This+Century+Learning

How are our classrooms changing? What directions do we need to expand upon? How does our School's values and traditions fit into the rapid world of change? Technology can amplify change, but the lack of guidance can lead to technology being a time sponge and at worst, a danger to one's digital footprint. What should the role of the teacher be? How can we guide our students to take advantage of powerful ICT tools? How do we "Future Proof" an individual's education?

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//Borrowed from Karen Hume's blog://

There’s nothing inherently magical about technology. As George Couros says in [|his blog post,] “[It] is not about the tool, it’s about learning.” Interactive whiteboards, iPads, and smartphones don’t automatically result in sustained engagement and increased student achievement. In fact, I suspect that stellar results coming from the use of a particular technology are still the exception rather than the rule in education. // Nevertheless, since some teachers are getting stellar results, it’s worth considering what it is about technology that does sometimes boost student engagement and achievement //.

// Scratch a situation where technology is making a positive difference and I think you will find that the benefits derive from the same characteristics found in an effective tech-free classroom //. These include opportunities for students to - **be actively involved in the learning.** Students are doing, not passively receiving information from teacher or textbook. - **collaborate with others.** Students are engaged in purposeful social interaction. - **be creative.** Students try something new and discard or change it if it doesn’t work. The focus is on willingness to take a risk, even if the results aren’t great. - **be challenged by relevant and authentic problems.** Frequently, student work on these problems can be shared with others in ways that increase the relevance and authenticity of the task.

Offhand, I can think of only one area where technology usually beats non-tech approaches, and that’s in providing visual representations of challenging concepts. What do you think? What unique value does technology contribute to your classroom?

Phil's Thoughts ....
 * ICT leads to more student engagement
 * Collaboration tools - shared documents between students and teachers
 * Audience - opening the classroom walls to a larger audience - a reason to create and share.
 * "Real World" skills
 * Knowledge Able - watch the video below by anthropologist Dr. Wesch

Anthropologist Dr. Michael Wesch is an Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Kansas State His idea of change - taking our students from Knowledgeable to //**Knowledge - Able**//. media type="youtube" key="LeaAHv4UTI8?fs=1" height="385" width="640"

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PBS - New Series 2011 Digital Media New Learners of the 21st Century
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Project Based Learning - Why?
media type="youtube" key="LMCZvGesRz8?fs=1" height="385" width="640" 10 Takeaway Tips for Project Based Learning Project Based Learning Made Easy 5 Myths about PBL

media type="custom" key="7501933" Technology as a trans-formative tool.

Web 2.0 - Changing our lives. The video below demonstrates the power of the web tools now available to all. How do we harness that power? media type="custom" key="6804993"

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 * Integrating Technology into the Classroom using Instructional Strategies
 * 21st Century Skills augmented with Technology - for Teachers
 * PBS - How to Educate children for the Digital Age
 * 21st Century Fluency Project
 * 5 Easy Ways to Introduce Essential Skills with Web 2.0 Tools - Excellent resources
 * 10 Ideas to Getting Started with 21st Century Teaching and Learning
 * Literacy Skills Students Need to Know
 * Why Students Don't Learn What We Think They Do - Video from Duke University
 * Exponential Times - Impact on Education
 * The Tech Commandments - Why Change

The future of Education? media type="custom" key="6805031"

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Web 2.0 Not the Future - More tools on the way... media type="custom" key="6805077"

="15 Ways to Become a Better Teacher" EBook= In today's classrooms, our unique students call for unique teachers with a love of learning, and a true 21st-century mindset. In this entertaining and informative resource, we provide you with 15 different ways to bring the joy of the learning journey to a whole new level for kids.

Favourite Links

 * 21st Century Skills
 * The Committed Sardine
 * Beginners Guide to 21st Century Learning
 * Teachers' Views on Technology - 8 Videos