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.