Prof. Petra E. Avillán, M.Ed. ESL PRTESOL Conference Ponce, PR November 2009

Which are the 21st Century Skills?

21st century skills Digital literacy Basic, Scientific and technological illiteracies Visual Information-Internet Cultural Literacy and Global Awareness Inventive Thinking Adaptability Curiosity, creativity, risk-taking Higher Order Thinking Skills

21 st Century Skills cont. Interactive Communication Teaming and collaboration Personal and Social Responsibilities Communication through technology Quality Prioritizing, Strategic Planning Use of Real-World Tools

Resources that support 21 st skills Internet utus utus Blackboard Microsoft Oracle You tube Teacher tube.com Other resources Ministry or Department of Education Cable in the classroom Grants

What is PBL?

Problem-based learning Problem-based learning (PBL) is the most significant innovation for the professions… Problem-based learning is an approach structuring the curriculum which involves confronting students with problems from practice which provides a stimulus for learning. …develops capability rather than aqcuisition of knowledge (Boud,D., Feletti,G. 1997)

…a structure for discovery that helps students internalize learning and leads to greater comprehension. ( Delilsle, R. 1997) “To organize education so that natural active tendencies shall be fully enlisted in doing something, while seeing to it that the doing requires observation, the acquisition of information, and the use of constructive imagination, is what needs to be done to improve social conditions.” (Dewey, 1916, 1944) “…the learning that results from the process of working toward the understanding or resolution of a problem” (Barrows and Tamblyn, 1980)

Project-based learning A systematic teaching method that engages students in learning knowledge and skills through an extended inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks. ( Buck Institute for Education, 2003)

Problem-based learning Student-centered Research-based (students) Understanding a problem is the goal Real-world problems Students Plan their process Team work Technology Project- based learning Student-centered Uses research A project is the goal The teacher provides Instructions Real-world problems Students perform tasks Team work Technology

ESL and PBL 21st Century Skills Web pages m/ m/ Research on line Articles Texts

Technologies TV Computer Internet MP3 I Pod Pod Casts Cellular Phones Simulation programs Digital cameras

Are we prepared to teach considering the 21 st century skills? How do we feel about this? Do we have the necessary skills? Does our curriculum mention PBL? Are there PBL schools or Universities in Puerto Rico?

Do the academic programs of our universities use PBL? Are we trained in PBL? Do we know where to go to get information and support for PBL?

Who is talking about PBL? Links Education

And now….