The 21st century skills

This is a post which I send to a google group I was invited to join by Heather Baba from Tesol Arabia. The google group is called "Learner Independence SIG" at http://groups.google.com/group/ilearn2?hl=en
[Hi everyone
After watching the video put by Mark, I realized that 10 years ago the
skills needed by our students in the Arab world and Africa were
different from those needed by most of Europe and USA students. But
the gap between these students is closing down the same skills are
need all around the world. Why is this? I think this is due to
globalization. Do you agree with me? Do we share the same problems in
education in our schools. Do our schools kill creativity? In Sudan
defiantly the answer is yes. In the kindergarten children are very
creative, they are allowed to express themselves but as soon as they
enter primary school discipline kills creativity. I think this
problem is very much related to our culture .
While bogging I found a very interesting blog http://c21skills.blogspot.com/
that gives a list of 21 century skills needed by student. ]

By the way the video Mark posted is entittled " Are our schools killing creativity" at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66

Learning and Sharing

Last Tuesday, a CALL expert Hala Fawiz visited us at the English Department, to share and discuss ways in which we can introduce blended learning in our classes at U of K. The meeting was really great here are some pictures.

Are we a third world country?

Salam
During the last DVC at the American Embassy one of the participant excused herself for not using technology by saying that we are a "third world country". most of the other particpants were very angry for her description. I though a lot about what she said and I discoverd that we can be a third world country if we choose to be. A member of the English Department went to his home village in Southern Darfur which was burned down as a result of tribal conflict. He brough with him pictures of destruction and loss but among the pictures was one that attracted my attention and I asked him to if I can put it in my blog. It is a picture of a burned house made of straw with a satellite dish. So are we a "third world country" unless we choose to be !!!!!