Nguyen,+Kieu+My


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

> > Its hard to imagine what kinds of careers my students may persue. Many will end up in job that making a living and get by in life. However, the videos show that careers today didnt exist 20 years ago, so its hard to forsee what kinds of careers will exist in my students future. Todays students are connected. As children we would go home at the end of the day and, if we were lucky, be with family. Some planted themselves in front of televisions. School and classmates were disconnected from us. Having your own phone line was considered a big deal! Nowadays, students continue to stay connect via internet, social networks, tweets, FB, texting, IM and more. They have Foundational Skills that were considered Functional Skills 20 years ago. Students are more saavy than their parents. They need to be innovative to set themselves apart from the pack.
 * Module 1 Notes**
 * 1) What skills you think today's students will need to be able to live and work in the 21st Century? There are many skills essential to living and working in the 21st Century.  Most skills are learned on the job so one must be able to adapt and have the ability to   think critically and take initiative .  Competencies in 21st century skills that include a business focus, personal effectiveness, relationships management and critical thinking are essential to succeed. Students need the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. They must be forward thinking and globally aware. Learning to use technology and a second language is way way to do this.
 * 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?  My students are being prepared in my math classes to meet many of these skills sets. Since the 3 Rs are still considered basic skills to build up to the 21st century skills, my students need to continue to develop their basic skills before they can tackle the 21st century skills. I differentiate my lessons to incorporate 21st Century skills as well as across curriculum since I  feel that no subject stands alone. I also incorporate many modalities of teaching into my lessons. I use technology to deliver curriculum to expose students technology and prepare them for a technological society.
 * 3) What is the difference between ’Foundation Skills" and "Functional Skills"? Foundation Skills are the basic skills that all people need in order to function from day to day. These are the simplest skills for daily functions; skills we bring into a job. These skills include basic skills (reading, writing, thinking, and speaking), problem solving, social skills and creativity. Foundational skills are skills specific to the functions of performing a job; skills learned on the job. These skills can be time and money management, systems and technologies, and interpersonal skills.
 * 1) 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? I must admit that I can do a lot more to help my students acquire these skills. However I feel very limited in my resources and am aware that my students lack the resources in and out of the school. I would love to create lessons that include technology, global access and promote entrepreneurship. Since my students come to me lacking many academic skills, I feel that I must get them along while promoting as many 21st Century concepts as possible. I teach life skills such as responsibility self awareness essential for the real world while providing them with the Basic Skills 3 R's.
 * 2) 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?
 * 1) 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? It is evident through all the resources that 21st century learning is based on the 3 R's and 7 C's. Basic skills and foundational skills must be present before the 21st Century skills and Functional skills can be built upon. It is with this understanding that 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? I like to spend a significant amount of time reading students Cum files. This helps me know their academic background. I review their test scores, academic grades, teacher notes and any behavioral issues. I also have discussions with their previous teachers if possible. Then I arrange interviews and surveys with the students. The data collected is used to design lessons that will engage them by including their interests, personalizing lessons to their strengths and weaknesses and exposing them to things they have never seen before . I am also able to avoid or manage behavior issues early one and focus on teaching. I also believe that a teacher needs to be in tune with the modern student by having a pulse on what makes a student tick whether its the latest trend or how to post to Facebook.
 * 2) How do we help our students become real learners? By using real world examples in class students become real learners. In math this can be very easy to implement. Rather than drilling students with problem after problem students can discover for themselves the roots of mathematical rules through inquiry based problem s. For example, rather then just teaching formulas and how to use them, I allow students to work with each other and with manilpulatives and by using guiding questions, they can discover the formulas for themselves. The learning is then tied to experiences that engage them. Also but tying the lessons to careers students can understand why and when they can use what they learn. Field trips are one way this can be done.
 * 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 is to determine if the student is achieving the learning goals. Far too often teachers mistake assessments as a way to see if a student can pass a test. Assessments should be given often, even if its in the form of thumbs up or down to check for understanding. Benchmarks should be given at regular intervals to measure the growth of learning. Assessments should not be reserved for just at the end of a unit. One of the best ways to make assessment affective is to use it as a teaching tool. Results of assessments should be shared with students. They learn their own strengths and weaknesses and are able to self assess. When students are self aware they become more invested in their learning.
