Education Opens Doors, Creativity Opens Windows...

An Editorial...

Education opens doors, creativity opens windows. Both are needed to be successful in the 21st century.

Education, however, doesn't necessarily mean you must have an advanced degree. Education means you graduate from high school fully prepared and qualified to attend an institution of higher learning. The doors are open for that choice. Though, moving on to higher education also means there are potentially more doors that open.

In light of the ramification of education, it is of the utmost importance that the knowledge and skills learned in high school prepare students to thrive in the real world by knowing how to write well, speak articulately, solve problems both individually and in groups, and analyze and critically interact with situations encountered daily.

But, that's only part of the equation to success in the 21st century...

Pair that knowledge with creativity. Not necessarily the ability to draw well or play an instrument delightfully, but the ability to think outside of the box. The ability to make connects between things that no one has thought of before. The ability to zig when everyone else is zagging. Creativity creates opportunities and opens windows.

For our most needy students, education these days falls short in both of these areas. One can look at data from colleges and universities and see that many minority students who do manage to graduate, and not drop out like many Latinos tend to do, need to take remedial writing courses in college. Many college students are also not very proficient in giving presentations or using their analytic and critical thinking skills. Why should they be good at these skills when most of their schooling has revolved around the memorization of facts and learning test taking strategies?

In terms of creativity, in most cases, it's pretty much eradicated beginning the first day of kindergarten. Students are taught to conform. Furthermore, students are labeled as difficult or challenging if they don't fit into neat scholar "boxes" and follow expectations right away.

It almost seems as though some teachers are trying to create drones in schools. But in their defense, that's how they were taught in school and if it worked for them, why shouldn't it work for their students?

Well, we could go on and on about that last question, but here's another question to ponder...

What can WE do to help prepare students to be successful in the 21st century?

How can we help them turn their dreams into successful tomorrows?

Here's an idea...how about we start by implementing this 21st century way of thinking ourselves and use both our education and creativity to come up with some solutions...

In other words, Be the change you want to see...

Si se puede...

Expect change as education moves into 21st century

It isn’t uncommon for parents to look over their children’s schoolwork and think to themselves, “I don’t remember learning that at their age.” It also isn’t uncommon for a parent to ask a child for help using a new electronic gadget or figuring out an app.

There is no doubt that technology is changing how we live our daily lives. That means that today’s generation must also learn and be taught differently to keep up with the pace of technology’s development.

Many schools are using the phrase “21st century learning” or “21st century skills” to describe this movement that is refining the goals of education. Ultimately, 21st century learning will be learner-driven. No longer will learning come from the top down. Students will be prepared to drive their own educations.

This type of education does not necessarily take place within four walls. Students will use the Internet through their cell phones and computers, and they’ll chat with friends on a social networking site. The teacher’s role will be to monitor and issue assignments via virtual classrooms.

The overarching learning goals for students will not change. These subjects include math, language and social and physical sciences. Other subjects will also become equally important: the environment, health and financial and civic literacy. The difference will be in how the students learn such subjects. The “how” includes what many educators are referring to as the “4 C’s.”

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: This refers to the ability to use facts, knowledge and data to effectively solve problems.

Creativity and Innovation: This is the ability to create new ideas using a wide range of techniques and to be able to develop, implement and communicate those ideas effectively. The definition can go further to include the ability to accept failure as an opportunity to learn, understanding that creativity and innovation is a cyclical process of small successes and frequent mistakes.

Communication: This is the ability to articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written and non-verbal communication skills and a variety of multiple media and technologies — all in diverse environments.

Collaboration: This is working effectively and respectfully with diverse teams while exercising flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal. This includes assuming shared responsibility for collaborative work and valuing the individual contributions made by each team member.

The definitions for school, teacher and learner will be revised to reflect this new learning environment. Schools will go from buildings to nerve centers with walls that are transparent — connecting teachers, students and the community to the wealth of knowledge that exists in the world. The primary role of the teacher as a dispenser of information will shift to an orchestrator of learning and helping students turn information into knowledge — and knowledge into wisdom.

Learners also need to be seen in a new context. Their interest must be maintained by helping them see that what they are learning prepares them for the real world. Their curiosity must be instilled. They should be excited to become even more resourceful so that they will continue to learn outside the formal school day.

Please remember that shifting schools to a 21st century learning environment will take time. However, be prepared. Soon, older students will be able to take their electronic devices to school and use them in the classroom. Hardcover textbooks will be replaced with e-books. These simple changes begin the transformation to the future 21st century learning environment.

