03.16.08
The three Xs
The “three Rs” that are reading, writing and arithmetic have been updated in this article, and the “three Xs” are set to take over. Whilst invaluable, the three Rs are no longer a student’s only means to success within the classroom. The three Xs – eXploring, eXpressing and eXchanging – address the skills that are becoming omnipresent in modern day life and this includes the classroom. Students are expected to become proficient in using these skills through development on the internet. Exploring, the first X, provides students with the opportunity to discover the online environment, allowing them to gain confidence in using the internet as a learning tool. Allowing students to express their ideas and discoveries through the internet connects them to world beyond the classroom. The internet becomes a creative outlet for students to develop skills as they use digital media as a form of self expression. The final X, exchanging, is an important aspect of building students’ online learning skills. Through the sharing of ideas, students are able to collaborate and interact with peers, within their classroom and throughout the world. This aspect of the three Xs ensures that the individual is actively involved in their own learning, while encouraging teamwork through the sharing of ideas and creations. While the three Xs are important skills for the technological future, it’s important that learning the traditional three Rs is not compromised. Incorporating the three Rs into the digital era and the development of students’ three Xs, will ensure a generation of children that are confident and capable, allowing them to succeed within the ever changing world.
