21st Century Skills

Partnership for 21st Century Skills website: http://www.p21.org/

This website seems to correspond with what we have been studying in the class, Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society.  The Partnership for 21^st Century Skills believes in the incorporation of the “4Cs” as well as the traditional 3Rs of education.  These “4Cs” include critical thinking and problem solving; communication; collaboration; and creativity and innovation.  This past summer, I attended the Educator Effectiveness Training for the Common Core Standards which will be implemented in Maryland in the coming years.  I mention this because I see many parallels between what the Partnership believes and advocates for and what is coming with the adoption of the Common Core Standards.  This is particularly true when it comes to the toolkit offered on their website.  I found this resource to be most helpful.  This toolkit emphasizes the importance of incorporating inquiry-based curriculums, acting on innovative ideas, using performance-based assessments, and working collaboratively with interdisciplinary colleagues.  The best part of the toolkit is the “Lesson Starters” for Mathematics and English/Language Arts.  These are ideas for lessons that connect the 21^st Century Skills with the Common Core Standards.  I hope that the Partnership continues to develop ideas for lessons for educator to use.  One of the most frustrating things I have experienced as an educator is for someone to tell me the benefits of “best practices” without giving me lessons or even ideas for lessons.  Why should I recreate the wheel when I know there are resources available if I search long enough?  Instead of reinforcing the why, I would rather be shown how.

Through the incorporation of 21^st Century Skills, my own classroom has changed immensely.  I have gone from teacher-led lecture to student-centered project-based learning and performance assessments.  I have made this change mostly due to the foundation of the curriculum in teaching pre-engineering.  As I see the benefits with my students in pre-engineering, I cannot help but expose my math students to this as well.  I have begun the process toward incorporating 21^st Century Skills in both of my classes because I see it as essential for my students.  I would not adequately prepare them for their future if I did not. 

National Book Festival

I have tried to attend the National Book Festival ever since I moved to Maryland seven years ago.  This year's festival was by far the most exciting and memorable for me.  Toni Morrison is an award winning author who happens to be from my hometown of Lorain, Ohio.  She is best known for "Beloved", but my personal favorite is "The Bluest Eye".  I had the opportunity to hear her speak at the festival yesterday and was impressed with her insightful and humorous responses to the interview questions.  

Contest for Students

NASA's Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission is under way and they are looking for students who have suggestions for names other than GRAIL-A and GRAIL-B.  The mission is to create a map of the moon.  Any interested K-12 student can get more information from the following link: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/grail/namingcontest.cfm?CFID=5195764&CFTOKEN=56193813

Classroom Blogs

My ideal classroom blog would serve as a tool to bring students together in collaboration.  I also would like it to be a place where enthusiasm for mathematics is found.  I would like to see students asking for assistance and receiving it both from myself and from other students.  I would also like to see students working together on projects through the blog and then sharing the results from their work.  I would like the blog to be a place where students share interesting resources they have found and share the significance of the resources.  I feel that a blog like this would aid in creating a classroom atmosphere of teamwork where students are not afraid to make mistakes and help others. 

I feel as though a blog is a good tool for my Eighth grade Algebra 2 and Pre-Engineering classes because students can access it not only at home and school, but wherever they can connect to the Internet.  If a student is having trouble with a homework assignment, they could ask for assistance, and, in theory, receive assistance before the assignment is due.  Or, if a student has to miss school due to health issues or family emergencies, they can stay connected to the classroom by checking the blog and interacting with the class.  In this situation, the student could avoid large amounts of make-up work.  I see many benefits to creating a classroom blog.  It is the future of education and I would like to be a part of it. 

Weightless Flights of Discovery

I had an amazing time experiencing the absence of gravity.  My group completed some experiments throughout the flight.  I will share the results after reflection.  This is a picture of me from the ceremony after the flight.

Go Weightless

http://www.northropgrumman.com/goweightless/
I have been selected to participate in this amazing opportunity for educators.  I will experience zero gravity in an airplane and conduct experiments.  The whole flight is videotaped and I will be able to show the footage to my students as I teach about flight and space.  I am very excited.  My flight takes place tomorrow, September 12.

First Post

This is my first attempt at blogging.  The purpose of this blog is to share educational ideas, communicate with my students, and share with my fellow graduate students.  Ideas about Algebra 2 and integrating technology into the curriculum are welcome and appreciated.