Each and every day our world around us is constantly
changing. Something as simple as taking notes in school has developed
into e-notes through various programs such as Google Docs and Evernote.
21st century learning is responsible for the change in our classroom as well
as the environment around us. So what are 21st century skills and what
exactly is 21st century learning? Why is it important for our students to
do this?
Let me start by saying our world is constantly changing.
Technology has taken a forefront in our existing world to make our
everyday chores seem easier. For example, ten years ago cell phones still
were not a necessity. But what happens now if you forget your cell phone
at home? Do you feel lost from the world maybe even disconnected? 21st century learning involves our
students in the learning process and puts them in the heart of the learning
rather than the students feeling disconnected through lectures. 21st century learning requires the
students to reflect, analyze, apply, and critically think about
situations. The idea of 21st
century learning reminds me of a phrase my mother used to tell me when I was
studying for a test, “teach it to someone.
By teaching the material to someone you can learn the information much
better than looking at words on a piece of paper.” By my mother’s phrase of “teaching” the
information to someone, she required me to apply the information I was taught
and give meaning to it by explaining it to someone else. 21st century learning has similar
principles. There are many words to
explain 21st century skills. Some of
these phrases are problem solving, critical thinking, analyze, create, reflect,
synthesize, collaboration, and student centered learning.
So what is the importance of each skill and which are the
top priorities to me and in schools today?
Below is a review of each skill:
·
Technology Skills: The
ability to understand and use technology to apply the information learned. Students work with new programs to showcase
the information learned and apply the information through various technological
programs.
·
Critical Thinking: The
ability for students to analyze a topic and “look deeper” at the meaning rather
than just the definition. The students
must be able to critique the information and provide evidence on the importance
of the material.
·
Problem Solving: the
ability to look at possible solution and develop a well thought out solution
for the problem based on the anticipated outcomes. The students will be able to identify the
positives and negatives of a situation and be able to address the issues to
conclude a reasonable response and solution.
·
Creativity: The ability
to use their imagination to develop a program, activity or response based on
all the information at hand. The
students will be able to develop an “out of the box” response to a certain
situation to make the material more meaningful to them and other students.
·
Collaboration: The
ability to do meaningful work with other students, teachers, and professionals
to accomplish a common goal. The students
will be able to work with others to compile examples and ideas of others. The students can then develop a creative
project of their own based on the collective ideas of others as well as
themselves.
·
Work Ethic: The
ability to work hard to accomplish a goal. The students will be able to continue
to consolidate, collaborate, and communicate with others through research to
find materials and create a product of their own. The students will be able to continue their
search of information and development of their project until they have reached
a product they are happy with.
·
Global Understanding:
The ability to look at material through a worldwide eye and not just the United
States of America. The students will be
able to look at topics through various other cultures, religions, and
opportunities throughout the world and not just their present community.
·
Digital Literacy: The
ability to portray information through a digital platform rather than the
written format. The students will be
able to correctly use digital resources and accurately provide information
through the digital voice rather than the traditional paper and pencil format.
·
Metacognition: The
ability to be able to convey their thoughts and ideas to others. The students will be able to understand their
thoughts and be able to compile them in a way others can understand it as well.
·
Leadership: The
ability to take initiative and provide a positive role model for others to
follow. The students will be able to
provide a positive example for others to follow.
Although I believe all of the above skills are essential in
21st century learning, I do feel there are a couple that are necessary
to understand material in the ever-changing world. The skills I feel are priorities in my
present classroom are technology,
collaboration, critically thinking, and problem solving. I believe these four skills are essential to
be an effective 21st century learner because they are all skills
capable of providing the learner with a deeper understanding of the
material. Problem solving, critical thinking,
and collaboration can provide the learner with a deeper understanding of the
material and technology is essential to portray information in the 21st
century environment.
As a
physical and health education teacher, there are various technology resources
that support 21st century learning as well as align with the current
Connecticut Common Core State Standards.
One of the resources I would like to talk about is the QR readers. I have used the QR reader for various
different opportunities in my classroom.
Not only have I used the QR reader codes to showcase student talents,
but also for formative and summative assessments. In my classroom I have students use their
smartphones or school issued tablets to create a video demonstrating an
activity. The students are required to
accurately demonstrate the activity, provide an explanation of importance and
safety concerns when performing the certain activity. One thing I have not had the opportunity to
do yet is to take my students work and showcase the work to the community. In our town, we have a boys and girls club
that many students and community members utilize to work out. My idea for
application is to take the students work and share it with the current boys and
girls club. I believe the students would
love to see their work as well as their peers work outside of school. Not only would that provide an opportunity to
showcase their knowledge but also provide the community with healthy workout
tips provided by the students in their town!
Here
is an example of the assignment I provide my students with. Here
is another link for an aquatic workout. Here
is an example of a student work done by junior last school year. Unfortunately,
the student was not required to make their own videos but could research
various video which met all the requirements of the lesson. The next time I do this activity, I would
like to require the students to create their own videos to share with the
class. I would then like to put a list
of all the QR reader codes on the wall so the students can create their own
workout while in the weight room. The class
would turn into a student driven assignment and would give the students an opportunity
to develop a program they designed. 
The second technology that supports
21st century learning and the CCSS is ubersense. Ubersense is a free program that records student’s
technique when performing a skill. The students
can then analyze their form based on the example provided to them. I have not used this program yet in my
classroom but am anxious to. +Stephanie Lavado has given many presentations in the #itdml class showcasing how to use
ubersense. It has always seemed like a
great program to use but have not had the opportunity to try it in my classroom. How I would use it in my classroom is give
students a flipped lesson on how to perform a basic skill in a unit we are
doing during class. The students will
then need to use the program ubersense to record them performing the same
skill. From there the students will need
to use their critically thinking skills to be able to analyze their technique
and compare it to the example given. Not only will the students be able to
critique their technique, but they can always provide feedback to other
students in the class.
In my eyes, 21st century
skills are an understanding of material through the application, collaboration
and creative process using technology as a guide to help convey messages. The assignments and activities we do in our
classroom should be aligned to assist the students in learning in the 21st
century. Project based assignments and
stu
dent driven applications can help prepare the students in our ever-changing
world.
Resources:
200 years that changed the world (with Hans Rosling).
(n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2015, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPt8ElTQMIg&feature=relmfu (death
rate/money over time)
Teacher Center » 21st Century Schools: Learning in
the Digital Age. (n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2015, from
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/resources/teachers/
(google apps/laptops "technology is like oxygen")
New education techniques required to prepare the 21st
century principal. (n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2015, from
http://www.districtadministration.com/article/new-education-techniques-required-prepare-21st-century-principal
(Real leadership
skills — not policy, or management — and administration skills are necessary to
engage a variety of school stakeholders to ensure that everyone is working for
the ultimate goal in education,)
Paper Airplane Movie by Michael McMillan. (n.d.). Retrieved
June 5, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37TQZyDMEP8 (paper airplane)
Sneak Peek: Twenty-One Trends for the 21st Century -
Education Week. (n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2015, from
http://www.edweek.org/ew/marketplace/books/sneak-peek-21-trends-for-the-21st-century-gary-marx.html
(trends)
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