Preparing students for the 21st century

21^st Century Learning

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org

This website is an informative site that is working to make 21^st century learning a focus in schools. They offer their findings and ideas on how to make students 21^st century ready.

I found this site to be pro education in the area of literacy by using technology. The site is supporting students becoming ready to leave the classroom and be prepared to handle being in the 21^st century. The site is very useful in telling what should be done to start getting student prepared for the world that they are heading into. One area that I don’t see a great deal of information on is how to make all of it happen. I do like that they have a mission statement. To me it shows what they are about and what they hope to accomplish.

I was surprised to see how many corporations support them. It would be nice to see what they are doing to help education become 21^st ready. It is one thing to have their logo posted on the site and say they support what is going on and it is another to actually see what they are doing to help.

I don’t really disagree with anything on the site. I wish that they would promote all areas of school using technology in the classroom. They focus on the core classes but students spend just as much time in other classes so we should be making all areas of learning part of the 21^st century. I would also like to know where their funding comes from. I found where it said the federal government is on board but not where the money is coming from. Are the corporations funding them? If so I don’t know if I agree with that. Companies always have something up their sleeves.

I feel that PARTNERSHIP FOR 21ST CENTURY SKILLS is doing a good thing by getting the word out about what should be happing in our schools because it is affecting our country. I look forward to following what Partnership will be doing in the future and if my state will be one of the states to join them. I know something has to be done to get students ready for the world they are going to be facing and if this is a way of doing it then I am on board.

Application wk 2 part 2

I teach 7th and 8th grade Family and Consumer Science. I would be using blogging as a way for students to interact and connect with others. I am hoping to use blogging in my classroom to connect students from other countries. I teach a Food and Nutrition class and I am working on integrating more topics related to foods from other countries. I would love to have students from all over the world blog about what food and nutrition is like in their country. Students would be able to learn about each other culture and traditions. I teach in a rule community and many of my students have never experienced foods from around the world. Often times we get much of the information we teach our students from books but now we have the opportunity to get information from actual people. Using blogging offers students a chance to connect with others in a safe a controlled way. I am also looking into Skyping with other students so they able to talk with other students face to face about food.

This is my first blog. I guess in this first post I should tell you about myself....My name is Allison Fitzpatrick and I am a 7th and 8th grade Family and Consumer Science teacher. I know some of you are asking what subject is that? Well, back in the 50's it started out as Home Economics then evolved into Home and Careers and is now Family and Consumer Science. I love my job and students. I look forward to getting up and going to work everyday. The subject has changed a great deal over the years. We still teach cooking and sewing but now with many new ideas and attitude. Here is the link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_and_consumer_science from wikipedia and the National Family and Consumer Science grouphttp://www.aafcs.org/ so that you may become up to date on the subject.

Right now I am enrolled at Walden University getting my Masters in Adolescent Literacy and Technology. For my first technology class I had to create this blog. I am hoping that getting a Masters in this content area will help me to become a truly great teacher. I know that technology is now a staple in education and I want to know all I can.

I look forward to reading my fellow Walden bloggers post.

This is my new Blog!!!!