Creating 21st Century Learners
"Twenty-first-century learning will ultimately be “learner-driven.”" (Steve Hargadon)
The framework was created since there seemed to be a "lack of workforce development in schools has created workforce gaps." "As we move further into the 21st century toward
a knowledge-based economy, the need for students to develop advanced skills and knowledge continues to grow."
It calls for an integration of the following skills:
~Technology skills: Knowing how to using various forms of media to synthesize information and communicate effectively
~Life and career skills: independent, self sufficent, hard working, culturally aware, accepting diversity, flexible
~Learning Innovation Skills: Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Communication
The term "21st-century skills" is generally used to refer to certain core competencies such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving that advocates believe schools need to teach to help students thrive in today's world." (edweek)
The Common Core and Framework for 21st Century learning is a direct reflection of the Constructivist approach and Dewey's Inquiry Learning Model. The constructivist theory is based on
students actively engaging in their own learning. and constructing their own knowledge. While Dewey's ideas on inquiry learning.include problem solving and requires students to make hypotheses, collect data, and research to answer questions. This model also has a social basis, as students are working together and collaborating to answer their questions. In agreeance iof this model, the Buck Institute of Education supports Project Based Learning saying, "Rigorous projects help students learn key academic content and practice 21st Century Skills (such as collaboration, communication &
critical thinking)." It is no longer effective to teach our students just the content. We need to be teaching them the skills to set them up to be critical thinkers and life long learners. As in today's changing world, "we leave school only knowing 2% of what we will need in life" (Barth, 16). Microsociety schools are setting out to do just this, encouraging student learning through giving them jobs and responsibilities that create environments for problem solving and collaboration(http://www.microsociety.org/)
Further, the framework goes along with the idea of using Mutliple Intelligences in the classroom. The multiiple intelligences provides students with choices on how they can present and show their understanding of a specific concept. This can allow for every student to show that they are smart whether if it is through a song, poem, art, hands on activity, etc. This concept is also ideal for students to begin to think outside of the box and think more abstractly. Just as, "Daniel Pink
(2005) describes as a movement from the information age to the conceptual age. Pink (2005) suggests that metaphorically, that our left brain, (the logical sequential, analytical side of our brain that has powered our United States economy during the information age) is no longer sufficient." These activities force students to have a more "right brained" way of thinking. Below is an example of a tic-tac toe/choice board for the different intelligences.
The next crucial idea of the 21st Century framework is problem solving. These ideas are reflected in the higher order questioning in Blooms Taxonomy. While lower level questioning such as remembering and understanding ensure that students understand concepts, the higher levels of Blooms' model ask for students to "create" and "evaluate". These higher levels require students to apply taught concepts while using different intelligences, this application and critical thinking is a goal of the Common Core as well. Below are posters for question stems for each level of Blooms.
Sarah Brown Wessling continues to reflect on teaching in the 21st Century learning stating,"
"Embracing a 21st-century learning model requires consideration of those elements that could comprise such a shift creating learners who take intellectual risks, fostering learning dispositions, and nurturing school communities where everyone is a learner."
Student Leadership:
The Common Core and Framework for the 21st Century Learning Skills call for students to begin to show more leadership characteristics. The proceding activities promote growth of leadership skills. These skills are imperative to all citizens in this age. In our own classrooms, we need to "create a set of rules for respectful listening and responding" (Zemelman & Ross, 80). These are not natural qualities for students and they must see modeling as well as be given time to role play positive and negative behaviors for leadership. Responsive Classroom(http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/resources-educators) is a website that provides meaningful ways to build and support a community in the classroom. As teachers we must help our students find their voices, so they can speak their minds in a positive and meaningful way.
Further, inviting leaders to come and speak with your class to help them learn about roles of leader and what makes a leader. They also serve as a good role models for students. Leadership characteristics will better prepare students for their future in the workforce.
Some examples of Leadership Qualities:
~Confidence
~Cooperation
~Sharing and Listening to Ideas
~Evaluating Ideas
~Being Respectful
~Understanding Different Ideas
Promoting 21st Century Framework
Math Talk:This is an approach to math that allows students to each have a specific role and work together to answer math questions that involve logic and application of skills. After solving the question they express how the solved the question and why they believe that is the right answer.
I have used Math Mysteries in the past: http://teacher.scholastic.com/maven/
Houghton Mifflin Brain Teasers: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mhm/
Pearson Learning has created programs for technology and problem solving: http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZuNu
Book Clubs or Literature Circles: I have used book clubs in both second and fourth grade. This is a great way for students to practice their leadership skills and hear different perspectives of a text. In book club, students are in small groups and they read a given text. For each book club meeting, students read a predetermined portion of a text and are assigned a specific role (i.e. Connector, Discussion Leader, Summarizer, Illustrator) and share their job with the group. The group is able to have a discussion about the text and everyone is able to share their own thoughts. The conversation is student-led and not teacher-directed. Below you will find a document with literature circle jobs.
