21st century education

So, I wanted to experiment with posting a video response but I was a little shy about video taping myself SO I video taped my very cute dog and just did an audio response! However it was taking forever to upload! I left my computer open with it uploading for TWO DAYS and it never finished. My internet is very slow so I will try and post the video again. For now, here is a picture of my dog looking at pictures of herself on my laptop (shes so vain).




I chose to respond to the article by Bob Regan entitled “Why We Need to Teach 21^st Century Skills” particularly the part where it says t"Multimedia software provides a bridge to reach students who otherwise might give up on certain subjects," says Stemple. "In my classes, students can use software to become active learners and explore a subject at their own pace. This is where they can take all of the things they are learning and bring them together. I think that this is one of the most exciting parts of 21^st century education for me because it can really deepen and enhance the curriculum as well as allow it to go in new directions depending on the students interests. Individualization can be made so much easier by allowing students to research topics that are of interest to them and do more “writing for a purpose” rather than engaging in isolated skills that aren't relevant or meaningful to them.

What also struck me was when Regan mentions that multimedia applications are becoming so commonplace in the classroom nowadays whereas in the past they were reserved for students taking video or design classes. I can totally relate to this because when I was in High School I took a few TV production courses. We would get sent out into the school with these clunky on the shoulder video cameras with VHS tapes and create interviews or short movies and then come back to the “lab” and edit them using these crazy old machines where you basically re-watched your footage and selectively recorded what you wanted to keep onto a second VHS tape; it was such a tedious and confusing process. I think about how easily a “movie” can be created today using tools like Imovie and it makes things so much more accessible. Now making videos can be a fun experience that isn't so bogged down in the technicalities of using a temperamental old machine.

I feel that 21^st century education will allow for a lot of new doors to be opened in the world of education and provide students with the capabilities to explore things that go above and beyond the scope of the usual curriculum.