Comments on: 21st Century Learning

By: techeduk8r

techeduk8r — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:21:27 +0000

I can relate to your feeling like an island within your school. I too am one of those teachers who dislikes desks, adds mood lighting, RARELY turns on the lights, adds cozy and funky chairs and the like to make my classroom comfortable. I encourage group work, interaction and run a fairly relaxed, yet productive classroom. From an outsiders perspective it’s chaotic.

I’m a technology enthusiast, but work in an environment that lacks vision or support for innovative educational ideas, technology or otherwise. Unfortunately, too many teachers, even those studying now, teach the way they were taught, never truly seeing the potential of technology in their curriculum. As long as this continues we cannot expect widespread change.

All we can do is be that island and hope a few colleagues become ’stranded’. Maybe, dangle a few tidbits and advertise ourselves as ‘island paradises’ to attract visitors. No matter how we do it, it’s important that we continue to do it, else nothing will ever change.

By: lgatzke

lgatzke — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:54:57 +0000

The hardest part of change I have discovered is action. I do not use desks and have recently incorporated problem based, constructivist learning into math. I am the only teacher with tables in her classroom rather than desks. I now have the LRT asking for tables and our principal is getting them. You are right we can’t give up. As more and more teachers become comfortable with this process, I believe we will see change.
I for one can’t go back and will continue to encourage change.
A comment for Cindy.. teachers being connected through the day online…that is easier said than done. When I am facilitating in the classroom, I rarely have time to collaborate and speak with other teacher online. With 30 students in my class, I am trying to facilitate learning in many different areas, provide mini lessons to move students forward in their learning and meet with small groups to guide their learning. In addition I usually have students staying in at recess and noon for consultation. So if you mean teachers connecting to other teachers during the day, I am not sure how reachable a goal that is. Most of that for me happens outside the realm of the traditional school day (9:00 – 3:30).

By: cindy seibel

cindy seibel — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:56:35 +0000

Great post and love the video.
In a series of projects a few years ago, it was discovered that teachers within a school did not “pick up” the practice of others by observing but rather had to be supported directly in changing their own practice. Simply seeing great results (which I assume your students are achieving) was motivating but not changing.

I think we require great leadership in our schools to provide embedded professional development for our teachers. This requires creative scheduling to allow teachers who “get it” to spend some time in a support role in other teachers’ classrooms, and for teachers to spend time in the lead teacher’s classroom.

Administrators can also model 21st Century practice in how they run their schools. Are staff notices printed and placed in mail slots? Are teachers connected through the day online? Are blogs part of the everyday learning process for staff?

As an individual teacher, I might look for those colleagues who show a spark of interest and invite them to collaborate on a project between classrooms. Something simple and successful, a bridge out from the island….

Most of all, don’t give up – but I don’t see you doing that anytime soon!