Jiang,+Winnie


 * Use the course materials to help you respond to these questions for each Module.**


 * Module 1 Notes**
 * 1) What skills you think today's students will need to be able to live and work in the 21st Century? **In order for our students to be successful in today's world, students need to be equipped with all the 7'c as well as the 3 basic r's. As the video and articles mentioned, our economy's focus is innovation and service. We need our students to be capable to higher level thinking and problem solving, to be able to think outside of the box. We want our students to have the entire package. It's not enough for them to be book smart, but they also need to have interpersonal skills to work alongside diverse groups of people.**
 * 2) How you are preparing your students to gain these skills? If you are not currently teaching: How are educators preparing students to gain these skills? **I try to use our available technology resources to give students a taste of what available resources are out there to help enhance and engage their learning. Students are often working on groups of two to six people. I want students to learn the importance of working with others, to learn to compromise and evolve by learning from others. Teaching students to keep an open mind and be willing to take risks in their learning. I see it a priority in creating a safe learning environment for all my students. Also, using a variety of teaching methods to accommodate all learning needs and abilities. **
 * 3) What is the difference between ’Foundation Skills" and "Functional Skills"? ** I see Foundation Skills as skills that all people need in order to function from day to day. There are skills allows an individual to take care of themselves from reading the alarm clock in the morning to knowing how to read a map so they can get from point A to point B. Function Skills can help individuals to be successful in an occupation by being resourceful and knowing how to seek out information needed to problem solve. **
 * 4) How well your curriculum and current instructional strategies are helping your students acquire these skill? If your are not currently teaching how well do you think our schools are using instructional strategies to help students acquire these skills? **Along with teaching students the academics, I feel teaching them life skills essential for students' success in the real world. Many students come into the classroom with limited interpersonal skills. They struggle with compromising when their ideas are not accepted by the group. I emphasize the importance of self awareness and self reflections with students throughout the year. It's definitely a joy to see how thoughtful and empathetic students can be once they learn to see the world through other's eyes.**
 * 5) Think about today's students and the potential professions they might go into. Which of these skills might each student need? How can we make sure that all students are prepared with the skills necessary to enter the 21st Century Job Market? ** Students today come from all backgrounds equipped with a variety of knowledges and capabilities. As said in the articles and videos, many of the jobs students will go into in the near future does not exist today. Therefore, students need to know how to be resourceful and innovative. By tailoring to all student's learning needs and interest, and building on student's strength so they can be supported, students will be prepare to take on any challenges that comes their way. **
 * 6) What patterns are beginning to emerge between the various resources you’ve been exploring? How do these skills compare with the list you made in question 1? ** The patterns I see emerges between the various resources that I've been exploring are knowledge of basic skills and the seven c's. It's through my understanding of what 21st century learning is about that I've come up with the list I have in question 1. **

**Module 2 Notes** 1. How can we make personalized learning a part of our schools and classrooms?
 * To make personalized learning a part of our schools and classrooms, teachers and administrators must work together to identify individual learning needs of all students. Teachers need to be provided resources to tailor their instructions to meet the needs of all students. Training on how to differentiate the curriculum to meet the needs of all learners is challenging, therefore, teachers must be given support and time to carefully plan their instructions. Students must also be given a say in their learning, by allowing students to set their own and identify the kinds of assessments that best meets their needs will hold students accountable for their own learning.

2. How do we help our students become real learners?
 * To help our students become real learners, we must identify their learning interest and needs. By engaging students in learning contents of interest to them, they are more likely to actively participate in the learning. All students work at their own pace and their own style. I like the idea of having our lessons be recorded for students to watch at their own time. Therefore, students have the opportunity to take their time with learning the concepts. When they are in the classroom, they are given time and opportunity to apply their learning rather than sit through a lecture that might be too difficult or too boring for them. In order for students to feel competent in the classroom, they shouldn’t feel they are falling behind or they have to slow down waiting for the rest of the class to catch up. By allowing students to learn at their own pace and style, we empower them to feel they are learning and mastering the concepts.

3. What is/should be the role of assessment in student learning? How can we improve upon our assessment practices in order to really help all students be engaged, life-long learners?
 * The role of assessment in student learning is to identify whether students have mastery of the content taught. Assessment should not be look upon as judgment of the student’s ability, but rather information on how educators can better tailor our instructions to meet the needs of students. We can improve upon our assessments practices to really help all students be engaged, life-long learners by using multiple measures of assessments. I tell all students everything they do is an assessment to help me to better understand their learning needs and they progress they make.

4. What is the role of e-learning, and how will/isl this change(ing) the educational paradigm?
 * E-learning is use of technology to deliver content learning to students. The deliver of information is changed from a teacher-center environment to a student-centered learning environment. Students learn from videos and blogs posted online. As stated in the videos “Flipping the Classroom”, e-learning will provide students the ability to learn at their own pace using gadgets that are of interest to them. Students are more engaged when looking into the screen of their phone, tablet, computer, or television. Therefore, by using their tools to deliver information, we are able to use more class time to interact and apply the learning with students.

