This discussion is an opportunity for you to evaluate how the purposeful integration of technology in instruction and assessment supports student acquisition of 21st-century skills and more importantly career and technical education (CTE). In the past few weeks, you have had the opportunity to consider the inclusion of technology in teaching and learning as well as the principles of UDL in practice. Now, we consider how UDL supports the acquisition of 21st-century skills as these relate to career and technical education. To prepare your response for this discussion, you will review Chapter 5 from the Edyburn text (2013), the 21st-century skills document, and the ACTE website section on career and technical education (Links to an external site.) and then evaluate them in relation to the principles of UDL. As always, reviewing the Instructor Guidance for the week is strongly encouraged for intellectual elaboration on the topics for the week and additional assistance for all assessments.
When contemplating 21st-century skills, associations must be made with respect to creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and metacognition and a host of relevant life skills. Keeping in mind your knowledge gained thus far on UDL and 21st century skills. You will review three sources to inform your initial response to the discussion including the ACTE website on Career and Technical Education (Links to an external site.) (CTE), a short video by Inside Schools titled High School: What is Career and Technical Education? (Links to an external site.), and your own state’s Department of Education website or local school district website, specifically, information pertaining to Career and Technical Education (CTE).
Initial Post: Create an initial response that addresses the following areas.
- Analyze in a paragraph Career and Technical Education (CTE) by giving a succinct summary of your understanding of this area of education.
- Evaluate in a paragraph how the principles of UDL support career and technical education.
- Summarize in a paragraph the relationship between the goals of CTE, learner motivation, and acquisition of 21st-century skills.
- Describe in a paragraph, or by using a table or some other visual, what you learned by reviewing your state’s Department of Education webpage on CTE and/or your local school district’s utilization of CTE.
Guided Response: Respond to at least two peers. In responses, evaluate how your understanding of 21st-century skills, UDL and career and technical education is either in concert with or contrasts from the discussion presented by your peers. Paying close attention to the evaluation they presented on how UDL can be incorporated to support career and technology education.
Again, although two replies is the basic expectation, for deeper engagement and learning, you are encouraged to provide responses to any comments or questions others have given to you to further the conversation. The continued conversation provides you with opportunities to further demonstrate your content expertise, critical thinking, and real world experiences with the topics of career and technical education and UDL.