IN what ways Can social studies teachers incorporate 21st Century Skills into their Classrooms?

1. IN what ways Can social studies teachers incorporate 21st Century Skills into their Classrooms? • Abbey Heilmann • May 6, 2010

2. In this presentation, I will address • 21st Century Skills and Curriculum • Course content • Individual research • Conclusion: Inquiry-based learning is a perfect model for implementing 21st Century skills in the social studies classroom.

3. Purpose and Rationale • “What are 21st Century Skills?” • Educators must foster the growth of 21st Century skills in the classroom, but first they must learn how to do so.

4. 21st Century Skills and Social Studies Curriculum • Master core academic subjects and be: • critical thinkers • problem solvers • effective communicators and collaborators • information and technologically literate • flexible and adaptable • innovative and creative • globally competent • financially literate • (Partnership for 21st Century Skills)

5. 21st Century Skills & State Curriculum • The Framework for 21st Century Learning developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills was adopted by the North Carolina State Board of Education. These skills were infused into the state mission and goals.

6. Curricular Connections • Essential skills identified by the National Council for the Social Studies: • acquiring information • organizing and using information • developing interpersonal relationships and social participation

7. Curricular Connections • The North Carolina Social Studies Skills include: • Reading and vocabulary building • Using research to gather; synthesize and report • Analyzing, interpreting, creating and using resources • Applying decision making and problem solving techniques • Incorporating technologies

8. ECI 727 ADigital History and Social Studies • In what ways can social studies teachers create student-centered, interactive and engaging lessons for their students? • Products of Learning: • Teaching Digital History • Digital History and Pedagogy Project • Lincoln Obscure • Historical Ephemera • Plantation Letters

9. ECI 5092009 New Literacies Institute • Essential Question: How can students use technology tools in order to demonstrate understanding of location as related to their own lives and share this understanding with their sister school in China and multiple partners around the world? • Products of learning: Location Project

10. ECI 550Foundations of Middle Years • Essential question: How can middle grades educators ensure student accountability and mastery of learning standards? • Product of learning: Summary of Research

11. ECI 546New Literacies and Media • Essential Question: How can Trailfire scaffold students’ understanding of the cause and effect relationship between significant historical events? • Products of learning: Inquiry Learning Project

12. ECI 524Theory and Research in Global Learning • Essential Question: In what ways can students work collaboratively in a online, global environment? • Products of learning: Global Learning Initiative

13. ECI 508Teachers as Leaders • Essential Question: How can teacher leaders promote 21st Century skills within their Professional Learning Communities? • Products of learning: 21st Century Skills Presentation and reflective Leadership Project

14. Summary • In what ways can social studies teachers incorporate 21st Century Skills into their classrooms? • Student-centered inquiry-based learning is a perfect model for implementing 21st Century skills in the social studies classroom. • Using Web 2.0, students are able to share their findings within an online, collaborative setting.

15. Reflection • The inquiry model has changed my classroom environment: • My humanistic philosophy promotes my role as a facilitator. • I have shifted professionally. Through this research, I have emerged as a leader within my PLC through both my instruction and modeling to others.

16. Credits • Mishra and Koehler (2008) • Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2004) • The National Council for the Social Studies • 21st Century Skills in North Carolina

17. Many thanks to The following individuals: • Dr. John Lee, North Carolina State University • Dr. Hiller Spires, North Carolina State University • Dr. Candy Beal, North Carolina State University • Dr. Carol Pope, North Carolina State University • Dr. Terry Atkinson, East Carolina University