Edutopia!

So my free reading was over the Edutopia website reading.  I was so impressed when I was reading the information about what they strive to do for students and schools.  In particular, the site is talking about the changes that The George Lucas Educational Foundation is trying to make.  I loved that the vision of the Foundation is to have, "students and parents, teachers and administrators, policy makers and the people they serve are all empowered to change education for the better; a place where schools provide rigorous project-based learning, social-emotional learning, and access to new technology."  The list of things goes on and on.  Most importantly is how the Foundation wants students to become lifelong learners and develop 21st-century skills.  This is the biggest part of education we have been talking about since this course started.  How do we change curriculum so that students are learning and teachers are teaching materials that are current?

The website also states three fundamental skills in how to find 21st-century skills.  Two of the three of these skills are skills I have suggested before I read this website.  I've heard of some of these ideas through meetings at the school district I work for.  The three skills are:
1.  How to find information.
2.  How to access the quality of information.
3.  How to creatively and effectively use information to accomplish a goal.
Both teachers and students need to have the tools in order to effectively use this new technology we are being thrown into.  Technology is taking over the classroom.  We now need to teach students and faculty how to use it so that it will benefit education.

There's no doubt that children are ALWAYS the future.  Each generation knows this.  I work in school district that has been cutting jobs, because there is not enough funding.  We are now using Ed. Tech's to do a certified teachers job.  This allows the school to save money by not paying the Ed Tech's a salary, but rather by the hour.  Everything we do is through technology.  I truly believe that one day all schooling will be done from home.  It's a scary thought, but it's already starting in college.  We can now get entire degrees online.  This Foundation sounds like it will definitely benefit students.  It sounds like a lot of other ideas I've heard through this class and through what I'm learning at RSU #34.