This week, I was given the task of examing the website http://www.p21.org, from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. This site outlines what the 21st century skills are, and why they are important. This website has so much information that it is hard to take it all in at once. Before reading the information, I thought I knew what the 21st century skills were all about, but I really underestimated the scope of the skills. I had assumed that they were all about having students use technology as much as possible. I was very surprised to read that not only are skills such as articulating thoughts through multimedia listed, but there are also skills concerning creativity and innovation and exercising sound reasoning.
I found the website to be very informative, but I was disappointed that the information was so spread out in documents linked all over the site. I would have had an easier time with it if the information was more consise. Also, after reading the skills for English, I am concerned with how I will be able to teach these skills to my students. I am not sure how to assess skills like creativity and flexibility to be sure that my students have mastered them. I am also not sure that every one of my students needs every one of these skills. I see how the skills will help most of my students in their lives and careers after high school, but I have several students who resist anything to do with creativity. I will definitely need to research this more, to learn how to reach those students and to see how I am expected to assess their mastery.
