On Skills & Technology: More Questions than Answers

How do we integrate 21st Century Skills using 21st Century Technology if our technology resources are difficult to get a hold of in the classroom? Are there ways we can promote 21st Century Skills without access to the technology? Students have many technology resources at home- what can we realistically expect from them if we ask them to create at home?

In the midst of state testing season, it is near impossible to use computers in the classroom, because they are being utilized for testing. This is simply a reality. So how do we continue to integrate 21st Century skills into a more 20th century looking classroom? Or do we send students home to their own technology and expect that they are working on their skills there?

At my school, we do have interactive white boards as a resource but it is difficult to have many students working on the board at the same time. We have clickers, but it is difficult for students to collaborate and create with these.

I am optimistic that we will continue to do everything we can with what we have in order to guide our students to the 21st Century economy, but I think I need some new solutions. I think I need to put an ad in the paper (so 20th century...). My ad will read "21st Century teacher seeking solutions for integrating 21st Century skills with limited technology resources." 

On the other hand, it would probably be more effective to conduct my research using 21st Century technology. Social Media- here I come- I'll see if my tweets and status updates can generate some good discussions. 

Onward and Upward!

Post Script: I have created a Quizlet site where my students can review and re-teach at home. There is also an app for Quizlet, so I hope my students can utilize that. There are ideas out there- I just need to find them!

Is blogging the 21st Century tool for this teacher?

I have to admit, this blogging makes me a bit apprehensive. I don't want to sound like my grandmother, but I am just not sure I can wrap my mind around this whole blogging thing. I can say that I enjoy reading other people's blogs. I often feel like these bloggers are obsessed with every little minutia of their lives, but it is nevertheless enjoyable to read. I suppose I am afraid that my thoughts aren't worthy of publishing. Sure, I have thoughts, but who wants to hear them? And, I don't mean this is a self-depreciating way; I just rarely think my musings were noteworthy.

I am truly thankful for this opportunity to blog for my graduate class, though. I hope it will open my eyes to the world of blogging. I am optimistic that there is hidden value in sharing my ideas in this sort of arena. My goal is to have a casual blog that reflects my stream of consciousness about 21st Century Learning. 

I suppose one begins a blog with a bit about the blogger. I am a 7th grade science teacher in my 3rd year of teaching. I am working towards a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I teach at a school where technology is readily available by comparison to other schools in the area. My students have access to even more 21st Century gadgets at home and we as teachers struggle to keep up with the latest apps or devices that our students are using. They are truly the embodiment of 21st Century Learning. Now, the question is, does my classroom grow that learning or suppress it? Does the classroom I guide at least recognize this reality?