June 2008 — 21st-Century Classroom
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Which Side Are You On?
A Digital Disconnect
A RECENT REPORT by Irvine, CA-based nonprofit Project Tomorrow indicates a stark discord between schools' perception of the value of the education they're providing and what students think about it. Released this spring, the fifth annual Speak Up survey assesses how well schools are doing to prepare students for the jobs of the future.
The answer appears to be: Depends on whom you ask. While 66 percent of school administrators, 47 percent of teachers, and 43 percent of parents say "local schools are doing a good job preparing students for the jobs and careers of the future," only 23 percent of middle and high school students agreed with that assessment.
What's interesting is the survey suggests that students seem to be more in tune with 21st-century skills than the adults who hold sway over their education. They rate the importance of developing creativity and teamwork skills higher than do their parents and teachers. On top of that, 74 percent of high school students identify good technology skills as the top priority for success in the 21st-century job market.
The technology behind Newport Mesa's online coursework is a fairly typical solution from Angel Learning, and has existed in some form since 2003. Students enroll just as they would for any other course, and "report" to class on the first day. From that point forward, they participate virtually and can log on from home as their time permits.
One of the attractions of Newport Mesa's online course offerings-- though limited currently to health, economics, and government-- is that the program enables students to get comfortable communicating and collaborating online.
"Many students don't have any experience with social networking and online tools until they get to college," says Glyer, explaining that the Angel Learning system enables students to access lectures, chat with their teachers, and collaborate on projects. "Here, at least a certain percentage of our kids experience the benefits of this stuff before they even get their diplomas. That familiarity is invaluable down the road."
Podcast
EARLIER THIS YEAR, author Matt Villano hosted a podcast for T.H.E. Journal on K-12's efforts to teach 21st-century skills with two members of the corporate world: Andrea Brands, director of public affairs at AT&T, and Allyson Knox, academic program manager for US Partners in Learning at Microsoft. The two businesswomen identified some of the specific skills necessary for students to get ahead. Download the audio file here.
In the corporate world, the strategy of exposing students to Web 2.0 tools early on is applauded. Andrea Brands, director of public affairs at AT&T, says that expertise in Web 2.0 tools is considered fundamental for the 21st century. In particular, companies are looking for new employees with the skills to gather information, interpret it, and then present it digitally.
