Thinking about educating for the future- Part 1

There is a lot of talk about the 21st century skills that our students will need in order to survive the "new" world. I say new because our world now changes so fast that there is no way to pinpoint where it is going. Based on what others have said and my personal experience in the classroom, the following is what I think students will need in order to be prepared to compete globally:
1. Ability to look beyond what is in front of your face- I know this is a long drawn out phrase but since I cannot find a word or two that sums it up...this is it.  I find such difficulty at times to make my students THINK. To not look at their notes or the textbook when I ask a question. In a world where so much is just available at the click of a button it can be easy to not think.
Our students must learn how to think. To delve deeper and deeper. To go somewhere completly different than you first began. This is what the 21st century is all about if you want to be part of society and not just an onlooker.

2. Collaboration- This is something we already stress in most schools today. Even in careers such as education where in the past it was okay to close your door and lock your students in a little bubble; it is no more. Now, even we are forced to team with others to achieve a goal. This is going to be an absolute necessary skill to have in almost any career.

3. Adaptation- Some are lucky to have this ability innately. For most, however, this is a skill that needs to be developed. It starts in the classroom. This skill crosses so many boundaries whether it is in the workplace or in everyday life. All students must be able to adapt and move on in order to progress in this ever changing world. A person who is resistant to this will find a workplace that may become resistant to them.

Article 1: The Long Tail

1. This article gave me a new perspective on something I thought I already knew a significant amount about. I constantly joke with my husband about the strange movie choices he makes when picking Netflix movies. Most of the time however, I enjoy the movie and think that I would never have chosen most of his rentals. Reading this article made me think about the fact that I more than likely would not be exposed to such a wide genre of movies if not for the wide choices offered by Netflix.This particular portion of the article interested me because I see it true in my household.
The last section, rule 3, was another portion that held my interest. It is interesting how a simple addition such as a recommendation can make such a difference. It makes a difference not only to the company monetarily but also to the consumer. Personally I do not have an Itunes or Rhapsody account but I do have an Amazon account. Sometimes I do look at what is recommended to me and consider buying what is listed. I could see myself buying a song for another .99 if it sounds interesting. I think it is a great marketing tool and also a way to expand musical interests.

2. The only question I have is not necessarily one that can be answered. I wonder about the future of readers, music listeners, and movie watchers. Will we lose the book? Will movie theaters eventually become insignificant? It is a future that I look forward to seeing but at the same time gives me a sense of melancholy. Will a next generation miss out on the whole experience of going to the movies, buying popcorn and snuggling up with a loved one?

3.There is nothing I would change about the article. I'm not an expert in this field so I cannot really make any changes =)