As I started to reflect on this past year and the message I wanted to leave you with on this very memorable day
My thoughts kept taking me back to when I graduated and just how quickly this world changes in such a short time.The graduating class of 2013 has faced and will continue to face the Perfect Learning Storm--or what Trilling and Fadel describe in their book: 21st Century Skills-Learning for Life in Our Time As:
Powerful forces that are “converging and leading us toward new ways of learning for life.”
These powerful forces are the elements that are required to support you in all of your future endeavors.
As your teachers we understand that learning is social--the environments you will encounter in the world of work are collaborative. We do know that you have mastered the skills of collaboration during your years at AHS.
You will have to work with people in a variety of locations all over the world while utilizing the gazillion mobile learning devices and services that allow you to work smarter not harder--such as:
- smartphones
- tablets
- calendar and contact management software
- skyping
- online chat spaces
- text messaging
- websites
- cloud computing
- web conferencing
- and the numerous social networking tools available to you
Ladies and Gentlemen:
These students are not only mobile learning device experts but they can send a tweet, reply to a text, and post a status update to Facebook all inside the front pocket of their hoodie!
BUT: You can’t all just be skilled at collaboration and tech devices; Do not lose sight of the importance of interpersonal skills—you must be flexible and understand you will never be done learning! The rate of change in our society is beyond comprehension
I just read:
- Computer microchips continue to double their processing speed every 18 months
- All the books ever written can be transmitted over an optical fiber the width of your hair in a couple of seconds
- Currently the amount of new technical knowledge doubles every 72 hours
What is required of you today, may not be the same tomorrow!
When we describe you all as digital natives we mean you have grown up immersed in digital media.
You’ve never known a time without speed in communication--sending messages and getting an immediate response. Rather than mailing a letter to your cousin in Arizona because you are not allowed to make long distance calls.You have the ability to design a playlist on your phone without having to fast forward the tape player because you don’t like the next song. You can now choose to take a class from a “virtual teacher” when you are interested in a class that is not offered in the learning institution you are attending.
To offer you advice in a world that changes so rapidly can be challenging. But know that every step you take from this point forward can never be erased- you will leave your digital footprint everywhere you go. Including the Facebook status update that can be viewed by every future employer you will ever have, every Instagram picture you post will leave an impression, good or bad, on the admissions advisor at your university, and every tweet you’ve tweeted about how DBH swept you for being tardy, but will never be forgotten
Practice Positive Digital Citizenship Class of 2013--We started from the bottom now we’re here!
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