Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Fostering 21st Century Learners

Here we are 12 years into the 21st Century. Our students are digital natives. They live and breathe technology without even thinking about it. Who are we to still give them paper and pencil? To lecture? 21st Century learners need to create. They need to do some critical thinking through collaboration. They need to inquire. Teachers are no longer lecturers and holders of all of the information...we are now facilitators. We are a resource for our students. I am really trying this year to let my students choose. No, I'm not letting them run wild and decide what they learn and don't learn. We still cover the curriculum and the objectives and the standards. But instead of giving them a summative assessment on paper, I allow them to choose what type of product they would like to create. For example, my fourth graders are doing a research project on an African American individual. I created a webquest where they learned about slavery, civil rights, etc. Then they chose who they would like to learn more about. I gave them a graphic organizer and some resources to use (i.e. factmonster.com, worldbookonline.org, ncwiseowl.com). Now they are in the process of creating their product. Some are doing Voicethreads while others are doing glogs, vokis or PowerPoint. It is so awesome to see them all in the same room working toward the same goal on all different kinds of projects. Their talents really do shine! Looking at them today, I said to myself "This is why I love my job!" I walked around and facilitated...helped them research and create. It was AWESOME! And they are having so much fun! Any teacher can do this! I really believe that...no matter how technology illiterate they see themselves. If they are willing to give it a try, 21st Century learning is a BLAST! I'll post some of the awesome projects when they are finished! Check out this awesome video I found on 21st Century learners below:

1 comment:

  1. An impressive post, I just gave this to a colleague who is doing a little analysis on this topic. And he is very happy and thanking me for finding it. But all thanks to you for writing in such simple words. Big thumb up for this blog post!
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