 * 4) What is the role of e-learning, and how will/isl this change(ing) the educational paradigm? E-learning allows students to learn at their own pace. As students become more progressive, learning during business hours becomes less of an option. Students who work, care of siblings or even their own children need options to still have access to learning. Alternative ways to be in school is necessary for the 21st Century student.This model also allows the adult to attain continued education while still working or maintaining a family life. Students become more accountable for their own learning since there is no classroom. A student needs to have initiative and organization on order to be an effective 21st Century e-learner.
 * 5) How do your students compare with the 21st Century learners described in Mark Prensky"s article on "The 21st Century Digital Learner"? Mark writes about a generation with too much money and power but overlooks students voice in how its spent on their education. There is a large disconnect between what students want and what they get. My students are always reminded that they attend a school of choice. As a charter school, rules for uniform, materials, attendance, and behavior have very high standards. Students continually defy and try to bend the rules and receive the same consequences. They often complain the the school is too strict. Their parents choose our school because they like the rules and structure that is in place. What parents want and students want are met eye to eye. However in the class I teach in a democratic way. Surveys are given, votes are taken and they have more flexibility in the way they learn despite the administrative rules. I believe that if students are given choices they are more willing to learn. Lessons are taught with Erikson' learning modes in mind so that all are engaged.
 * 6) 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? It seems that many of my students are not 21st Century Learners. Many do not have computers at home. A handful have cell phones. Of the ones that are fortunate enough to have access to technology they do not use it to be a 21st Century Learner. They manage to IM, text, social network, and watch Utube. Few use their resources to access learning. The school in which I teach does not provide these resources as well. If they had these resources available or really tapped into what was available to them they would become more global and creative in their thinking. Technology brings about rapid change, including moral and ethical considerations which is something students also need to be educated on. Because of these factors our students do not compete on the same level as those of the 21st Century.
 * 7) To what extent to you see your students (or your children, or yourself as a student) possessing the qualities shown on thegraphic 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 see my students floating withn the circles of the Venn diagram but never settling into the intersection of all three concepts They have yet to become clear communicators who can be precise with their language, probe for clarification, and make connections to the real world. This model seems rather idealized in a perfect world. Although in an imperfect world, it doesnt really show how resources, funding and teacher training is provided in order to deliver and execute the model. I also wonder how this vision can be unified school wide.
 * 8) To what extent are you, your children or your students Effective Learners, Effective Communicators, and Effective Global Collaborators.? I teach my students not only how to speak, read and write math but also to develop higher order thinking by synthesizing what they learned and applying it to other areas of learning. I also ask them to find the math all around them since math is everywhere. I do not feel that I and my student are Effective Global Collaborators at this time. Many students do not have TV, internet or even the newspaper, which are sources to reaching the Global world. I provide computers in my class, order a newspaper and use technology to teach with but I would like to find ways to have them collaborate in a way that reaches outside the classroom and into the community . As of now, funding, time, and the need to bring them to their learning level while teaching 21st century skills are priorities.
 * 9) To what extent is your school (or your children's school) and classroom meeting these needs? The school attempts to create unified visions, develop project-based assignments, and spiral the units and pacing plans across curriculum and grade levels. A lot of time is spent before the school year in teacher collaboration. However as budget crunches affect the schools, teachers find themselves taking on more and teaching overloads. And as the year progresses, these things take a back seat to planning. Initially the school had a computer lab and computer classes to complement the lab, but funding cut the classes and student mis-behaviour has destroyed the equipment. Within the class I try to expose them to technology and internet sources that can promote creativity and curiosity.
 * 10) 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 need to rethink my class and lessons by bringing students closer to becoming 21st Century learners by also developing the skills necessary to work in that century. I need to create assignments that force students to use technology, not just teaching with technology. I also want to Globalize my students awareness. My biggest barrier includes funding, resources available to students and parental support.