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/31/expect-change-as-education-moves-into-21st/#ixzz2B7pzlNj0
- vcstar.com 


Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/31/expect-change-as-education-moves-into-21st/#ixzz2B7phSWOR - vcstar.com

Pearson Introduces Schoolwide Improvement Model at National Summit

At a National Summit in Orlando today, Pearson will introduce its “Schoolwide Improvement Model” (SIM), a comprehensive research-based approach for attaining sustainable systemwide change in K-12 schools. Forged in partnership with school districts large and small, urban and rural, the new innovative and flexible Schoolwide Improvement Model represents the culmination of two decades of verifiable third-party research, experience and proven results, including the combined heritage and proven success of America’s Choice and Pearson’s Learning Teams.

Alison Wagner, President of Pearson’s School Achievement Services, said, “Our new Schoolwide Improvement Model is a direct response to all that we’ve learned from our rich experiences working with schools around the country and studying best practices around the world.”

Wagner said Pearson’s Schoolwide Improvement Model is built on five essential components:

1. Standards-aligned curriculum, instruction and assessment;
2. High-performance leadership, management and organization;
3. Data-driven culture;
4. High achievement for students and engagement of staff, parents and the community; and,
5. Sustainability for continuous improvement.

To read the entire article, click here:Pearson Introduces Schoolwide Improvement Model at National Summit

Homework May NOT be a Valuable Educational Tool

Basic strategies for assigning homework~Suggestions for establishing homework assignments and policies.

BY KATHLEEN CASSON

Research on homework shows that it is not the valuable educational tool that many believe. Kralovec and Buell (2001) found that “homework often disrupts family life, interferes with what parents want to teach their children, and punishes students in poverty for being poor.” In addition, homework has serious limitations for teaching and learning.

For elementary students, homework does not improve academic achievement (Cooper, 1994). Supporters of homework claim that homework in the elementary grades can develop character traits like self-discipline and time management skills. However, this view lacks solid evidence.

Based on this information, the following suggestions should be kept in mind when considering homework assignments and policies:

• Be mindful of the amount of homework assigned. Homework types and amounts must be modified consistent with individual student needs, even within regular education. Remember that what is ten minutes work for one student can easily be an hour’s work for another.
• Homework should never be counted as a part of the content grade unless the teacher is certain that all the students in the class come from a similar level of environmental enrichment and parental support.
• Provide a system for checking children’s materials and copying of assignments at the end of the school day, particularly for students who have difficulty in homework organization.
• Assignments should have a clear purpose that is understood by students. If they have this understanding, students are more likely to complete assignments.
• Except in rare cases, students should not be removed or restricted from extra-curricular activities, including recess, for failure to complete homework assignments.

References

Cooper, H. (1994). The battle over homework: An administrator’s guide to setting sound and effective policies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Kralovec, E. & Buell, J. (2001). "End homework now." Educational Leadership, 58 (7).

Click here for the original article.

What Are 21st-Century Skills? ATC21S Explains...

Learning to collaborate with others and connect through technology are essential skills in a knowledge-based economy.

ATC21S started with a group of more than 250 researchers across 60 institutions worldwide who categorized 21st-century skills internationally into four broad categories:

• Ways of thinking. Creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and learning
• Ways of working. Communication and collaboration
• Tools for working. Information and communications technology (ICT) and information literacy
• Skills for living in the world. Citizenship, life and career, and personal and social responsibility

For more information, click on this link ATC21S~ 21st Century Skills

Kids Get Health Benefit From Yoga

University of Michigan pediatrician Dolores Mendelow says yoga, if done properly, is a suitable alternative to tumbling and team sports for getting stressed-out, sedentary children socializing, exercising and building discipline.

"It requires practice, patience and accepting of self-limitations," she said.


A preliminary study of pediatric health benefits of yoga, published in 2008, finds motor skills and concentration improvements, on top of better posture and breathing.


Yoga stretching and body alignment can create a better athlete, said Michigan State Universitystrength coach Mike Vorkapich. Players use back and arm movements to improve strokes and pitches, he said.

Listening improves too, said Jennifer Hayes, an MSU yoga teacher. She sometimes teaches without demonstrating postures. She hears this all the time: "Wow, this is harder than I thought."


Find the whole article at Kids Get Health Benefit From Yoga

Launch of the New Gateway to 21st Century Skills

The Gateway gets a complete new look and several new features!

JES & Co. announced today the launch of a robust build of the Gateway to 21st Century Skills (Gateway). The homepage (www.thegateway.org) has been simplified with easy to use icons. A daily contribution from Today in Literature provides a daily calendar of engaging stories about literary history. A resource recommendation engine will allow user searches to return a more-like-this list of similar resources. The new Gateway will also feature one click access to current and past weekly educational topics covered by Gateway columnists, Joann and Peggy.