The Center for 21st Century Skills

“The greatest scientists are always artists as well.” ~Albert Einstein

The Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION is proud to announce the establishment of a new 21st-century high school program of study focused on the emerging field of Digital Arts and Sciences. The primary mission of the Digital Arts and Sciences program will be to encourage, engage, facilitate, and support the development of artistic and creative skills in the use of digital media with a focus on applying those skills to the study of science and technology. The program will facilitate the cross-discipline application of academic knowledge, creativity, design, and innovation skills with the integration of the Internet and digital media into the study of cutting-edge topics in science and technology. All courses will feature problem-based learning and comprehensive projects as the primary instructional methodology for all students. The Digital Arts and Sciences program will be a dynamic and exemplary model for 21st-century-focused teaching and learning that will result in increasing the number of students interested in pursuing careers in emerging fields of study such as Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Digital Design, Digital Media, Nanotechnology, Science Visualization, Virtual Environments, and more.

The time has come for the designation of a new course of study that focuses on the exciting fields of digital arts and new media and their application in the study of science and technology. Current high school academic, career, and technical education programs are bogged down by 100 years of history and practice that prevent the widespread adoption of digital media in existing courses or entirely new courses in emerging topics of science and technology. While students are growing up in a world surrounded by computers, digital media, and the Internet, they are increasingly stifled and stymied in the use of the same in traditional high school courses. As the world relies more and more on science and technology to solve problems and meet human needs, there is an increased demand for workers in related careers and fields of study. Extended effort is exerted to cajole students to enter into the study of science and technology, but most turn away to non-academic fields of study and careers even while increasing their use of digital media and technology for socializing and entertainment. The establishment of the Digital Arts and Sciences program is intended to address these issues and to create a new interdisciplinary program of study for the 21st century that appeals to all high school students in the updated tradition of the Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Over the past three years, our staff has developed and piloted a number of courses and programs in Connecticut that focus on the area of Digital Arts and Sciences. Currently, our Digital Arts and Sciences curriculum sequence includes, Biotechnology R&D, Digital Media and Movie Making, E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Information Technology R&D, Computer Game Design and Development, Science and Technology Research Seminar, Virtual Worlds Creation and Construction. Over the next year we will be unveiling a series of new courses and working with selected school districts and clients to further develop, implement, and pilot the courses that will make up this new program of study. For more information or to comment on this proposal, contact: Michael Mino via e-mail: mino at Education Connection dot org.

The Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION was pleased to host Professor Chen Zhixin, the Dean and faculty member of the Management Teaching-Research Office of the Economics and Management Department, and Professor Ling Xudong, faculty member of the Information Engineering Department, from Ningxia Polytechnic University in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, PRC. The visit by the professors from China marks the beginning of a international education collaboration.

The collaboration between the Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION, Connecticut Career Choices (CCC), and Ningxia Polytechnic University will result in a unique cross-cultural learning experience for participating students and teachers. During the two-week stay, Prof. Chen and Prof. Ling visited select Connecticut schools and attended meetings at the IBM Southbury Conference Center and Central Connecticut State University. Professors Chen and Ling will also met with Hartford Pathways to Technology Magnet High School seniors and parents in preparation for the Pathways student senior trip to Ningxia Polytechnic University in March 2008.

Prof. Chen and Prof. Ling will interact with students and teachers engaged in project-based learning as they take part in the Connecticut Innovation Academy (CTIA) program and the E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship course. This year, CTIA requires student teams to research, design, develop, and present an innovative computer-based learning game that teaches middle school students a concept in science, technology, engineering, or math. The E-Commerce course fosters the development of academic skills, creative thinking, and problem solving through the completion of a comprehensive e-commerce business project. Connecticut students will exhibit their projects at the Connecticut Innovation Expo, May 9–10, 2008, at the Connecticut Convention Center. A Virtual Exposition will also be conducted online simultaneously so that students in China can present their projects and interact with Connecticut students.

On December 6, 2007, Manchester Community College (MCC) opened its doors to approximately 150 high school students and teachers as part of the Biotechnology course sponsored by Connecticut Career Choices (CCC) and the Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION. Hamden HS, Wilbur Cross HS (New Haven), and Pathways to Technology (Hartford) were in attendance along with Great Paths School (Manchester) and MCC undergraduates. Students were greeted by Susan Quatrella (Biotechnology Course Coordinator), MCC’s Eli Arzola (speaking to MCC’s process of admission), and Jon Morris (MCC professor, Dept. of Mathematics, Science, and Health Careers). Dan Cogan-Drew from Education Connection gave students a brief overview of Scratch: free, open-source software that may be helpful as Biotechnology students create their projects for presentation at the CT Innovation Expo, May 9-10, 2008.

Students then viewed a live Web cast by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute along with thousands of high school and college students from across the country. The lecture, “AIDS: The Evolution of an Epidemic,” was delivered in front of a participating audience of Washington, DC students. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu and Dr. Bruce Walker shared their expertise on a disease that has troubled doctors, scientists, and the general public for almost 30 years.

During a lunch break, students discussed the fact that the number of AIDS cases continues to grow. 25 million people have died since the first five reported cases in 1981, with 2.1 million people dying during 2007 alone. A majority of cases are currently concentrated in South Africa, although AIDS remains a worldwide concern. The serious discussions prompted by the Web cast may be the impetus that inspires some of our young adults to enter the field of medical research as they begin choosing colleges and careers. Students will participate in a discussion forum in the Moodle environment as a post-activity.