Technology & Learning - September 2007 - (Page 40)

Special Advertising Section of Technology & Learning New Skills for New Times Are your students ready for the 21st century? he challenges of globalization demand more from today’s students than ever before. To prepare for life after graduation, U.S. students must learn the traditional core curriculum skills as well as 21st century skills, like technology literacy and high-level critical thinking, so they can succeed in this new environment and compete on a global level. T “From day one we knew that netTrekker d.i. would be one of the most valuable tools our teachers could use to incorporate 21st century skills in the classroom. netTrekker d.i. ensures the accuracy of the content, and gives students the opportunity to use real-world search skills in a controlled environment. We always say, ‘Start with netTrekker d.i.’ when beginning any research project.” —Amy Ellisor, Technology Integration Specialist Richland School District Two, Columbia, SC The Challenge In a recent poll, 84 percent of employers said that students leaving high school are not ready for the workplace and nearly 40 percent of high school graduates feel inadequately prepared for college or employment. Everyone agrees—students need better preparation. Employers expect young people to arrive with basic skills such as math, writing, and reading, but also to have mastery of 21st century skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, leadership, problem-solving and communication as well. The Solution netTrekker d.i., the award-winning search engine designed specifically for school use, delivers standards-based resources organized by grade and readability level to help students learn. And now netTrekker d.i. includes a new, dedicated 21st Century Skills channel that helps educators and students learn about the recommended 21st century skills and then find resources that reinforce content and help develop those skills. The Goal Students need a way to develop these new skills while still mastering the core subjects. Incorporating new tools and resources into teaching and learning promotes and reinforces 21st century skills. Learning to evaluate information for a collaborative project and turning that data into knowledge to communicate to others are important skills. When students do research online in the process, they need trustworthy sources. This means using a search engine that leads only to reliable educational Web sites with dependable data. The Strategy The new 21st Century Skills channel in netTrekker d.i. includes three separate pathways that support the core elements of 21st century skills: Information and Communications Techology (ICT) Literacy, Life Skills, and Learning and Innovation Skills. Each area includes customized resources and a “What are” and “How do I teach or acquire” section to meet the varying needs of teachers and students. The new channel also includes Lesson Integration Models that incorporate 21st century skills with core curriculum topics so both can be taught at the same time. Each unit includes a lesson plan, procedures to integrate the lesson with 21st century objectives, and a model student project. In addition, a valuable collection of free software downloads and tutorials helps students with 21st century projects. netTrekker d.i. free trials available. www.netTrekker.com 877.517.1125 21 Skills for 21st Century Learning—Can Your Students… 1. Benchmark a process 2. Communicate clearly 3. Connect with the global community 4. Cope with change 5. Demonstrate innovativeness 6. Distinguish fact from opinion 7. Frame problems and solutions 8. Give an effective presentation 9. Lead a team 10. Learn outside the classroom 11. Make complex choices 12. Manage a negotiation 13. Motivate others 14. Organize information 15. Read a digital map 16. Resolve conflict 17. Respond to a blog 18. Sell ideas to others 19. Set priorities and goals 20. Use technology well 21. Work effectively in teams http://www.netTrekker.com http://www.netTrekker.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technology & Learning - September 2007

Technology & Learning - September 2007 Contents Editor’s Desk News & Trends Product Guide Reviews Getting It Wrong Cover Story: SchoolBiz School CIO Higher Ed Integration How To What’s New Bottom Line

Technology & Learning - September 2007

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