Blog #4 - 21st Century Skills & Lifelong Learning

• Having previously read works by Mark Prensky, I agree that students do learn differently. They are more self-leading in educating themselves over topics that interest them. As they are transitioned into learning the required material of our course, we can incorporate technologies they are familiar with in order to tap into their natural ability to a be a lifelong learner. In some instances, the teacher can feel uneasy at accomplishing this task, but through planning and practice on the teacher’s part, they teacher themselves can be a lifelong learner.
• Being participant in the 21st century it only make sense that we should use 21st century skills in the classroom in order to prepare student for success. According to the Partnership for 21st Skills (2009) there are various identified areas educators can focus on in order to introduce and teach 21st century skills:
1. Core Subjects and Themes - Global Awareness, Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy, Civic Literacy, Health Literacy.
2. Learning and Innovation Skills - Creativity and Innovation, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Communication and Collaboration.
3. Information, Media and Technology Skills - Information Literacy, Media Literacy, ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy.
4. Life and Career Skills - Flexibility and Adaptability, Initiative and Self-Direction, Social and Cross-Cultural Skills, Productivity and Accountability, Leadership and Responsibility.
Each of the aforementioned categories are ones that can be used in the classroom vary easily if the teacher has access to the necessary tools, such as computers for student use. The teacher would have to become equally comfortable with the chose media to deliver these lessons, but I know that this is a task I am very comfortable doing. My challenge would be facing administrators and being sure that I am not sacrificing content time for technology time.
• According to Wikipedia (2009) lifelong learning, also known as LLL, “is the "lifelong, lifewide, voluntary, and self-motivated" pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. As such, it not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development, but also competitiveness and employability” (n.p.) This is a very robust definition of what I have come to know as a characteristic of good teachers. I try my best to make time for lifelong learning, and I do sometimes succeed. However, I believe it is my job to instill this characteristic in my students.
• I located a slideshow entitled, “7½ Habits of Lifelong Learners.” This is a great introduction tool in order to help introduce this concept to students and show them that they are already lifelong learners in some areas of their life. This is the 2nd reference source below.

“Lifelong Learning.” (2009). Retrieved August 16, 2009, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_Learning

Reference Source #1 - http://21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com
_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=120

Reference Source #2 - http://www.slideshare.net/LoriReed/7-12-habits-of-
lifelong-learners