 * 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

My school and classroom environments support 21st Century learning outcomes by:

Providing student and parent trainings on internet safety Updating student/staff manuals to reflect recent laws Using technology in classrooms as a teaching tool Teaching critical thinking skills and higher level thinking Have students reflect on career choices and the type of education and skills needed to reach those careers Classes are taught using many modalities and ways to interact: Independent and collaborate; Encourage learning through peer interaction Lessons are taught across curriculum Project based assignments are developed that reach out beyond the classroom Attempts to provide computers lab, online assignments, technology based projects

The faculty at my school collaborates and shares best practice occasionally. Professional development is scheduled often. Integration of 21st century skills is a priority for many of the teachers. The school implement Critical Friends, co-teaching, regular observation and evaluations with mentor teachers. BTSA process ensures that the staff is fully supported and credentialed. As a part of professional development, teachers analyze their Data Director test results by class and grade level and make critical analysis of the data. The school does apply project based and applied learning experiences. Lessons are designed with real world or vocation goals in mind. In my math class, I have been teaching without a book for 5 years. I have felt that the books are very outdated and do not support 21st Century learning outcomes so I have developed my lessons so that students make meaning in their learning. Instead of learning from books, they learn from each other, from their environment and create their own text books using up to date resources. Unfortunately the access is not equitable. My students come from social and economically disadvantaged backgrounds and are often unable attain school materials, uniforms or access to computers. The architectural design of my classroom is basic. Desks can be arranged in many ways to accommodate the needs of the lesson. However the classroom is limited to desks and does not have any other designs. I use as many opportunities as possible for face to face interaction but <range type="comment" id="436473">online interaction with community members and experts in my field is limited.

I would like to set up a (few) computer station(s) in my classroom to make it a better 21st Century learning environment. Also, I would like to have my desks arranged in groups rather than rows to encourage peer interaction. My classroom could also have more space on the walls to show off students work and achievement. If funding were not an issue I would love to modernize the classroom with the use of smartboards and create a sense of globalization through online interaction with other cultures or fields. <range type="comment" id="957124">Perhaps my colleagues and I can spend more time researching grants that can help the school achieve these goals. Since these would be at no cost to the school administration would receive it positively.


 * 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? My students get regular exposure to the skills needed to be 21st century learners. I use technology as a means to delivering my lessons. My students learn through peer interaction. Lessons are designed around a project, a problem or inquiry. As a math teacher, I prefer to have students learning through discovery. I don't just teach the formulas; I present problems and they discover for themselves the rules for math. They are then able to create meaning in the classroom, build learning experiences, and bring their own experiences into classroom. <range type="comment" id="562618">Math is rarely taught in isolation . Math has strong ties with science and I often develop lessons that include science standards or collaborate with other teachers. For instances, if a teacher is delivering a lesson about the water cycle, I will teach students how to measure and convert liquid measures in US and metric systems. At the same time they will get a history lesson on why there are two measurements systems. They may even design a project based on what they learn and it can carry through into their art class. Students learn that math truly is all around us.
 * 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? My curriculum builds a framework for learning by providing students with options and variety so that they are able to work in skills that are their strengths while developing those skills that are their weaknesses. I place a heavy emphasis on organization of thoughts as well as materials. My curriculum encourages students to ask questions. The learning is their responsibility. The only person who gains anything from doing homework, grading assignments and taking the test is the student. I scaffold the lessons with direct teaching, pairing, active practices and collaborative work, but I also differentiate through a variety of activities that range from worksheets to projects. Yet, these formative assessments all prepare them for the summative assessments. Through the formative assessments students become self aware of their competencies and they are continuously given feedback. The summative assessment acts as their final evaluation. Yet each student's learning is individualized. <range type="comment" id="340709">Students track their own learning against the targets and standards as a form of personalized needs-assessment. As they revisit each goal and standard they can self evaluate.
 * 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? Rather than giving students worksheets, I like to create games of the assignments. Using the same math problems from a worksheet, I can c<range type="comment" id="601586">reate puzzles that not only challenge and engage students but also develop their critical thinking . In a geometry class, I have students interacting with manipulatives and shapes, creating models and using programs that render figures that they can not create. I also have students address problems in the community and come up with creative ways to solve these issues. Even though we may not implement the plan, having the students think about it builds awareness of the community they live in. One year students created math games and went to elementary schools and taught students how to play the games. Another year students decided that clean clothes was an issue, and came up with plans on how to fund-raise to have a campus washer and dryer. As a math standard, they calculated the costs, funds needed, and expenses of running the machines. These types of project based assignments promote higher learning as well as have the students think effectively outside the class walls as 21st Century learners.
 * 4) How do you encourage the integration of community resources beyond school walls? Because my school lacks so many resources, I have students rely on their families. Many of the students have multiple homes and some are fostered. But for the most part<range type="comment" id="848654">, I have the students include their guardians, siblings and relatives into the learning process. Regardless of wealth, they will always have these people. I believe that the support they can get from the homestead is invaluable. It creates a community when everyone comes together to learn. Sometimes my assignment is for them to go home and reteach someone in their household, create practices problems and design a test. They then grade the test, and reflect on their experience through essay, presentation, video, blog, etc.
 * 5) How can you better integrate 21st Century skills into your curriculum. If I had more money, more resources, more support from families and state administration, I would be able to better integrate 21st Century skills into my curriculum The possibilities would be endless if these were available to me.

