21st Century Skills: Is There Room For This?

The reading of several articles, from critics and supporters of P21(21st Century Skills)have given me much to ponder. Of course, I think most if not all educators instinctively search for ways to improve learning. It is my belief that somehow educators-especially teachers-have a compelling desire to reach their students. I use my education history as an example of what is possible.

I was nurtured with positivity, during my formative years in school. I can vividly remember how some teachers would get into your head to find out how you were thinking. They had a sincere desire to understand how to connect your learning experiences with their ways of teaching. Exposure was the key to broadening ones knowledge without the technology that is available today. I can remember to this day going to a planetarium so that we could make a connection to the universe. My mind was so occupied with the universe and the narrator that it enabled me to remember important elements about every planet.

As I look back on my early childhood education, I view it more as an interactive learning experience. Learning to research to gather information for papers and presentations. Every project I worked on was group related. The tools that were used for research were very effective. I am speaking of micro-film, publications, encyclopedias and various other materials all of which were in the local library. The only difference between then and now is the speed of retrieving this information.

I support the ideology of P21 because I think it is clear about cognitive learning and critical thinking. I do not think its a panacea that will resolve all the ills of education. Do I think there is room for P21? The answer is yes, and I don't think it has to be viewed as a major dissent from other paradigms.

It may be difficult to implement all aspects of P21 in this educational climate of major funding and budget cuts but it is not impossible.

21st Century Skills: Fad or Not?

I am a product of several pedagogues over the past few decades. It appears that nothing has really changed over the past years as it relates to the 21st century skills movement. It is my belief that in theory P21(21st Century Skills), makes sense. However, implementation of these skills is another story within itself. There has to be some organized fundamental effort of implementation. The P21 movement is perplexing to say the least. The movement is more salient than in the past and therefore will garner more support as it undergoes the scrutiny of its pros and cons.

Its like anything relative to education. Various pedagogues go through something like a metamorphosis every decade. Trying to improve and move forward to a P21 type of pedagogy is daunting to say the least. Is this something that is old and is just being reinvented with new language relative to its implementation? Well I think that is a good question. I have read a few articles that have given me a perspective of both sides of the spectrum, proponents and opponents as well.

The one article that speaks critically about the expectations of what P21 is "The Latest Doomed Pedagogical Fad: 21st-Century Skills". This article in essence is basically saying that the P21 movement is more of a political move to improve something that has been implemented. In other words a play on words to dress up old ideology. The writer of this article makes an analogy of the P21 movement with a class he took in high school. It was a course that was more hands on that dealt with a real world application of the content material. He goes on to say how he received an exceptional grade but learned little from the experience. In my view the reason for this was because he was not prepared with the fundamentals to understand the depth of what was being taught.

On the support side there is an article "The Workforce Readiness Crisis" that essentially says that America is not producing qualified individuals to compete nationally or globally. In part the author of this article clearly lays blame on lack of basic critical skills,most importantly applied skills. Well in my view this has some merit. My question to him, would be how much exposure he's had to the classroom over the last decade or so. Here again, in theory the proposed pedagogy of P21 makes sense indeed. The reality of being prepared for the workforce is extremely valid because when its all said an done this will be the practical ground for demonstrating the professionalism and knowledge for success.

In conclusion I think both sides of the spectrum has validity as it relates to the P21 movement. It is not an easy task to confront. However, there is a need for continued dialog for a common ground of implementation. Yes, for me I am supportive of any pedagogy that is going to make our students more competitive but I don't think this is a panacea that will correct all the ills faced in education today.