21st Century Skills - the Four C's and IMTS
In my classes I place a strong emphasis on 21st Century Skills as a way to support learning objectives. Students collaborate through different grouping strategies (homogenous/heterogenous, paired work and group work), communicate with their peers both out loud and through writing, think critically about all themes and topics, and produce creative work through their writing, projects, and presentations. Technology is a huge part of my classes as well. I utilize a class website in order to update students on homework, provide digital copies of handouts, and maintain a constant stream of communication between myself, students, and parents. I employ Google Classroom for instant access to documents, assignments, and collaborative whole-class quick writes. Students gain hands-on experience with word processing, online research, and proper internet etiquette through class Chromebooks or Surface Pros. Though perhaps nothing can or should truly replace the feel of a book in one’s hands (and in fact, research shows that we process and retain information differently when viewed on a screen versus on paper), I believe it is necessary to equip students with the types of technological skills they will need in almost any career or higher educational pursuit and this belief is reflected in the use of technology in my classes not just for direct instruction, but also for student output.
Collaboration is inherent in almost all of the in-class activities in my courses. Time spent in the classroom should be dedicated to collaborative growth that students would not be able to accomplish on their own in a room with a smart phone.
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Communication is perhaps the most important daily exercise. Students not only communicate with me through their homework and in-class work, but also (more crucially, perhaps) with their peers in paired work, group work, and whole-class discussions.
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Critical thinking is one of the most meaningful skills students should exercise. I promote critical thinking not only through assignments and activities but also through constantly encouraging my students to ask "Why does this matter to me?"
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Creativity is essential to my classroom in every subject I teach. Not only do I try to imbue my instruction with fun and creative strategies, but I also provide opportunities for my students to challenge and express their own creativity through both group and individual work.
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Information, media, and technology skills are a growing part of education and of our lives outside of the classroom. I provide direct instruction through multimedia including slides, podcasts, and video, and assign technology-dependent projects on Google Classroom.
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