Thought of the Day; Sunday, November 24th, 2013

Is our teaching keeping pace with the changing world around us? 

One of the teachers with whom I regularly collaborate, Ross Halliday, turned me on to a very thought-provoking You Tube video yesterday titled 'What is 21st Century Learning?'.

 Whether we like it or not, as the times change around us, we are being bombarded by all of the reminders about where education in the 21st century is headed. We can choose to tune out and carry on with what we do OR we can pay close attention to the statistics and facts related to 21st century learning. It is purely our choice in regards to what we choose to believe, but the evidence seems overwhelming to me that as times change, so must our teaching practices and doing so will require a high degree of reflection on our parts as educators. 

Regardless of subject areas taught, the students of today need more from us. They need us to better prepare them for the world that they will be thrown into in a decade's time as they leave school. Many of us do the best we can by methodically planning and delivering what we feel to be pedagogically sound lessons that hopefully enhance the learning of our students. Although our lessons are well thought out and our students busily engaged in the work that we give them; is this enough? Are we doing them a service or disservice in preparing them for the ever changing world that is bearing down upon them? Are we going through the motions of what has always been familiar to us with our teaching practice or are we endeavoring to change for the better? 

Read the words below. They are taken directly from the You Tube Video. Ruminate over the facts, the numbers, the stats and the reality of what our students face. I think that I do a good job in teaching physical education to my students. I work to constantly challenge them to critically think, problem solve, collaborate, and explore while ensuring they are participating in maximum levels of rigorous physical activity. But am I doing enough? The answer to me is clearly a big fat NO. I can do more and I will do more. I can choose to let the video below intimidate me as an educator or I can reflect and make the necessary changes needed to my teaching practice. 

 I must be sure that my teaching keeps up with the pace of change that my students experience on an ongoing basis. Please read the words below before watching the video and take the time to watch the video afterwards. Ask yourself this question, 'Am I doing enough for my students?'  Thanks Ross for turning me on to this video!

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This is 21st Century Learning

The number of people learning English in China nearly equals the US population.
By 2025, the most populous country in the world will be INDIA
In the next 2 years, 1 in 4 of the world’s workers will be Indian.

These are exponential times.
In the past 5 years, the digital universe has grown by 1000%.
46% of teachers say that their homework requires technology.
94% of students say that they use technology to do their homework. 

GOOGLE handles 1 billion queries every single day OR about 115740- the time it took you to read this. 

Today there are more than 450,000 words in the English language. That’s 7 times what Shakespeare could have used. 

Many of the top jobs in 2012 did not exist in 2002
Social Media Strategist
User Experience Specialist
Telework Manager
Elder Care Coordinator
 Sustainability Manager

Many of the jobs students will have don’t exist yet AND they will use technologies that haven’t been invented to find solutions to problems that haven’t emerged. 
The world keeps changing. 

This is not your classroom

You are not this teacher. 

Today's teachers must be:
Innovators
Mentors
Entrepreneurs
Motivators
Illuminators
Catalysts

Because, preparing students for the 21st century isn't just about technology or skills for the global economy.

21st Century Education is about:
Creativity
Cultural Awareness
Problem Solving
Innovation
Civic Engagement
Productivity
Collaboration
Accountability
Exploration
Initiative
Responsibility
Leadership 

AND making your classroom as DYNAMIC as the world around us. 
By
EF Explore America