Preparing 21st Century Students for a Global Society

[socialist]

This is for people who don't understand public education in the 21st century. We are beyond the 3 Rs. We need to use the four Cs and especially collaboration to prepare students to become members of a global society.

Those of you who may not know how much things have changed in education would benefit the most from reading this excellent paper produced by the NEA, the largest teachers' union in the United States. I hope this helps some of you.

http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/A-Guide-to-Four-Cs.pdf

[Guest]

Using the four Cs to make sure students understand the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic sounds as good a way as any.

We'll have to wait and see what post secondary educators say about the skills of their inputs in a few year's time to see if it's any good or not.

[socialist]

Arithmetic is nothing but rote memorization. Arithmetic skills can be punched on a smartphone. Collaboration skills need to be developed in the classroom.

[Ash74]

Arithmetic is nothing but rote memorization. Arithmetic skills can be punched on a smartphone. Collaboration skills need to be developed in the classroom.

"But the four c's are used to enhance the core subjects"

Teachers are finding now that kids cannot do simple arithmetic and are indeed teaching how to do it with out calculators or smartphones.

In many ways I have seen that teachers are going back to the basics.

I have no problem with trying new ideas and some of the ideas seem like it should really help students open up their minds.

Having a hard time with the art concept. Leonardo da Vinci did not have a committee over his shoulder telling him what to do.

Group work and communication is of course a must in today's work force.

The irony is that I have noticed you argue with everybody. Rights and the lefts. Where did you learn about collaboration?

[socialist]

"But the four c's are used to enhance the core subjects"

Teachers are finding now that kids cannot do simple arithmetic and are indeed teaching how to do it with out calculators or smartphones.

In many ways I have seen that teachers are going back to the basics.

I have no problem with trying new ideas and some of the ideas seem like it should really help students open up their minds.

Having a hard time with the art concept. Leonardo da Vinci did not have a committee over his shoulder telling him what to do.

Group work and communication is of course a must in today's work force.

The irony is that I have noticed you argue with everybody. Rights and the lefts. Where did you learn about collaboration?

I argue because I have critical thinking skills. I don't get lost in the phony left/right paradigm that many ideologues on this forum do.

[Ash74]

Still........

Teachers are sending "family homework" home because the students need practice with multiplications,adding and subtracting requesting that the students don't use calculators.

Maybe the three "r"s should not be put to pasture just yet.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Ash74

[socialist]

Still........

Teachers are sending "family homework" home because the students need practice with multiplications,adding and subtracting requesting that the students don't use calculators.

Maybe the three "r"s should not be put to pasture just yet.

You seriously have no understanding of modern public education. There is absolutely no point in talking about education with you. None whatsoever.

[Ash74]

Me and from results neither do the students. Guess that leaves you and some bureaucrats.

[On Guard for Thee]

Arithmetic is nothing but rote memorization. Arithmetic skills can be punched on a smartphone. Collaboration skills need to be developed in the classroom.

BS. Arithmetic skills are not rote, unless you are willing to not discuss anything further than the times table. Math has a structure and the human brain lends itself well to structures. Do you think Einstein could have got where he did with a cellphone keypad. Kids now lack not only basic math skills but it seems they have problems with how to construct a sentence- bad grammar, no sense of punctuation, problems constructing linear thoughts. New ideas are great but you need the basics first.

[socialist]

BS. Arithmetic skills are not rote, unless you are willing to not discuss anything further than the times table. Math has a structure and the human brain lends itself well to structures. Do you think Einstein could have got where he did with a cellphone keypad. Kids now lack not only basic math skills but it seems they have problems with how to construct a sentence- bad grammar, no sense of punctuation, problems constructing linear thoughts. New ideas are great but you need the basics first.

So you are a drill and kill advocate like some of the dinosaurs in this article?

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/09/13/frustrated-professors-convince-schools-to-step-back-from-new-math-and-go-back-to-basics/

[On Guard for Thee]

So you are a drill and kill advocate like some of the dinosaurs in this article?

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/09/13/frustrated-professors-convince-schools-to-step-back-from-new-math-and-go-back-to-basics/

Nope, I'm an "educate, so they can create" promoter.

[socialist]

Nope, I'm an "educate, so they can create" promoter.

Rote memorization does not promote collaboration or creativity, which are 21st Century Skills.

[On Guard for Thee]

Rote memorization does not promote collaboration or creativity, which are 21st Century Skills.

Understanding math and language is not rote memorization. It's being capable of harnessing systems we all use everyday. Creativity flows from that, so they are discovering more and more.

[Ash74]

But you placed an article that shows the students are not being able to do simple math and educated people are fighting to change that.

Tutors are being paid so kids can count the change in their pockets.

So parents that can afford it are setting up their children so they will have an advantage over the students that don't have parents that can't or won't teach them this obsolete practice.

Your right......I really don't understand the public education system. After this I really hope I never do.

[socialist]

But you placed an article that shows the students are not being able to do simple math and educated people are fighting to change that.

Tutors are being paid so kids can count the change in their pockets.

So parents that can afford it are setting up their children so they will have an advantage over the students that don't have parents that can't or won't teach them this obsolete practice.

Your right......I really don't understand the public education system. After this I really hope I never do.

