My students are experiencing life in a very different way than I did. They prefer YouTube over TV, talk in emojis, seek to be creators and want their voices heard. It would be a disservice to teach this generation the same way I was taught;using traditional and less flexible methods. We educators, instead, can foster a 21st Century learning environment.
When implementing 21st Century learning, students are afforded opportunities to innovate, master digital literacy, tackle real-world problems and build awareness to identify and end injustices (VanderJagt, 2020). These ideas along with the 4 Cs (creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication), student-driven learning, and equal opportunity learning, are widely accepted components of 21st Century learning. The video below illustrates some of these ideas.
Defining 21st Century learning is one thing. Making it a reality is another. How can teachers today do this? It definitely can be a challenge, especially for educators who are not comfortable expanding mindsets. I came across a graphic organizer on Twitter that illustrates how schools can make the shift from traditional to 21st Century learning. The Twitter post resonated with me since it affirmed my current methods, such as creating relevant and self-directed lessons, which prepare students for the future. The post also reminded me to focus on building a rigorous learning environment, allowing students to transfer knowledge in creative ways across contexts (VanderJagt, 2020).
My 21st Century experience has been extremely inspiring and purposeful. It solidified my belief about what it takes to be an educator today. Teachers need to be flexible, encourage creativity and critical thinking, promote student-driven learning, and celebrate all identities in the classroom. When this happens, along with the help of technology, the results can be transformative (Ibikunle, 2020).
References
Clark, H. (2019). Chromebook Infused Classroom Online. Infused Classroom.