21st Century Skills

"We cannot allow these implements of destruction into our schools! Students will deface property, engage in unsavory activities and generally create chaos!" This opinion was expressed about pencils in the early 1900's. Imagine school today without pencils and pens. The tool once thought to be a problem is now a key part of learning. I see the same thing happening with digital technology. Computers, phones and mobile devices are rapidly changing not only the way we teach but how students learn. No. We cannot get rid of paper and pencils but we do need to make room for activities that will help our students master the increasing demands for rapid problem identification, solving and analysis many careers demand today. Yes. We have new "pencils" and we will have to change but what else is new? 

Think of it this way. How would you like to go to a dentist who refuses to use modern techniques because what he or she learned in the 1960’s still works? Hanging on to the past is a great idea for classic cars and rock but not for education. Let's get together and reflect on failures and successes with new methods and tools. Afterall, many of the things we do now will be looked on as ancient and silly...in the very near future!