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21st centurylearningskills- Consider the implications for artsteaching and learning of President-Elect Obama's Position on 21stCentury Schools for the 21st Century Economy
No matter which of the research-based teaching and learning strategyschemas you study, almost all include various forms of higher order thinkingand substantive conversation as essential teaching and learning skills.Developing deep questioning skills is something we should strive to developand improve in ourselves and our students.Toward that end, over the coming year, I’ll be posting a series of questionsthat are:
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complex
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do not have yes or no answers,
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hopefully lead Michigan’s virtual arts education community to :
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reflect and analyze,
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have conversations,
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listen carefully to others,
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compare and contrast,
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and question ourselves again and again
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incorporat e new perspectives and ideas
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reflect the on-going iterative cycle that so central to the artistic-creative process.In most cases, the question will be posted with a related resource or newsitem for consideration.The questions will be posted through:- ArtsEdNews- on the blog for discussion purposes:http://mivpaa.blogspot.com/- and on Learnport’s (www.learnport.org) MMC Visual, Performing, andApplied Arts Learning Community for easy access for Michigan teachers.
The December question for Michigan arts educators to consider:
“Preparing today’s youth to succeed in the digital economy requires a new kind of teaching and learning.
Skills such as global literacy, computer literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.” 
 
How does your arts education program align to these 21
st
centuryskills? What do you need to do differently to teach these skillsthrough your arts instruction?Related resources:1.Eschool News
Tue, Dec 09, 2008
Ed tech central to Obama's recovery plan School modernization, broadband access are keys to Obama's plan toprovide 2.5 million jobs
By Maya T. Prabhu, Assistant EditorTo boost the sinking economy, government needs to invest in modernizingand upgrading school buildings, expanding broadband internet access,making public buildings more energy efficient, and launching a public worksprogram to rebuild the nation's highways, said President-elect Barack Obamain a Dec. 6 radio address.The address, which is also available on YouTube, came a day after thegovernment reported that employers cut 533,000 jobs in November, themost in 34 years. The plans are part of a vision for a massive economicrecovery program Obama wants Congress to pass and have waiting on hisdesk when he takes office Jan. 20.He offered no price estimate for the grand plan, nor stipulations for how themoney might be divided or its effect on the country's financial health at atime of burgeoning deficits. However, a recent report by the Center forAmerican Progress suggested a spending plan of $350 billion in the first yearof economic stimulus and recovery. Obama's transition co-chair, JohnPodesta, is currently on a leave of absence from his position as president andchief executive of the center.A few of the initiatives outlined in Obama's address also can be found in thecenter's study, written by Will Straw, associate director for economic growth,and Michael Ettlinger, vice president for economic policy."My economic recovery plan will launch the most sweeping effort tomodernize and upgrade school buildings that this country has ever seen,"Obama said in the address. "We will repair broken schools, make them moreenergy-efficient, and put new computers in our classrooms. Because to helpour children compete in a 21st-century economy, we need to send them to21st-century schools."
 
In Straw's and Ettlinger's report, they recommend that a total of $20 billionbe spent to address the nearly one-third of schools that have one or moretemporary buildings housing an average of 160 students each--and thehundreds of billions of estimated dollars needed to bring school facilities togood condition.The report suggests that $7.25 billion should be spent immediately tosupport state and local green school construction and modernization projects.It suggests an additional $12.75 billion be spent on school districts toeliminate years of deferred maintenance, particularly in schools in low-income communities. The study claims that those two measures could create250,000 skilled maintenance and repair jobs and supply $6 billion of materials and supplies.Obama's proposed upgrades to schools are part of a larger plan to make allpublic buildings more energy-efficient. The U.S. government currently paysthe highest energy bill in the world, according to the president-elect.
Weekly Address from the President-Elect 
 "We need to change that. We need to upgrade our federal buildings byreplacing old heating systems and installing efficient light bulbs. That won't just save you, the American taxpayer, billions of dollars each year. It will putpeople back to work," Obama said.The president-elect also said he plans to make sure that all children haveaccess to broadband internet service. On his transition web site,change.gov,Obama said he plans to get broadband to every community in the nationthrough a combination of reforming the Universal Service Fund; makingbetter use of the nation's wireless spectrum; promoting next-generationfacilities, technologies, and applications; and implementing new loanprograms and tax incentives."It is unacceptable that the United States ranks 15th in the world inbroadband adoption. Here, in the country that invented the internet, everychild should have the chance to get online, and they'll get that chance whenI'm president--because that's how we'll strengthen America'scompetitiveness in the world," he said.The Center for American Progress study suggested that $5 billion be spent tohelp build the infrastructure necessary to enhance access and increasedemand for broadband, creating 97,500 new jobs. Straw and Ettlingersuggest that $335 million of the $5 billion be used to fully fund theBroadband Data Improvement Act, which gives states a clearer picture of where gaps in broadband availability currently exist.On Dec. 2, a coalition of representatives form telecommunications firms,technology advocacy groups, and technology trade associations issued a call
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