Module 1, Activity 4
1. What do you think the critical factors are in making progress in this area of learning and teaching?
The most critical factor is Community, Content Providers, and businesses. I feel that the 21st century businesses need to work together with the with the education system. To create the content of learning, which should build 21st century skills, and have evaluations like the businesses of the 21st century business. This should happen at all levels of learning. This way the learners and educators can have a clear end result to work toward.

2. What barriers exist to moving ahead?
The biggest barrier to moving ahead, will be the lack of interest from the 21st century businesses in the education system. I see many businesses looking for graduates in job fairs at universities. But I rarely see businesses working with the education system to create the employees that the business will later recruit.

Today’s business will need to see how their involvement in the education systems will better their business in a measurable way. Without seeing the measurable result, I don’t think that businesses will participate fully. When that measurable result is clearly developed I think that the community will involve itself more with the education systems it surrounds.

3. What support will learners and teachers need to achieve progress?
I feel that the education system as a whole needs constant communication with the businesses of its community. Not just a friendly visit from time to time but regular monthly (if not weekly) meetings discussing how the business operates in every function. Then the school system needs to be given the flexibility from the government to use the methods thought up in these meetings. So, to sum up what support the learners and teachers need……Government, and local businesses or community.

4. What practices or structures need to be changed?
I feel that the two things that need changing most is the dependence on short term memory, and evaluation techniques. When I was in high school and in some of collage, I was told to memorize words, functions, and formulas. After I memorized these things I was then tested by given an abundance of questions that would need the use of these things I memorized. Many times I passed the tests with flying colors. But now I need a reference point to remember how to use those things I memorized. I don’t feel that this was the best way for me to learn or be evaluated.
I feel that we instructors should demonstrate where to find the information, demonstrate ways to use it, then give the learners practical situations built from the community so solve. After the situation has been solved the learners should be evaluated like businesses in the community evaluate their employees.

Linnea Dolan_Marshfield, WI