Blog Post #2

• Question 1:  In detail, describe 2 assignments you give students in your future classroom that would require them to use 21^st century skills while using word processing. NOTE:  Be sure to relate the assignments to your subject area and mention some of the ways you read about in this chapter.

     Considering the subject and age range I would be teaching(7-12th grade Social Studies), the most fundemental assignment I would give using MS Word would be the quite unpopular essay. A standard essay can be a fairly instensive task that would involve studying a particular person, place, event, or even an idea; writing about the chosen subject matter in a fair ammount of detail; as well as a good practice for the loathsome standardized testing. Overall the essay excerises a multitude of academic skills that should show a great degree of proficiency within a givin subject.

     A Second kind of assignment I would give with using MS Word would be a simple newsletter. Givin the task of writing a newsletter of being of a particular group at a specific time for example, "Imagine your are a newspaper reporter in Poland within the month September 1939." First your task would have to be to figure out what happened at that place on that particular time. Secondly the critical feeling about how you would feel put in that situation as if it were a real life scenerio. Considering the viewpoint from what they would be writing, it should create a new perspective on that particular event.

• Question 2:  Describe how technology is related to constructivist teaching.

When it comes to a constructivist style of learning, technology offers what older styles of learning can not provide easily. Students the are more visual and interactive learners are not as able to construct knowledge from books and lecture. Technology is more adaptive mediums for a constructive style of learning for these students. i.e. video, computers, etc.

21st Century Skills (Continued)

Question 1:  What are the seven 21^st century skills listed in the introductory chapter of the course pack? Name and describe these.

1.Critical Thinking - This skill particularly involes the exercise of cognitive skills i.e. comparison, sequencing, etc. Higher levels of thinking also form the basis for furth 21st century skills.

2.Information and Media Literacy- Analysis and evaluation are critical to information and media literacy considering today's mediums of information.

3.Creativity - In Websters creativity is simply defined as the ability to make new things or think of new ideas, but when used in regards to 21st century skills; this skill is one of the most important to apply classroom technology in complex and sustained situations as well as communiticating information to students, an extremeley important factor in todays dynamic classroom enviroment.

4.Communication Skills - Imparting your thoughts on others is the classic definition of this skill, however current technology has changed this skill in many ways like making it easier as well as a multitude of mediums of communication.

5.Contextual Thinking - Conextual thinking is quite simply thinking within a specific context, but its role within 21st century skills is to help students proccess and analylise information using a modern medium of information in a manner the student can understand.

6. Non-Linear Thinking. - Nonliniar thinking is becoming an important skill as technology is applied in the classroom thus making the classroom experience less linear so to speak. Overall nonlinear thinking will help intergrate the multimedia made availible by todays classroom technology.

Question 2:  What are at least three reasons it is very important today that teachers learn to use technology?

First and foremost todays society has changed thus children are exposed and attuned to computers and other technology. Secondly technology provides a vast information source from experts of all fields. Finally technology provides a far more adaptive and interactive mediums for students to learn from.

21st Century Skills

HOLY COW! I CAN BLOG!