21st Century Learning and Teaching

I do believe that creativity is an essential literacy for education.  The only real solution to our education crisis and removing the need for this post is that policy makers begin to make time in education for educators to allow children to use their imagination and creativity.  Although assessment is great to inform instruction, let’s stop making them all paper and pencil multiple guess tests. 

===> Lets take anecdotal notes, give projects, do short checks for understanding, peer review, etc. etc <===

Thank you to Principal Greg Kostiuk for the inspiration for this blog. He wrote a blog about how the times are changing. I have to agree with Greg, time are moving quickly. Teacher Lyle Parr remind...

European Commission - Press Release - European Press release Brussels/Strasbourg, 20 November 2012 Commission The youth unemployment rate is close to 23% across the European Union – yet at the same time there are more than 2 million vacancies that...

Read more, a MUST:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-12-1233_en.htm

European Commission - Press Release - European Commission Press release Brussels, 19 November 2012

The teaching of IT, entrepreneurial and citizenship skills is fundamental for preparing young people for today's job market, but, in general, schools are still paying insufficient attention to these transversal skills compared with basic skills in literacy, mathematics and science, according to a new European Commission report. Part of the problem is rooted in difficulties with assessment.

===> For example, only 11 European countries (Belgium Flemish community, Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Finland) have standardised procedures to assess citizenship skills, which aim to develop critical thinking and active participation in school and society. <===

Such testing does not exist at all for entrepreneurship and IT skills in any of the 31 countries which took part in the survey (27 EU Member States, Croatia, Iceland, Norway and Turkey). The report also outlines progress in teaching six of the eight key competences defined at EU level for lifelong learning in knowledge, skills and attitudes.

“It is only by equipping children and young people with the necessary skills, including transversal skills, that we will ensure that the European Union will have the means to remain competitive and to seize the opportunities of the knowledge economy,” said Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

"This study shows us where there is room for improvement and, most importantly, what we need to do to create more opportunities for our youth.

===> Rethinking education, a policy initiative that I will launch tomorrow, will outline concrete proposals for doing this." <===

Read more, a MUST:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-12-1224_en.htm?locale=en

What parents should understand about technology...

Raising children in a technology-infused world is more than understanding the ins and outs of Facebook, Twitter, and computer games – or about the digital habits of teens. It’s about understanding the relationship of technology, popular culture, and child development. Taylor brings these deeper insights to readers in an easy-to-read, well-written format that is sure to benefit children.

The key for every parent is to facilitate a healthy, balanced relationship with technology – being aware of its pitfalls and helping children integrate media into their lives in positive ways. This is the message of Taylor’s book – and is well worth the read!

Read more, a MUST:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moment-youth/201211/generation-tech-the-good-bad-and-scary

Yong-Zhao believes 'American education is at a crossroads' and 'we need to change course'.

'We need to move away from focusing on the past and move towards focusing on the future'  

We need to leave the test driven road and move towards the road to innovation and creativity.

In the ten years since the launch of No Child Left Behind, these efforts have intensified. The results have been unimpressive. Graduation rates continue to falter and students and teachers alike are becoming more disaffected.

In this interview, professor Miguel Ángel Escotet reveals the key factors for achieving an education adapted to the future.

As ministers announce changes to the curriculums in England, experts discuss the factors behind the success of schools in Hong Kong, Finland and South Korea.

Despite almost universal agreement that critical thinking needs to be taught in college, now perhaps more than ever before, there is much less agreement on definitions and dimensions.