Reaction-Reflection


 * Reaction-Reflection #2

Video: Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation **

Summary:media type="custom" key="5335249" width="324" height="324" align="right" Dan Pink talks about intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. He talks about studies that have been done in this area and what they have shown. He also discusses the idea that there is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does in this area.

Reflection: I loved this video and think it can be applied to education as well. It is my belief that students have lost the intrinsic motivation to learn and discover. I also think that the cause of this is adults. We have taken away the wonder by trying to do too much for kids. We have caused them to lose the desire to independently create and discover. I think this can be applied to both academics and behavior. We have sticker charted kids instead of allowing them to receive natural consequences, both positive and negative. We have, in Dan Pink's words, "incentivized them," rather than allowing them to develop autonomy (the urge to direct one's own life), mastery (the desire to get better and better at something that matters), and purpose (the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves). We have done this in good faith. I think we, initially, had these things in mind, but have lost sight of the ultimate goal. In the midst of a materialistic society, it is easy to do. I think it is time to take a step back and reconsider what science has proven about motivation.

**Reading Reflection #3** (Due 3-16-2010)

**Article Review**: Mathews, Jay. The Latest Doomed Pedagogical Fad: 21st Century Skills. __The Washington Post__. January 5, 2009. []

**Summary of Article:** This article discusses the fate of 21st Century Skills and questions whether it will be a successful pedagogy or a failure as many of its predecessors have been. The author acknowledges that while many teachers praise the validity and success found using 21st Century Skills, there are students that struggle to grasp 19th Century Skills.

** Reaction: ** I think this article was really good because it is important for teachers to understand why we do the things we do, and, unfortunately, in the world we live in, be able to justify our actions. I feel like the author did his research and fully understands what 21st Century Skills are and the thought behind this kind of movement. I think he brings up some very valid points. I think there are students that have not grasped the concepts of reading, writing, and arithmetic, which can be problematic. I like that the author acknowledges that for some kids, 21st Century skills may be an avenue through which they can achieve some of these basic skills, while recognizing that others will not be successful. I liked the example he used of the college class he took where he completed the group work, turned in a project, and received a good grade, but learned little science that was supposed to have been the focus of the course. We have all taken classes like this. I think it really draws to focus the importance of the teacher and how the teacher facilitates the learning within the 21st Century Skills. If teachers don't spend the necessary time to guide students in the content, while at the same time, incorporating 21st Century Skills, students will suffer in the long run.


 * Reading Reflection #4 ** (Due 3-23-10)

**Article Review**: Salpeter, Judy. 21st Century Skills: Will Our Students be Prepared?. __Tech & Learning__. October 15, 2003. []

**Summary of Article:** This article was written when the Partnership for 21st Century Skills was in its beginning stages. It talks about goals that were set and how 21st Century Skills relate to No Child Left Behind. The article reinforced the idea that 21st Century Skills need to be taught in conjunction with Core curriculum, not as a peripheral.

I was glad to see that the Partnership for 21st Century Skills have stuck with their initial findings. That shows that they are committed to the importance of the skills defined. I was glad that the article pointed out that many of the skills identified are the same or similar to those identified in similar previous programs. I think it is important that the public sees that we are working towards the same things that have always been identified as important, that those in education are not trying to eliminate core curriculum, but rather enhance it and teach students additional life-long skills as well. I also liked that the article discussed technology as a piece of 21st Century Skills and not as the whole. I think that is a common misconception of 21st Century Skills. I think there are many out there, teachers included, who have not figured out this piece of the puzzle. I also liked that the article explained how technology can be used with core curriculum instead of in addition to core curriculum. I think schools and teachers are in need of inservice in the area of how to use technology with core curriculum. Too many teachers see this as a separate piece of education. Finally, I am glad that there was discussion related to 21st Century Skills and assessment. In this day and age of assessment and standardized testing, I really wonder how 21st Century Skills will fit in. I think there should be assessment of these skills and it will be interesting to see if it happens since it can't be measured by a fill-in-the-bubble test.
 * Reaction: **