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Educators focus on teaching advanced skillsTopics include using blogs, wikipedias and podcasts as learning toolsFor immediate release Contact: Sallie Owen VESTAVIA HILLS –– Teachers from 39 of Alabama’s public schools gathered Thursday for 21st Century Octoberfest, an intensive day of professional development for participants in the Alabama Best Practices Center’s 21st Century Learning Project. The project exposes school teams to the concepts of 21st century learning, introduces engaging web-based technologies, considers how these web tools can help students, and encourages teachers to begin experimenting and sharing with online colleagues. Technology is often the best tool for teaching advanced thinking skills and engaging the current generation of students. National leaders in business and education say computer-based learning can be used to teach more than technological literacy. They coined the phrase “21st century learning” to describe both the knowledge and skills needed in the modern workplace, including teamwork, problem-solving, global awareness and entrepreneurship. “The 21st Century Learning Project is a visionary initiative designed to arm our students and future work force with the applied skills they will need to succeed in an increasingly challenging and competitive workplace,” said William J. Canary, president and chief executive officer of the Business Council of Alabama. “Increased collaboration between the business community and classroom teachers is key to ensuring that our students are truly prepared for the real-world challenges ahead of them.” Presenters on Thursday included Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach, a 21st century learning consultant and former school technology leader in Virginia, and John Norton, facilitator of the national online Teacher Leaders Network and editor of Working Toward Excellence, the journal of the Alabama Best Practices Center. Many of the hand-on sessions were lead by expert teachers drawn from Alabama’s public schools. Most of them work as 21st Century Learning Project Fellows. Charlotte Wilson, a kindergarten teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary School East also demonstrated how to use blogs with younger students. Sessions were conducted at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and Vestavia Hills Elementary School East. Schools selected for the project could bring five-member teams to the event. Advanced schools are in their second year with the project, and beginning schools are in their first year. The Alabama Best Practices Center, part of the Montgomery-based A+ Education Foundation, promotes promising education practices in the state's public schools through professional development for teachers and administrators. The 21st Century Learning Project is funded by a grant from Microsoft Corp.’s Partners in Learning program. The program focuses on digital inclusion and helping individuals and communities gain access to the technology tools, skills and innovation they need to realize their potential in the changing economy. The nonprofit and nonpartisan A+ Education Foundation advances policies, programs and initiatives in Alabama's K-12 education system that result in high achievement by every child. 21st Century Learning Project Fellows
Beginning schools
Advanced schools
More information is available on the 21st Century Learning Project’s wiki. ### |
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A+ Education Foundation
P.O. Box 4433
Montgomery, AL 36103
(334) 279-1886
(800) 253-8865
(334) 279-1543 FAX
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