Keeping Up With The Times: Being a 21st Century Teacher

Students wake up every morning in the realm of a twenty-first century world. Their lives are saturated with over-stimulation, constant connectivity through social media, and the anxieties of keeping up with a world moving far too quickly. And yet, each day, these same students are being educated in classrooms that follow the same models from thirty years ago. The world has expanded far beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom, so why has the education system not evolved as well? In today’s world, students need to learn how to write a professional e-mail, how to be prepared for jobs highly reliant on emerging technologies, and how to be socialized into a world of this dynamic. This means that our educators need to adapt their classrooms to teach their 21^st century learners. This means the education system needs to foster 21^st century teachers.

A Canadian Education Association conducted a study where teachers were asked what they valued most of being educators in the 21^st century. Their results were as follows:

    Passion for teaching and learning

    Caring and commitment for students

    Creativity, flexibility, and willingness to take risks

    Knowledge and drive for self-improvement

    Energy, enthusiasm and engagement

    Trust, collaboration, and connectedness

Interestingly enough, 220 students were also asked what they valued most in their teachers, and they responded simply: teachers who loved their work, believed in their students, and who acted like human beings (151). It seems that both teachers and students have the same perception of the qualities and educator should possess.

So, what does it really mean to be a 21^st century teacher? Below is a check-list of what it takes to be an effective educator in the modern classroom:

	Profile of a Twenty-First Century Teacher
ü	Planning begins with curriculum outcomes and assessment
ü	Use of technology to enhance learning
ü	Ensures technology always comes second to pedagogy
ü	Grounded in constructivist philosophy
ü	Use traditional methods while still personalizing the curriculum for the needs of their students
ü	Create a classroom website/ blog to invite open communication with parents
ü	Collaborate with colleagues
ü	Develop strong relationships with their students
ü	At the heart of their practice is their drive to make a difference in their students’ lives

            I think it is important for educators to teach real world, applicable skills and lessons to their students who are growing up in a modern world of incredible technological advances. The face of education has to resemble the world beyond the classroom. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax5cNlutAys 

           This video explains the intricacies of the ever evolving world and the implications this has on our students today, and the students of the future. In order to equip our learners for their place in the work force (and society), teachers need to be well-rounded 21^st century learners. The video foregrounds some interesting stats that will blow you away and help solidify the need for a shift in our educators. 

Curriculum Integration

Implementing an Integrated Curriculum within the classroom is on the rise. Teachers using this model find their students are more enthusiastic and eager to learn. It is a way of learning that is engaging and interactive. It is a type of learning where subjects become fluid, allowing for deeper understanding from students. The goal is to have students able to bring the perspectives of a historian, writer, mathematician and artist to all problems, topics or issues, like a twenty-first century thinker.  There is a process behind designing an integrated curriculum within the classroom. Our text identifies this process and following the 5 Ws: Who, What, Where, Why, and When.

Who?

Educators are responsible for greating an integrated curriculum and they usually work in teams: two heads are better than one! Some of the richest integrated units are designed collaboratively. In fact, when creating a curriculum with a group of educators, it works by combining the experiences and expertise of all contributors to ensure the strongest possible curriculum for students. This works best using the backward design process outlined in my previous post.

What?

Transdisciplinary approach – With this approach, educators begin my focussing entirely on the concerns or interests of their students, while merging real-world issues, and form a curriculum around these topics.

Interdisciplinary approach – With this approach, the design begins with the outcomes of the curriculum which are used to shape engaging lessons around significant and relevant issues, questions or topics.

Where?

A common issue with the Integrated Curriculum approach is the matter of space. Part of the integration is structuring lessons that take place outside of the classroom, because the curriculum has been generated in real-world context. Therefore, it only makes sense for students to learn the context first-hand. This is called place-based education approach where the community outside the school is the primary source of learning. In my opinion, this keeps learning fresh and exciting, and students have the opportunity to explore the lessons hands-on. This hands-on approach reminds me of Project-based, Inquiry-based learning styles being integrated into preschool and primary education. In fact, starting students with this learning at a young age equips them for this learning style in their upper years of education.  The Reggio Emelia approach also shares this notion of putting students in the driver’s seat of their education. For more information on the Reggio Emelia approach:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Emilia_approach

Why?

The purpose of this approach is to increase relevance for students while being able to engage them in a type of learning that is interactive and enjoyable. In fact, the textbook argues that Integrated Curriculum foregrounds twenty-first-century skills that are not evident in all types of learning.

When?

The time is now. However, creating a curriculum like this from scratch takes a considerable amount of work. Therefore, teachers are now given prep-time in their daily schedules.

The Interdisciplinary approach of Integrated Curriculum allows for fluidity in subjects, probing students to use different ways of thinking in all areas of study. The overlap between English, Science, History and the Arts help students take a critical approach to solving the big question, or engaging with current issues of the time. The video below gives an interesting look at the design of an actual Integrated Curriculum implemented in schools as a Project-Based approach. It is easy to follow and offers suggestions on how any educator can adopt this approach within their classroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VzhStQwQSI