Official Start Time: 8:00 p.m
Date: 11/16/08
Official End Time: 11: 30 p.m.
I feel that its about time that someone address's the issues that face many students in the 21st century. The 21st century is a great place; a dynamic place that is evolving to the point where no one can predict what the world will be like in the years to come. Technology drives our planet and everyday we are getting closer and closer to finding the solutions to many of life's problems. Society itself is changing in the sense that there is no longer one road to success. The opportunities that are out there make it possible for the everyday individual to make a difference in his community with nothing more than the laptop in his book back and the diligence to make his dreams possible. The success of these individuals is largely due to the connectivity and will of the everyday man. The Internet is an open network where people share information that they feel would make life easier, information that would break down the walls that stand in our way. The issue being with all this information and students in the 21st century is that we are still living in the good old days. Our schools train us to pass but not to excel. Things like funding prevent schools from exploring fields that are revolutionizing our world. Our students are the ones who pay the price for living in a world that believes we can live in a world that ignores the changes being made. That in good time our students will learn to adapt to the changes and handle it all on their own. But that isn't the case. We are fighting two battles that are constantly racing to the top: one that promotes the simple life and the other that promotes change. Both sides have their pros and both sides have their cons. But something needs to be done. We have to find a way to teach our students the fundamentals while preparing them for a world that is driven by technology. Purpose and collaboration is all it will take to provide our students with the direction needed to be successful in the 21st century.
It's hard to believe but experiences is key to teaching students in the 21st century. As adults we can understand what these students are going through. We know what it feels like to be a student at that age and the adversities they face. Therefore wouldn't it make more sense to teach these students not to make the same mistakes we made as students. To teach them how to confront the challenges we once faced and what to do differently when that time comes. But in a world where money restricts what we are able to accomplish, it seems almost impossible to do this. Funding prevents the everyday school from promoting classes in fields that are revolutionizing our world. Funding stops our schools from having up to date materials. And funding is what will cripple the world we live in. An efficient solution must be found that eliminate the dollar sign that stands in the way of these schools, in the way of these students. Technology is one solution to this problem. The main purpose of technology is to invent something that provides a new or better way of doing something; something that is cost efficient and provides room for expansion. These are the tools we should be equipping our students with. It would provide them with the same education they are getting from the textbooks they are so used to. The books will continue to exist but will no longer be the only resource our students are exposed to.
The logic behind teaching students with technology in the 21st century is that technology appeals more to students in a world driven by technology. The average student knows what a computer is, is part of a social network of some sort, and has used technology to help them do something in their everyday lives. It would thus make perfect sense to use what they use so much as a teaching tool. Technology isn't just entertaining; it’s also educational. Hundreds of tutorials are out there and everyday new and better programs are being created. The people themselves who make these programs made them with the sole purpose of provide an easier, better way of doing something. They are inventors, engineers, and they're also teachers. They're people who saw a problem and found a solution. These are the type of people we should be motivating our students to be like. We should be teaching our student not to accept things the way they are but the way they should be.
Purpose is another crucial element when it comes to teaching students in the 21st century. The tools being used will have no effect if there is no purpose behind their use. Teaching in the 21st century is thus a dynamic process. There isn't a simple answer in terms of how to teach in the 21st century. It requires creativity and resourcefulness not found in the simple lifestyle we are teaching our students to live in. The purpose behind teaching in the 21st century would be to find easier, more dynamic ways of teaching students with higher goals and expectations. Motivating students to be the best they can be and showing them how to work towards that goal. That things such as money, fear, and doubts shouldn't be the reason to do the minimum but should instead remind us that as a student in the 21st century you should be well rounded and resourceful; ready to take whatever life throws at you.
As a student in the 21st century you have to remember that you do not stand alone; that collaboration is a key and very powerful element in this idea of teaching students in the 21st century with technology. As a driving force the possibilities are endless. The community aspect and project-based learning that comes with teaching in the 21st century is what will provide the huge turnout in students who excel not only in the classroom, but also in life. Collaboration is what makes this window of opportunity possible. It teaches students how to work together and provides them with real world experience. Collaboration helps a student see that the life isn't all about survival of the fittest but establishing connections and using the connectivity available to produce results and motivate change. This is what makes teaching in the 21st century with technology different from through the simple life and the belief that passing is more important than excelling.
Neither idea is perfect. At the end of the day it all comes down to the students. The information we provide and the influence we are able to make is what will ultimately decide what our students are able to accomplish. The use of technology and the implication of 21st century skills in a world driven by technology is what open windows of opportunities to students all across the globe. Students in the 21st century are well aware of the adversities they face; so aware that they would fear taking a chance and pursing fields where they might not measure up. Our schools push this idea forward instead of persuading students to pursue these illustrious careers. What students in the 21st century need is direction and change. We need real world experience that proves to that there is a way and that accepting things the way they are is accepting defeat.
