21st+Century+Learning

//Jan2010 Did you know://
 * **Popularity of Texting Edging Out Cell Phone Calls **

 Americans p unched out more than 110 billion text messages last year, double the number in the previous year and growing, as the shorthand communication becomes a popular alternative to cell phone calls. The nation's 270 million cell phone subscribers each sent out an average of 407 text messages in 2008, according to government statistics released in Dec. by the Census Bureau. That's more than double the 188 messages sent by the average cell subscriber in 2007. "We are seeing a clear trend of huge increases in text messaging," said Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist at the Pew Internet and American Life Project. "If teens are a leader for America, then we are moving to a text-based communication system. For them, there is less interest in talking." Her research found the average teen currently sends more than 2,000 text messages per month. About two-thirds of all teens use text messaging, mostly due to its simplicity as well as the privacy of being able to communicate without being overheard. Lenhart predicted that texting would continue to grow as parents begin using it as an easy way to reach their kids. At the same time, the average length of a cell phone call declined last year to 2.3 minutes. That's the shortest chat time since the 1990s, before mobile devices and cheap calling plans became widely available to everyday consumers. The peak talk time came in 2004, when a caller on average chatted for 3.05 minutes. (The Associated Press) || (A Pocket Guide to Social Media and Kids) ||
 * **Kids, Parents, and Cell Phones **
 * The average 13 to 17-year-old sends 2000 text messages a month!
 * The average age to first own a cell phone is between 9 and 10.
 * The average age to borrow a cell phone is 8.
 * By age 12, fully three-fourths of all children have their own mobile phone.
 * Parental use of advanced data services mirrors that of their tween kids. If their children text, then 80% of parents will text as well.
 * Nearly 60% of parents of cell phone-owing kids have forbidden downloads of games, ringtones, and videos, the extra items that often incur a charge.

=//"Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century." S.J. Perelman//=

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//"The illiterate of 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot// //learn, unlearn, and relearn" Alvin Toffler//
• **Accountability and Adaptability**—Exercising personal responsibility and flexibility in personal, workplace, and community contexts; setting and meeting high standards and goals for one's self and others; tolerating ambiguity
 * Essential 21st Century Skills**

• **Communication Skills**—Understanding, managing, and creating effective oral, written, and multimedia communication in a variety of forms and contexts

• **Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity**—Developing, implementing, and communicating new ideas to others; staying open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives

• **Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking**—Exercising sound reasoning in understanding and making complex choices; understanding the interconnections among systems

• **Information and Media Literacy Skills**—Analyzing, accessing, managing, integrating, evaluating, and creating information in a variety of forms and media

• **Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills**—Demonstrating teamwork and leadership; adapting to varied roles and responsibilities; working productively with others; exercising empathy; respecting diverse perspectives

• **Problem Identification, Formulation, and Solution**—Ability to frame, analyze, and solve problems

• **Self-Direction**—Monitoring one's own understanding and learning needs; locating appropriate resources; transferring learning from one domain to another

• **Social Responsibility**—Acting responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind; demonstrating ethical behavior in personal, workplace, and community contexts