5. How do your students compare with the 21st Century learners described in the HotChalk’s article on [|21st Century Learners]? If you are not a teacher: How do you as a student or your children compare with the 21 Century learners described in this article?
 * I think there’s a handful of my students who are ” determined, focused on success and creators of their own destiny,” similar to the digital students described in the article. These students are able to “absorb a great deal of information at super-charged speed whether it is transmitted via a cell phone, television, the Internet, or MP3 player.” These students are goal-oriented and determined when it comes to learning, they are curious and innovative. Being surrounded by technology, they see the potential to do great things with their tools and ideas they have.

6. To what extent to you see your students (or your children, or yourself as a student) possessing the qualities shown on the graphic on the wiki for the International School in Bangkok? If you see any gaps, what do you consider the reason for these gaps, and how might educators help students gain these skills and qualities?
 * I think most of my students possess the qualities shown on the graphic. However, students only have surface level understanding on them. While many students are inquisitive, they don’t make an effort to seek their answers themselves, rather, they want someone to give them the answer. Most students are efficient because they care more for finishing their assignment rather than enjoy the process of learning something. My goal is to teach students to be open-minded and reflective. Most have a difficult time understanding other’s perspectives. They get so stuck in their frame of mind, some resist trying to see things from a different perspective. Being reflective of their own learning, I believe students will be able better understanding of the other qualities.

7. To what extent are you, your children or your students Effective Learners, Effective Communicators, and Effective Global Collaborators?
 * My students are effective learners in that they are curious about the world around them, they want to know the whys and hows of the world. They seek to understand the world by searching for answers to their questions by synthesizing the information they find. Students are learning reflect on who they are and how they learn best. However, many are novice communicators. Students are learning the importance of communication and that it comes in a variety of methods. Students must consider their audience and the purpose of their presentations when communicating. The delivery of information must be presented in such a way that is creative and engaging to capture the attention of their audience. Learning to work along others collaboratively is important. I want my students to know they can have a positive impact on the world by broadening their role in life. With a click of a button, students can access information from the other side of the world. Through technology, they are able not only make their world a better and safer place to live in, they can also make the world a better and safer place. Teaching students about current events is important. Students need to know what they do does have an impact on their world.

8. To what extent is your school (or your children's school) and classroom meeting these needs?
 * I think our school and classroom are meeting the needs to help foster students to be effective learning, communicators, and global collaborators. Students part take in fundraisers such as Pennies for Patients, book drivers, food drives that helps them to see the difference one person can make to help make their world a better place.

9. How might you rethink your classroom to make it a 21st Century classroom? What are the barriers you face to making your class a 21st Century learning environment? If you are not currently teaching how should classrooms be re-thought?
 * I have learned a great deal about what a 21st Century classroom looks like. It’s a matter of putting in the time to plan lessons that will support my students in their learning. I agree the traditional teacher lectures do not work for our students anymore. They need to be engaged in their learning, by becoming facilitators supporting the application of learning in students during our class time, we are able to personalize learning for students. The barriers I face in doing so are finding time to plan out lessons that help with application of learning, rather than the traditional lecture method. Also, having parents support the new method of teaching as many parents still want the traditional worksheets kind of assignments.


 * Module 3 Notes**
 * 1) List how your school and classroom environments support 21st Century learning outcomes. If you are not teaching, think about your school experience of the your children's school. Consider:
 * the extent to which faculty at your school collaborate, share best practices and integrate 21st century skills into classroom practice
 * students learn in relevant, real world 21st century contexts such as project-based and applied learning experiences
 * students experience equitable access to quality learning tools, technologies and resources
 * to what extent architectural design of your classroom creates space for for group, team and individual learning
 * to what extent you provide opportunities for both face to face and online interaction with community members and experts in their field for your students
 * to what extent does your school and classroom reflect the 21st Century Learning environment


 * Module 4 Notes**
 * 1) In what ways are your assuring that the 21st century skills taught discretely in the context of core subjects Is your curriculum interdisciplinary? If you are a middle or high school teacher how can you or do you collaborate with teachers in other departments to create multidisciplinary projects?
 * 2) How does your curriculum focus on providing opportunities for applying 21st century skills across content areas and for a competency-based approach to learning?
 * 3) What instructional strategies do you use to enable innovative learning methods that integrate the use of supportive technologies such as inquiry-based, project-based and problem-based approaches as well as promote higher order thinking skill?
 * 4) How do you encourage the integration of community resources beyond school walls?
 * 5) How can you better integrate 21st Century skills into your curriculum.

IF you are not currently teaching answer this from the point of view of your children's school or your experience as a college student.


 * Module 5 Notes**
 * 1) What are the best uses of technology to promote student learning in a 21st Century Classroom?
 * 2) What strategies can teachers use to assure their students are acquiring the 21st Century skills necessary for their future?


 * Module 6 Notes**
 * 1) What aspects of Finland's educational model work in the United States?
 * 2) How can we best reshape education so that all students gain the skills they need to live and work in the 21st Century?