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? Students should be shown how to use it and what it is capable of. Teachers should go beyond using technology to teach but to also demonstrate various machines, programs, websites and resources. Once teachers have engaged a student, they must put the tools into students hands and show them how to use it and then also create assignments that integrate all that is taught to promote student learning. In order to be an active part of the 21st Century one must have a strong sense of technology. <range type="comment" id="494510">Technology can be over whelming so within the class I try to expose them to technology and internet sources that can promote creativity and curiosity while providing guidance to internet safety.
 * 2) What strategies can teachers use to assure their students are acquiring the 21st Century skills necessary for their future? Using project based, problem based and inquiry based plans are strategies that assure students are acquiring 21st Century skills. I<range type="comment" id="413919">n the future and in the real world, unlike those of a classroom, there are no multiple choices and a lot less guidance . When students are placed in situations in those such as PBL they begin to think outside the box. They learn to collaborate and be independent thinkers. Students not only learn how to speak, read and write math but also to develop higher order thinking and synthesize what they learned by applying it to other areas of learning and life. Planning is essential. The school attempts to create unified visions, develop project-based assignments, and spiral the units and pacing plans across curriculum and grade levels. A lot of time is spent before the school year in teacher collaboration.


 * Module 6 Notes**
 * 1) What aspects of Finland's educational model work in the United States? Aspects to Finland Model what would work in the United States includes shorter teaching hours. <range type="comment" id="315731">Students could stay with the same student and cycle with them through the years. We can require higher education and allow them more autonomy in the classrooms. Students can get more trust and breaks. Emphasis can be placed <range type="comment" id="745924">on music and arts. Encouraging autonomy, creativity collaboration, and innovation as teachers. Allowing open spaces and meeting facilities allow students this.One appealing aspect that the Finns do is to select only a smaller percentage of those applying.
 * 2) How can we best reshape education so that all students gain the skills they need to live and work in the 21st Century? By creating a more democratic environment and promoting collaboration and autonomy through various teaching pedagogy. Students need to be shown how to be academic and build trust between the teacher and their peers. As teachers we need to guide them through the growing and learning process and not just expect them to know it already. We can also not just say that is the parents responsibility, because teachers spend more of their waking time with students than their own parents. Additionally schools need to become more flexible as students have changed dramatically over the past decade. <range type="comment" id="263295">Technology and global thinking is a large part of society and so it needs to be built into the classrooms to prepare for students for live beyond the classroom walls. Teacher education must also prepare teachers to teaching and think in that mindset.