Oct 18 2007
What do you think?
I am reading the world is flat and am amazed at our progress and the progress of the world. We are rapidly changing the way we do business and as a result the way we live and interact in our lives and our overall environment. Each day we hear or read small chunks of information about outsourcing, data mining, and changing economies from different points on the globe. We hear about how technology tools are embedded into our culture from cell phones to iPods. We hear how telecommunications is so advanced someone in a different part of the world can complete our taxes for us even tutor our students in core subject areas by accessing the Internet.
Educators have noticed this change as well - many have been proponents of adding 21st century skills into classroom instruction by advocating authentic problems, information literacy, creativity, and leadership. We run into roadblocks on many accounts due to standardized tests and the continued focus of memorization of facts with little expansion into broader concepts and authentic problems. I believe we can have it all - accountability (rigor), 21st century skills, and creativity.
Questions pop into my head - What seems to be the hold up? How can educators provide an enriched, creative learning environment in the classroom and throughout the school? Should the system be changed? How can standards be emphasized and creativity take a strong stance in the center of teaching and learning?
Educational practices need to change to help prepare our students for this new world. Throughout history we have evolved with the times. It is hard but it is necessary for advancement. It is time that teachers, administrators, and government officials begin to evolve with the times and begin to aggressively change – change the views of education, teaching, and learning. What do you think?
Further reading and exploration on this topic
Measuring Up in a Flat World TechLearning http://www.techlearning.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604144
Lecture at MIT by Thomas Friedman http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/266/
The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_is_Flat
