long when forty-nine other states went to state standards some time ago, I am not sure. Alas, the time has come and teachers and students will have to adapt to the changes.
I guess rather than commenting any further I have some questions I would like to ask you all. Any light you all can shine on these issues would be really appreciated.
What is the social-stratification of the schools in your state (i.e. socioeconomic-status, rate of poverty, cultures represented)?
Are all the tests in your subject areas standardized or do you have the opportunity to assess in any form you see fit until a major standardized test?
Do your students have to pass a test in order to graduate and receive his/her diploma?
If you had the opportunity, resources, and time to plan would you be more inclined to buy-in to the "Partnership for 21st Century Skills," (P21) ideals?
Is there anyway for you to take your content and alter it slightly to incorporate a few of the skills discussed on the web site? If yes, what would you incorporate? If no, what is standing in the way of implementing parts of P21 into daily lessons and curriculum?
Is funding (or lack there of) making you look at P21 from a different perspective than if your school district was wealthy?
If you do not have time to answer all of the above questions, pick and choose, I just want to get a better handle on what different states are facing in regards to "high-stakes" testing and P21.
Thank you,
Courtney