Module+4

=﻿Module Four: 21st Century Skills= ====//**﻿Reflecction Prompt:**// Reflect on your thinking surrounding your developing a philosophy of Instructional Technology use for learning and your understanding of 21st Century Teaching and Learning.====

====**Description:** This week we were assigned to read chapter three in our //Technology Facilitation and Leadership Standards// textbook which discussed teaching, learning, and the curriculum in the 21st century. Dr. Ward also provided us with various articles and websites that touched base with the digital curriculum and 21st century skills. ====

====**Impact:** To be completely honest, every time I heard the term “21st Century Skills” I immediately thought just about technology. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills website ([]) clarified my misconception and expended my knowledge on this topic. Although technology is an essential characteristic in educating students in the 21st century, there are several elements that need to be associated with it. These elements include critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation. These elements have really made me reflect on my own teaching strategies and what I need to work on while developing a philosophy of Instructional Technology use for learning and teaching. I believe technology’s role in 21st Century Skills is an essential piece in revolutionizing students’ learning processes. Technology resources can help foster higher leveled thinking skills by allowing students to work creatively with others. However, I do realize that in order to be an effective 21st century teacher I first need to be a dedicated 21st century learner. The only way my students will have the opportunity to be 21st century students is if I learn, model, and implement well rounded 21st century performance tasks. 21st Century Skills engage students in their learning process and promote social responsibility. ====

====**Intent:** In reflecting on the impact that this module has had on me, I realize I still have a lot of learning to do before I will feel fully confident that I am an effective 21st century teacher. It is my intent to find/create project-based learning opportunities for my student where they are learning their content knowledge while using technology to the point that these two skills can emerge into one! Even Evan Abbey stated in his article //The Digital Curriculum//, that when using technology in the classroom, “the digital component is powerful and transformative, and yet invisible” (2009, p. 4). ====