What are 21st Century Skills? Why are they important? Thoughts from a child, about creativity, and online learning

There is a lot of talk in the world of education about teaching and fostering 21st Century Skills. In fact, here in the Spring Lake Park Schools we speak to, and are working to, integrate 21st Century Skills in the daily work of staff and students.

What does this mean? What are 21st Century Skills? Why is it important?

We have to do more for our students than just provide them with content, and prepare them for a state test. We need to open up the world to our students, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing global and digital world. However, do our current practices in E-12 schools really do this?

I've provided a couple of links that I believe provide some unique and interesting perspectives around this topic of 21st Century Skills, as well as online learning and the influence of technology. I hope you find the perspectives of those featured below thought-provoking.

First, Adora Svitak, a child prodigy and published author who has been sharing her message with educators and leaders across the country. She talks about what she thinks the world needs for the future - bold ideas, creative thinking... Take seven minutes and check it out.


Sir Ken Robinson provides an entertaining, comical look at our educational future, creativity, and the work of schools. He also takes a critical look at our work, asking schools and policy-makers to examine what we are doing, how we are doing it, and what that means for students.



Finally, online learning is a real emerging influence in education. Online learning isn't a 21st Century Skill by itself, but is a means of delivering instruction and engaging students. Students across the country are demanding it more and more. In fact, researchers out of Harvard project that 50% of high school students will be learning online by 2019. So, inevitably, online learning will be a vehicle of delivering instruction in the future. As we think about online learning, the larger question is, how are we preparing students for the digital future they will live in?

District 287, based right here in the Minneapolis metro area, has developed a video that provides a glimpse into the expansion of online learning.
 

While the future of education is anything but certain, it is exciting to think about the possibilities. It's also more important than ever for our students.

Have a good one!
Jeff

Countdown. Reflecting on successes, challenges, and looking ahead

So, let's be honest -- parents, staff, students -- we've all started some type of countdown at this point. The magic number - 10 - hits tomorrow. 10, 9, 8...

In so many ways it seems like we just got started. In other ways, August seems like a long time ago.

I just decided that it was time to drop another blog, with a little bit of reflection on this school year - successes, challenges, and looking ahead.

Successes
There have been great accomplishments that many of our students throughout the district have experienced this year. We have had numerous examples of students succeeding at the highest levels in academics, athletics, fine arts, and many other activities. In this time where we often read in the news about the struggles of young people, it is refreshing to read about the many successes of our students, provided by Jim Elert, communications coordinaor, each Friday. If you haven't signed up for E-News, please do so.

These student successes would not be possible without the support provided by staff, as well as their commitment to making this a world-class learning community each day. In fact, like our students, we have staff who have been recognized for their efforts by highly respected experts in the field, as well as state and national organizations.

Challenges
It's also been a difficult time. Like other school districts, businesses, and families, we have limited resources with which to meet the many needs of our students and community. We are doing our best to identify creative, innovative means to effectively and efficiently align our resources around improving student learning, while at the same time arriving at decisions that position the district to make effective student-centered decisions in the future.

Earlier I referenced the successes of our students and staff. This is why making the decisions that lead to a balanced budget have been so difficult. We have had to let go of quality people throughout our district. This is a people business, with nearly 80% of our expenditures being staff. Inevitably, this is why I and other decision-makers have sleepless nights. There is nothing worse than budget decisions that affect people. We value and care about our staff. I wish we didn’t have to let any of them go due to budget modifications.

There are also questions when we are going through challenging times. It is important to provide transparency in our planning. Jim has provided updates each week throughout the spring, not only about the successes of students and staff, but also the planning going on in the district. If you've missed them you can find them on our website.

I won't ever promise perfect communication, but I'll promise that we'll always do the best we can. I encourage you to ask questions when you have them - of me, school principals, program directors... If you hear something you're not sure about, just ask.

Looking Ahead
Collectively, the staff of the Spring Lake Park Schools has an awesome responsibility – preparing nearly 5,000 kids for their future. Despite the the financial challenges we face, each of our students, and their parents, want and expect a school of excellence. They count on us to do all we possibly can to open up the world to them, and prepare them to have as many opportunities in their future as possible.

As we wind down on this year I'm confident this next year will be another great year. I'm also confident we will be presented with both challenges and opportunities. The key to responding to these challenges, I believe, will be aligning our collective efforts (staff, parents, and community members) around our kids. This is what leads to our schools being the world-class learning communities they are.

Have a great day!

Jeff

Appreciation - we shouldn't need a special week to say, "Thanks!"

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
- James Baldwin.

I have written and stated the following many times, and I firmly believe it: Our staff, across this district, is second to none. This is why I repeatedly invite parents and community members to walk into any of our schools. It is by dropping into the schools that they get a sense of the world-class learning community, focused on kids, that our staff has created.

It makes me very thankful to work with a group of staff --in the many various roles through which they serve across the district-- who are great models for our students. Models that our students can emulate.

This next week is staff appreciation week. I look forward to getting around our schools to talk with staff and say, "Thanks!" We shouldn't need a special week to say thanks to those who make a difference in our lives. Yet, when that special week arrives it serves as a nice reminder to do so.

So, thank you to all of you that make a difference for our kids -- staff, parents, and community members -- each day!

Have a good one,
Jeff