21st Century Learning and Teaching

A prior question -- should I go to college? -- has a definitive economic answer. College may not be right for everyone, but many studies have demonstrated that simply possessing a baccalaureate degree typically means much higher earnings throughout one's life, a fact even clearer today than in previous generations.

But in a world that seems increasingly to equate learning and career preparation, many commentators are skeptical that students are acquiring the skills that will translate well into the marketplace. Two recent surveys of employers done by the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Workforce Solutions Group at St. Louis Community College, respectively, reveal their frustration with graduates who have not been adequately prepared for the job market.

These frustrations may not be what you think. Rather than lamenting the absence of technical or similar job-specific skills, many employers say that too many college graduates lack communication and decision-making ability, an understanding of how to think independently but also to work in teams, to solve complex problems and to construct cogent arguments.

They lack, we're told, an understanding of leadership, creativity, and emotional intelligence. In other words, it isn't primarily the "hard skills" that these graduates lack, but the so-called "soft skills.

Read more: 

- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-a-kazee/liberal-education-soft-sk_b_5583044.html

In his keynote address to the 2013 National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly on Wednesday, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel urged the nearly

Leadership is learned behavior that becomes unconscious and automatic over time. For example, leaders can make several important decisions about an issue in the time it takes others to understand the question.

1. Make Others Feel Safe to Speak-Up

2. Make Decisions

3. Communicate Expectations

4. Challenge People to Think

5. Be Accountable to Others

6. Lead by Example

7. Measure & Reward Performance

8. Provide Continuous Feedback

9. Properly Allocate and Deploy Talent

10. Ask Questions, Seek Counsel

11. Problem Solve; Avoid Procrastination

12. Positive Energy & Attitude

13. Be a Great Teacher

14. Invest in Relationships

15. Genuinely Enjoy Responsibilities

Teacher Development Research Table of Contents:

- Introduction
- Keys to Educator Success
- Evidence-Based Practices and Programs
- Avoiding Pitfalls
- Annotated Bibliography


The following programs have received support by independent evaluators or peer-reviewed publications, using independent outcome measures, and have developed to scale nationally.

As professional-development research is in an early developmental stage (Borko, 2004), not many programs have strong empirical support. Please leave a comment to share professional-development programs that have strong evidence of success.

Learn more:

- http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=Evidence-Based+Practices+and+Programs

Teacher Development Research Table of Contents:

- Introduction
- Keys to Educator Success
- Evidence-Based Practices and Programs
- Avoiding Pitfalls
- Annotated Bibliography


Teaching quality has been defined as "instruction that enables a wide range of students to learn" (Darling-Hammond, 2012), and it is the strongest school-related factor that can improve student learning and achievement (Hanushek, 2011; Nye, Konstantopoulos, and Hedges, 2004; Rivkin, Hanushek, and Kain, 2005).

Knowing this, what is the best way to foster and provide ongoing support for good teaching practices? While every school is unique, research has identified several elements that can almost universally increase the chances for successful teacher development and create a powerful and positive school community. 

What students take away from a successful education usually centers on a personal connection with a teacher who instilled passion and inspiration for their subject. It’s difficult to measure success, and in the world of academia, educators are continually re-evaluating how to quantify learning. But the first and most important question to ask is:

Are teachers reaching their students?

Read more: http://newsroom.opencolleges.edu.au/features/25-things-successful-educators-do-differently/#ixzz2J5tw0kRr

A few months ago, I posted an article by Shelly Blake-Plock called 21 Things in Education That Will be Obsolete in 2020, which lists some of th

For most children, the key to success will continue to be sharp critical skills, strong connections, effective communication and the nerve to be creative and entrepreneurial. The difference is that we are living at a time in which all of those skills are defined by one’s proficiency in connected media. Furthermore, for students facing poverty, violence and disability, online learning networks can provide empowering educational experiences that transcend the circumstances of the classroom.

Ultimately, the school that ignores the connection will be the school that we will identify as a failing institution. It is therefore even crueler that policymakers obsessed with standardized test results — like Ms. Rhee and her many disciples — ignore what the connection represents.

Students' exposure to so-called 21st-century skills in school correlates positively with perceived quality of work later in life, according to a new study by Gallup Inc

Manor overview article - STW 1203

The Match Teacher Residency is one of a small number of programs that train aspiring teachers for the classroom through practice.

Teacher Development Research Table of Contents:

- Introduction
- Keys to Educator Success
- Evidence-Based Practices and Programs
- Avoiding Pitfalls
- Annotated Bibliography


Every teacher can probably describe a boring or downright ineffective professional-development experience they’ve had. There are many challenges when trying to design a successful and engaging PD program for ongoing teacher education. Whether you’re an administrator looking for useful tips or an educator who wants to hone your own skills, the research-based hints below will help you avoid some of the most common problems and mistakes in PD programs.