Global Competition

Competition has always been important to the people in the United States. Being number one and staying number one is a priority, so why is it that the rest of the world seems to be surpassing the United States in such things as technology, science and education itself.
In an article titled Global Competition: U.S. Students vs. International Peers, Manzo states, “Anyone who has watched typical American teens readily master the use of cellphones, computer applications, and multimedia equipment might find it inconceivable that they could lag behind their international peers in acquiring the technology skills they’ll need to succeed n a tech-driven world.” But the truth of the matter is that children in countries such as Australia, England, China and South Korea, they are teaching their students this essential knowledge at a very young age and are prioritizing education such as this.
Singapore, has long taught technology skills in its schools, but has only recently tried to expand those lessons to include more creative and critical thinking in using the tools. South Korea has teacher and student standards that shape all technology education efforts. “The U.S. is, ironically, kind of leading this movement of talking about the importance of 21st-century skills, but in terms of the classroom, we’re behind some of our competitors”, says Ronald E. Anderson. Steve Andrews adds that “China, India, South Korea, and Japan have invested in making sure that their kids have access to the technology and the literacy skills that they see as a key to their economic future.
In order to stay afloat among the competition globally, the United States has a growing demand for schools to instill critical-thinking, analytical, and technology skills, as well as the “soft skills” of creativity, collaboration, and communication. The key is believed to be not so much the mechanical use of technological devices, but rather how you incorporate them into your thinking and problem-solving. Cisco, Intel, and Microsoft are collaborating on an assessment of skills that could be incorporated into international comparison tests, such as the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA. It would include a test of technology skills, as well as critical thinking and the ability to collaborate effectively.
If the United States wants to continue to be a powerhouse, the need to collaborate internationally is a must, but at the same time, teaching our children the skills that are being taught around the world will help our students and future CEOs be able to effectively work with their employees, and as it looks, employees that are not necessarily from the United States. Therefore, cultural differences and understanding need to be emphasized in schools in order for our students to collaborate well with anyone.