The document makes the case for awarding funding to the Reading Public Schools. It lists the top ten reasons, including making the schools fully wireless with technology for every student, support from full-time technicians, green buildings and classrooms conducive to learning, standards that address critical thinking, and preparing students for 21st century careers through internships and project-based learning. It also outlines plans for staff training, community involvement, and helping students become leaders of the 21st century.

1. Top ten reasons to award funding to the Reading Public Schools Ursula Abad, Karen Callan, Laurie Smith, Jo-Ellen McGinnity

2. Top ten reasons to award funding to the Reading Public Schools Ursula Abad, Karen Callan, Laurie Smith, Jo-Ellen McGinnity

4. Accessibility Fully Wireless schools 21st Century classrooms - laptops for every child - Interactive projection systems - MP3 players - Video cameras - Headphones/microphones - Webcams

6. Applications of Technology Research tools * Wikipedia * Internet searches Writing and Publishing * Blogs * Wikis Communicating * Skype * Frappr * Flickr Virtual Field Trips * United Streaming * National Geographic Student Engagement * highly motivating * meaningful

8. Support Full-time technicians Integrated technology support 21 st century competitive salaries Up-dated infrastructure Small class size

10. School Environment Green Buildings ( http://www.icampustech.com/pdf/ict_singlepage_060707.pdf ) ~Paperless classrooms ~Proper lighting ~Excellent air quality and ventilation ~Solar heat/light sources ~Alternative energy sources ~ Use of recycled materials ~ Recycle programs Classrooms ( http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/creating-the-21st-century-classroom/ ) ~ team-orientated workspaces ~ creative environments ~ accessible technologies ~ conducive to phsical activity & nutrition School programs ~ Year long schooling ~ Rotating six week modules

12. Student Coursework STEM courses ~ rigorus, up-to-date, research based ~ collaborative with universities and community ~ collaborative with businesses Core subjects ( www.21centuryskills.com) ~ authentic ~ differentiation ~ advanced coursework Foreign languages ~ opportunities for many languages ~ begin at pre-school level Internship programs ~ experience real-world applications ~ entrepreneurships (Bruno, A. http://nlcommunities.com/communities/expanding_teaching_course/archive/2008/09/26/189295.aspx ) Project-based learning ~ virtual collaboration ~ increasing verbal and written communication

14. Standards and Assessment Standards that address critical thinking skills, collaboration, and creative thinking (Pink, D. p.65) Power standards at all grade levels K-12 portfolio, project-based, and open-ended assessments, which include research and critical thinking skills Culminating senior project that begin in freshman year

16. Field Trips Visitations to local venues that enhances learning outside the classroom On-site work opportunities for possible future internships Enhance global awareness through international travel for the purpose of culture, language, science and social systems Student semester or year long exchange programs Abad, U. Abad, U. (2008, September 30). Opportunities we can take advantage of in a Flat World. Retrieved from: http://www.google.com/reader/view/?hl=en&source=en-mmm#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fnlcommunities.com%2Fcommunities%2FMainFeed.aspx%3FGroupID%3D1807

18. Staff Training Knowledgeable in any updated hardware Staff proficient in current applications; including but not limited to – wikis, blogging, Flickr, Skype, movie making, podcasting, Frappr, Versed in internet safety, including safe searches, reliability of online sources, web ethics, responsible cyber citizenship Competent in moderating student posts, entries, etc. Applying and Integrating all current technology skills

20. Community Courses/workshops for 21 st century skills; including parenting workshops to support global learning Providing online community resources Continuing parent involvement within all schools Funding for parent/community grants to support our 21 st century classrooms Partnering with public and private sector

22. “ .. But as knowledge hurtles forward, inventing the future becomes a harder and harder task - one that takes more of the right education, the right infrastructure, the right ambition, the right leadership, the right parenting. We need to get our whole country focused around meeting this challenge.” Friedman, p.399

23. Help us to prepare our students to become the leaders of the twenty-first century!!

24. Bibliography Bruno A. (2008, September 26). The World is Flat Response. Retrieved from: http://nlcommunities.com/communities/expanding_teaching_course/archive/2008/09/26/189295.aspx eSchoolNews (2008) The 21st Century Classroom. Retrieved from: http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/creating-the-21st-century-classroom/ Friedman, T. L. (2007). The World is Flat . New York: Picador/Farrar, Straus & Giroux Ideal 21st Century Model Classroom (2008). Products for 21st Century Classroom. Retrieved from: www.icampustech.com/pdf/ict_singlepage_060707.pdf Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2008). Framework for 21st Century Learning . Retrieved October 1, 2008. From: www.21century skills.org Pink, D. (2006). A Whole New Mind. New York: Riverhead Books Abad, U. (2008, September 30). Opportunities we can take advantage of in a Flat World. Retrieved from: http://www.google.com/reader/view/?hl=en&source=en-mmm#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fnlcommunities.com%2Fcommunities%2FMainFeed.aspx%3FGroupID%3D1807