Here is a great website of tools to help any teacher: http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/33-digital-skills-every-21st-century.html
The framework was created since there seemed to be a "lack of workforce development in schools has created workforce gaps." "As we move further into the 21st century toward
a knowledge-based economy, the need for students to develop advanced skills and knowledge continues to grow."
It calls for an integration of the following skills:
~Technology skills: Knowing how to using various forms of media to synthesize information and communicate effectively
~Life and career skills: independent, self sufficent, hard working, culturally aware, accepting diversity, flexible
~Learning Innovation Skills: Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Communication
The term "21st-century skills" is generally used to refer to certain core competencies such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving that advocates believe schools need to teach to help students thrive in today's world." (edweek)
The Common Core and Framework for 21st Century learning is a direct reflection of the Constructivist approach and Dewey's Inquiry Learning Model. The constructivist theory is based on
students actively engaging in their own learning. and constructing their own knowledge. While Dewey's ideas on inquiry learning.include problem solving and requires students to make hypotheses, collect data, and research to answer questions. This model also has a social basis, as students are working together and collaborating to answer their questions. In agreeance iof this model, the Buck Institute of Education supports Project Based Learning saying, "Rigorous projects help students learn key academic content and practice 21st Century Skills (such as collaboration, communication &
critical thinking)." It is no longer effective to teach our students just the content. We need to be teaching them the skills to set them up to be critical thinkers and life long learners. As in today's changing world, "we leave school only knowing 2% of what we will need in life" (Barth, 16). Microsociety schools are setting out to do just this, encouraging student learning through giving them jobs and responsibilities that create environments for problem solving and collaboration(http://www.microsociety.org/)
Further, the framework goes along with the idea of using Mutliple Intelligences in the classroom. The multiiple intelligences provides students with choices on how they can present and show their understanding of a specific concept. This can allow for every student to show that they are smart whether if it is through a song, poem, art, hands on activity, etc. This concept is also ideal for students to begin to think outside of the box and think more abstractly. Just as, "Daniel Pink
(2005) describes as a movement from the information age to the conceptual age. Pink (2005) suggests that metaphorically, that our left brain, (the logical sequential, analytical side of our brain that has powered our United States economy during the information age) is no longer sufficient." These activities force students to have a more "right brained" way of thinking. Below is an example of a tic-tac toe/choice board for the different intelligences.
The next crucial idea of the 21st Century framework is problem solving. These ideas are reflected in the higher order questioning in Blooms Taxonomy. While lower level questioning such as remembering and understanding ensure that students understand concepts, the higher levels of Blooms' model ask for students to "create" and "evaluate". These higher levels require students to apply taught concepts while using different intelligences, this application and critical thinking is a goal of the Common Core as well. Below are posters for question stems for each level of Blooms.
Sarah Brown Wessling continues to reflect on teaching in the 21st Century learning stating,"
"Embracing a 21st-century learning model requires consideration of those elements that could comprise such a shift creating learners who take intellectual risks, fostering learning dispositions, and nurturing school communities where everyone is a learner."
Student Leadership:
The Common Core and Framework for the 21st Century Learning Skills call for students to begin to show more leadership characteristics. The proceding activities promote growth of leadership skills. These skills are imperative to all citizens in this age. In our own classrooms, we need to "create a set of rules for respectful listening and responding" (Zemelman & Ross, 80). These are not natural qualities for students and they must see modeling as well as be given time to role play positive and negative behaviors for leadership. Responsive Classroom(http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/resources-educators) is a website that provides meaningful ways to build and support a community in the classroom. As teachers we must help our students find their voices, so they can speak their minds in a positive and meaningful way.
Further, inviting leaders to come and speak with your class to help them learn about roles of leader and what makes a leader. They also serve as a good role models for students. Leadership characteristics will better prepare students for their future in the workforce.
Some examples of Leadership Qualities:
~Confidence
~Cooperation
~Sharing and Listening to Ideas
~Evaluating Ideas
~Being Respectful
~Understanding Different Ideas
Promoting 21st Century Framework
Math Talk:This is an approach to math that allows students to each have a specific role and work together to answer math questions that involve logic and application of skills. After solving the question they express how the solved the question and why they believe that is the right answer.
I have used Math Mysteries in the past: http://teacher.scholastic.com/maven/
Houghton Mifflin Brain Teasers: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mhm/
Pearson Learning has created programs for technology and problem solving: http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZuNu
Book Clubs or Literature Circles: I have used book clubs in both second and fourth grade. This is a great way for students to practice their leadership skills and hear different perspectives of a text. In book club, students are in small groups and they read a given text. For each book club meeting, students read a predetermined portion of a text and are assigned a specific role (i.e. Connector, Discussion Leader, Summarizer, Illustrator) and share their job with the group. The group is able to have a discussion about the text and everyone is able to share their own thoughts. The conversation is student-led and not teacher-directed. Below you will find a document with literature circle jobs.
Here is a great website of tools to help any teacher: http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/33-digital-skills-every-21st-century.html
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