FETC is without question the “If We Don’t Start Teaching Our Kids 21st Century Learning Skills We’re All In A Boatload of Trouble” Conference. Just about everywhere you look you see a reminder that this is indeed the 21st Century and that we’re teaching to 20th Century standards with 20th Century techniques. It’s almost the message from a lot of the featured speakers is like, “ok…you had six years to figure out that the Century actually did change…why haven’t you changed anything about how you teach?” I’ve heard Friedman’s name dropped three times already, and, the underlying current from many of those speaking is F E A R, or as Willard Daggett said more than once (maybe more than thrice) “They are going to eat our lunch.” Or this photo of the slide that was on screen prior to the start of Ken Kay’s presentation. It’s almost creepy.

Don’t get me wrong, there are bright spots. David Warlick tells somewhat the same story but with a much more hopeful tone. There must be at least 134 sessions on podcasting that, as far as I can see, haven’t resorted to the “Record or Die” meme. And a couple of the bloggy sessions I ducked in on looked quite happy (though I could give you some quotes from the audience that would make you think we were in the 19th Century.)

But I’m feeling kind of…I don’t know…bummed in some ways. I mean if you really want something to get scared about, listen to this podcast from Mark Lynas on Global Warming that I put on during the plane ride down here. If he’s right, we really are all dead, and none of this stuff will mean a hill of spaghetti.

David’s been talking about a new story, and I’ve been putting a post together with my thoughts. But I can tell you this: whatever the new story is, it’s not the one I’m hearing here…

Live blogging and wiki-ing at David’s wiki. I was going to cross post but it’s too long.
—–

21st Century Skills as Transformation in K-12 Schools–Ken Kay

Why is the world different?

1. We need our students to become effective 21st Century Citizens�much more complicated. California ballot.

2. The US is falling behind�very conscious about sports, why don’t we have the same awareness of where our students are in the global education�We’re in the middle on content, we’re at the bottom when dealing with analytical thinking and problem solving.

3. The magnitude of our competition is changing�20 years ago when we had a major challenge from Japan we did something about it�business schools weren’t teaching state of the art business strategies�just in time production, TQM�today same thing, not focused on those needs�20 years ago we transformed business schools�those students are pretty much up to speed�can’t say that about people coming out of colleges of education�the threat from Japan, however, was 1/20 that of what we face today from China and India�kids are leaving without the “flat skills”

4. The nature of work is changing�How many of our grandparents had only one or two jobs in their lifetimes�70-80%…how many jobs will young people have by the time they are 38? 10.2�the point is that the model of mastering subject, master content�the skill set we need now is not the mastery of one set of facts it’s the ability to adapatable and flexible, to move in and out of content�need to evolve into a new model of education.

What is the framework for 21st Century skills?

20th Century�core subjects over assessment. 21st Century�life skills, 21st Century content, core subjects, learning and thinking skills, ICTliteracy over 21st century assessment. ICT literacy says that the reason we need technology is to accomplish learning and thinking skills. The role of technology is do you know how to use the tech to accomplish critical thinking. 21st Century content is about those subjects that are underemphasized�global awareness, financial literacy, civic engagement, health and wellness skills. Life skills�need self directed learners. HERE ARE THE Critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation skills, communication and information skills, collaboration, contextual learning, information and media literacy�these are the attributes our young people have to have�kids that know this will succeed. Goal of technology is to accomplish those skills. How does their knowledge of technology link to those skill sets today. Life skills, leadership, ethics, accountabiluty, adaptability, personal productivity, personal responsibility, people skills, self direction, social responsibility. Content: Global awareness, financial, civic responsibility, health and wellness.

Four Critical Issues

1. Accountability and metrics are here to stay�in the 21st Century, how can we only have a metric for content when critical thinking is crucial.

2. Assessment–Can you imagine a 21st computer company that is only measuring it sales of 1960s computers. We need to measure metrics of innovative learning. Our system tells kids the same piece of information a 100 times and then tests to see if the kid can tell it back the 101st time. But can our kids see something for the first time and have the skills to analyze it and make sense of it. Today’s assessments are a conspiracy of convenience–Paul Resta, U of Texas. 21stcenturyskills.org

3. High School Reform–Results that matter report being released tomorrow. New definition of rigor that includes 21st Century Skills. 21st Century skills should become the design spaces for high school reform.

4. Professional Development–can’t expect our current teachers to know how to teach critical thinking and problem solving without pd.

Every student must be a critical thinker, problem solver, innovator, effective communicator, effective collaborator, self-directed learner, information and media literate, globally aware, civically engaged, financially and economically literate. These should become the design specs for 21st Century education.

Technorati Tags: FETC2006, Literacy