You don't have a Masters in Education, so you never really will have a decent understanding of 21st Century Education.

[Ash74]

You don't have a Masters in Education, so you never really will have a decent understanding of 21st Century Education.

Seems my lack of a Masters Degree has left me with the simple argument of common sense.

But the individuals that saw the issue do have that education and they have formed a group that has educated people and changes education curriculum for the students.

Looks like Ontario will be the last hold out but given this government it does not surprise me. They can't blame somebody else so they will continue to fail while some students will have the skills and some won't.

So much for a level playing field

[On Guard for Thee]

You don't have a Masters in Education, so you never really will have a decent understanding of 21st Century Education.

Alright, I'm thinking of selling my house, are you interested in taking that on?

[GostHacked]

You don't have a Masters in Education, so you never really will have a decent understanding of 21st Century Education.

Being fresh out of teachers college yourself, you do not have a Master in Education.

[Moonlight Graham]

I argue because I have critical thinking skills. I don't get lost in the phony left/right paradigm that many ideologues on this forum do.

You're rude.

[socialist]

Being fresh out of teachers college yourself, you do not have a Master in Education.

Not yet. But I am currently working on it.

[Mighty AC]

This is for people who don't understand public education in the 21st century. We are beyond the 3 Rs. We need to use the four Cs and especially collaboration to prepare students to become members of a global society.

"But the four c's are used to enhance the core subjects"

Teachers are finding now that kids cannot do simple arithmetic and are indeed teaching how to do it with out calculators or smartphones.

There is no actual battle between the 3-Rs and the 4-Cs or 'old math' and 'new math'. Basic, calculator free, math is still being taught in schools along with reading and grammar skills. Students today have a better grasp of grammar and a deeper understanding of math concepts than did gen-X. In math we no longer just focus on memorization of multiplication tables and the steps to vertical addition and long division, instead more time is spent understanding the processes at a deeper level. As a result of the shift in focus a current grade 6 student can do way more advanced math in her/his head but would likely be slower (though still correct) at rhyming off multiplication questions. Today's students are also better at recognizing math problems in the real world and applying their skills to them, whereas in the past students struggled to make the leap from the worksheet to real life.

As for the 4-Cs, they are not competing with reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, they are part of a shift in focus from how education is delivered. In the past most lessons were delivered in a lecture style or demonstration style format, to the entire class. There was almost no differentiation. Low kids got the same lesson as the high students. Kids were made to sit still, stay quiet and listen. Assignments typically involved close ended questions where students regurgitated the information thrown at them.

Now, subject content like the 3-Rs is delivered in a more projected based and participatory environment. Students spend more time working in small groups on projects that allow more freedom in the collection and presentation of the information and skills learned. As a result students are simultaneously developing their collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking skills.

[Bonam]

Today's students are also better at recognizing math problems in the real world and applying their skills to them,

Cite?

[Wilber]

Arithmetic is nothing but rote memorization. Arithmetic skills can be punched on a smartphone. Collaboration skills need to be developed in the classroom.

I'll remind myself of that every time I have to tell some cashier how much change they owe me when it's a calculation they can't put in their machine. It must be a bitch not being able to do simple arithmetic problems when your phone battery goes dead. For that matter, it must be a bitch having to carry a phone all the time just so you can do simple arithmetic problems.

[socialist]

There is no actual battle between the 3-Rs and the 4-Cs or 'old math' and 'new math'. Basic, calculator free, math is still being taught in schools along with reading and grammar skills. Students today have a better grasp of grammar and a deeper understanding of math concepts than did gen-X. In math we no longer just focus on memorization of multiplication tables and the steps to vertical addition and long division, instead more time is spent understanding the processes at a deeper level. As a result of the shift in focus a current grade 6 student can do way more advanced math in her/his head but would likely be slower (though still correct) at rhyming off multiplication questions. Today's students are also better at recognizing math problems in the real world and applying their skills to them, whereas in the past students struggled to make the leap from the worksheet to real life.

As for the 4-Cs, they are not competing with reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, they are part of a shift in focus from how education is delivered. In the past most lessons were delivered in a lecture style or demonstration style format, to the entire class. There was almost no differentiation. Low kids got the same lesson as the high students. Kids were made to sit still, stay quiet and listen. Assignments typically involved close ended questions where students regurgitated the information thrown at them.

Now, subject content like the 3-Rs is delivered in a more projected based and participatory environment. Students spend more time working in small groups on projects that allow more freedom in the collection and presentation of the information and skills learned. As a result students are simultaneously developing their collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking skills.

actually, I disagree with much of Mighty AC says. Mighty AC, you said previously that you weren't a teacher? That's funny, because you sure talk like one. I would also say that students today do not have a better grasp of grammar. But that is because it is not emphasized.

I like your quote on group work. Forced group work is forcing kids to collaborate which the is an all-important skill.

[Mighty AC]

actually, I disagree with much of Mighty AC says. Mighty AC, you said previously that you weren't a teacher? That's funny, because you sure talk like one. I would also say that students today do not have a better grasp of grammar. But that is because it is not emphasized.

I teach and develop software. Today's students only have a slightly better grasp of grammar than most gen-x students. That was the all time low, at least in Ontario.