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Are Schools Preparing Students for 21st Century Learning?

There's a "disconnect" between school administrators and parents. While more than half of America's school principal's said they think they're "doing a good job" preparing students for the 21st century, only a third of parents of middle school and high school students agreed, according to research released by Project Tomorrow and Blackboard.

The research also showed that only 40 percent of students in grades 6 through 12 think their schools are doing a good job preparing them for the future.

"The disconnect between educators and parents reveals the need for schools to improve the integration of technology into the learning environment and students' learning experiences," said Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow. "Parents do not feel that schools are effectively preparing students for the jobs of the 21st century, and view technology implementation as essential to student success."

The findings were part of a report released this week--Learning in the 21st Century: Parents' Perspectives, Parents' Priorities. They were compiled from data collected as part of Project Tomorrow's annual Speak Up survey, which included responses from more than 335,000 K-12 administrators, students, parents, and educators.

It also found that parents think teachers "need more training and more access to up-to-date technology" and that they "support K-12 school adoption of 21st century technology-infused approaches to teaching and learning, ranging from online textbooks to tools such as interactive white boards, laptops for students, computer projection devices and technology-based organizational tools," according to information released by Project Tomorrow.

Further details about the research, along with a complete copy of the report, can be found here. (The report can be downloaded free with registration.)

About the Author

Dave Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's online education publications and electronic newsletters. He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com. He can now be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/THEJournalDave (K-12) or http://twitter.com/CampusTechDave (higher education).

Comments

Thu, Nov 12, 2009 Connie Masson Longmont, Colorado

Are Schools Preparing Students for 21st Century Learning? As Karen Bowden from Orlando, FL quoted Alvin Toffler, "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." We need to be teaching ourselves and our students to do this. I do believe schools are sincere in our desire, understanding of need and willingness to do the best we can to prepare students for 21st century learning, but as with all things in life, there are many barriers to accomplishing the goal. Hopefully we are able to take down as many barriers as are possible in providing opportunities for students to know and be able to do what will be required of them as they enter college and the work force in the near and distant future.

Fri, Nov 6, 2009 Greg Sumlin Littleton, CO.

As a school administrator, I believe we are not even close to preparing our students for the 21st century, and the changes and challenges we as a society will be presented with in the future. Part of my concern is that we are so driven by federal and state accountabiltiy systems that it does not allow any flexibility (time) for teachers to risk-take using the new tools that are out there.

Wed, Nov 4, 2009 L.Schiro WEstern New York State

I agree that we have been missing the boat for many years on technology implementation into the curriculm. In New York state as well as most every where else we are preoccupied with test scores, assessments and teaching to the test. I have been a chemistry teacher, technology coordinator and a board member of the NY State Association for computers and technologies in education( NYSCATE)for 34 years. We pay lip service to the needs of 21st Century learners while we continue to focus on test scores. I could go on and on, but the fact is unless we design our current curriculum train our teachers and in general begin to use technology beyond its entertainment value, we will be asking the same questions in 5 years or 10 years down the road.

Tue, Nov 3, 2009 Karen Bowden Orlando, FL

In an upcoming conference in Orlando (Learning2009) we will be discussing such issues as they apply to adult learners. However, in a quote by Alvin Toffler, "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." Found at Performance Support on Blogspot. (I don't know if the following link will work here.) http://performancesupport.blogspot.com/2009/09/performer-support-and-moment-of-change.html

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