Sincerely, Hector Guzman
Date: 11/16/08
Official End Time: 11: 30 p.m.
I feel that its about time that someone address's the issues that face many students in the 21st century. The 21st century is a great place; a dynamic place that is evolving to the point where no one can predict what the world will be like in the years to come. Technology drives our planet and everyday we are getting closer and closer to finding the solutions to many of life's problems. Society itself is changing in the sense that there is no longer one road to success. The opportunities that are out there make it possible for the everyday individual to make a difference in his community with nothing more than the laptop in his book back and the diligence to make his dreams possible. The success of these individuals is largely due to the connectivity and will of the everyday man. The Internet is an open network where people share information that they feel would make life easier, information that would break down the walls that stand in our way. The issue being with all this information and students in the 21st century is that we are still living in the good old days. Our schools train us to pass but not to excel. Things like funding prevent schools from exploring fields that are revolutionizing our world. Our students are the ones who pay the price for living in a world that believes we can live in a world that ignores the changes being made. That in good time our students will learn to adapt to the changes and handle it all on their own. But that isn't the case. We are fighting two battles that are constantly racing to the top: one that promotes the simple life and the other that promotes change. Both sides have their pros and both sides have their cons. But something needs to be done. We have to find a way to teach our students the fundamentals while preparing them for a world that is driven by technology. Purpose and collaboration is all it will take to provide our students with the direction needed to be successful in the 21st century.
It's hard to believe but experiences is key to teaching students in the 21st century. As adults we can understand what these students are going through. We know what it feels like to be a student at that age and the adversities they face. Therefore wouldn't it make more sense to teach these students not to make the same mistakes we made as students. To teach them how to confront the challenges we once faced and what to do differently when that time comes. But in a world where money restricts what we are able to accomplish, it seems almost impossible to do this. Funding prevents the everyday school from promoting classes in fields that are revolutionizing our world. Funding stops our schools from having up to date materials. And funding is what will cripple the world we live in. An efficient solution must be found that eliminate the dollar sign that stands in the way of these schools, in the way of these students. Technology is one solution to this problem. The main purpose of technology is to invent something that provides a new or better way of doing something; something that is cost efficient and provides room for expansion. These are the tools we should be equipping our students with. It would provide them with the same education they are getting from the textbooks they are so used to. The books will continue to exist but will no longer be the only resource our students are exposed to.
The logic behind teaching students with technology in the 21st century is that technology appeals more to students in a world driven by technology. The average student knows what a computer is, is part of a social network of some sort, and has used technology to help them do something in their everyday lives. It would thus make perfect sense to use what they use so much as a teaching tool. Technology isn't just entertaining; it’s also educational. Hundreds of tutorials are out there and everyday new and better programs are being created. The people themselves who make these programs made them with the sole purpose of provide an easier, better way of doing something. They are inventors, engineers, and they're also teachers. They're people who saw a problem and found a solution. These are the type of people we should be motivating our students to be like. We should be teaching our student not to accept things the way they are but the way they should be.
Purpose is another crucial element when it comes to teaching students in the 21st century. The tools being used will have no effect if there is no purpose behind their use. Teaching in the 21st century is thus a dynamic process. There isn't a simple answer in terms of how to teach in the 21st century. It requires creativity and resourcefulness not found in the simple lifestyle we are teaching our students to live in. The purpose behind teaching in the 21st century would be to find easier, more dynamic ways of teaching students with higher goals and expectations. Motivating students to be the best they can be and showing them how to work towards that goal. That things such as money, fear, and doubts shouldn't be the reason to do the minimum but should instead remind us that as a student in the 21st century you should be well rounded and resourceful; ready to take whatever life throws at you.
As a student in the 21st century you have to remember that you do not stand alone; that collaboration is a key and very powerful element in this idea of teaching students in the 21st century with technology. As a driving force the possibilities are endless. The community aspect and project-based learning that comes with teaching in the 21st century is what will provide the huge turnout in students who excel not only in the classroom, but also in life. Collaboration is what makes this window of opportunity possible. It teaches students how to work together and provides them with real world experience. Collaboration helps a student see that the life isn't all about survival of the fittest but establishing connections and using the connectivity available to produce results and motivate change. This is what makes teaching in the 21st century with technology different from through the simple life and the belief that passing is more important than excelling.
Neither idea is perfect. At the end of the day it all comes down to the students. The information we provide and the influence we are able to make is what will ultimately decide what our students are able to accomplish. The use of technology and the implication of 21st century skills in a world driven by technology is what open windows of opportunities to students all across the globe. Students in the 21st century are well aware of the adversities they face; so aware that they would fear taking a chance and pursing fields where they might not measure up. Our schools push this idea forward instead of persuading students to pursue these illustrious careers. What students in the 21st century need is direction and change. We need real world experience that proves to that there is a way and that accepting things the way they are is accepting defeat.
Sincerely, Hector Guzman
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