Advocacy Plan for 21st Century Learning

Advocacy Plan for 21st Century Learning

Planning the advocacy initiative:

a) Analyze the policy issue

1) What are the causes?

 "The new millennium was ushered in by a dramatic technological revolution. We now live in an increasingly diverse, globalized, and complex, media-saturated society" (21st Century Schools, nd, p.1).

 "Today's kindergarteners will be retiring in the year 2067. We have no idea of what the world will look in five years, much less 60 years, yet we are charged with preparing our students for life in that world. Our students are facing many emerging issues such as global warming, famine, poverty, health issues, a global population explosion and other environmental and social issues. These issues lead to a need for students to be able to communicate, function and create change personally, socially, economically and politically on local, national and global levels" (21st Century Schools, nd, p.1).

 "Emerging technologies and resulting globalization also provide unlimited possibilities for exciting new discoveries and developments such as new forms of energy, medical advances, and restoration of environmentally ravaged areas, communications, and exploration into space and into the depths of the oceans. The possibilities are unlimited" (21st Century Schools, nd, p.1).

2) Who has the power to make the changes?

 Current Government

 Education Minister, George Abbott

 BC Teacher's Federation

3) What is the historical, political and social context?

Historical context: In the past, there has not been much change to the way we teach children and youth. We have been educating children and youth by following many learning outcomes and ensuring all students learn the same material. By using 21st Century Learning, students are able to learn more about topics that they are interested in. Teachers still follow learning outcomes, but they follow more broad learning outcomes which helps with individualized learning.

Political context: The government and the teachers are going to have to come to some type of agreement. The Ministry of Education sets the curriculum with input and advice from teachers. Parents and business people, technology, economics all play a part in forming what is needed for education on children and youth in British Columbia.

Social Context: This looks at what people and society thinks that the purpose of education is. This changes depending on what is going on in the world. For example, some people think that education is to prepare young people for work; some think it is about academic achievement,