This lesson plan supports 21st century learning in efficiency, exploration, problem solving, and communication. This is the most efficient form of class for students to study at home during the pandemic. I am teaching first grade. Students need to learn with the teacher first before completing tasks independently. My lesson plan has two parts—Zoom (synchronous) and virtual classroom (asynchronous). During Zoom time (25 mins), students learn the key content (number bonds for 10) with the teacher. By doing hands-on activity, students can master the knowledge. Virtual classroom is more about practicing on their own. If the student has understood it, he/she can directly click on Seesaw to do homework. If the student still needs practice, one video and one practice on virtual classroom can help him/her. Teacher can check each student’s homework and give feedback on Seesaw. I like leaving audio comments because I can speak in Chinese. First, it greatly improves the teaching efficiency. Second, students can freely explore resources in virtual classroom. Third, teacher and students can communicate in a timely manner through Seesaw. Fourth, teacher can find out students’ questions on Seesaw, and answer those questions in the next Zoom class, which helps teacher to solve problems in time. This form of class is what 21st century learning should look like, because students are able to use technology tools like Zoom, virtual classroom, and Seesaw for finding information and communication.

      For the question “do teachers model effective strategies for finding information from diverse sources”, first graders may not have the ability to search for information on their own, but the teacher still needs to model how to log in to Zoom, open microphone and camera, how to use the virtual classroom to watch videos, and how to use Seesaw to do homework and listen to feedback. These are examples of how students can use technology tools to complete learning tasks and find the information they need. For the question “do teachers create a learning environment where students’ multiple interpretations are respected, valued and shared”, whether it is an online or real class, for elementary students, I think teachers should establish classroom rules: raise your hands to speak, keep your eyes on the person who is talking, say nice and kind words, say different opinion in a friendly way, etc. Through these practices at school, they will know how to respect others when they are getting older. 

      When designing lessons like this, I also encountered difficulties and challenges: what about students who do not have computers or iPads at home? What about students or families who do not agree to turn on the camera, which means I cannot check students’ learning progress promptly? What should parents do if they understand neither Chinese nor English and cannot help their kids with homework? What if students follow the same teaching mode day by day and lose interest?  These questions have to be taken into consideration in all the lessons. This is also a 21st century learning aspect that doesn’t seem legit. It seems to allow students whose family have the financial means to buy a computer or iPad to do online learning. It also allows students’ families who speak English or Chinese to complete their homework without hindrance. Students who have technological or language limitations may not able to enjoy corresponding 21st century educational benefits. 

References:

Flickinger, B. (2012). student_ipad_school - 003 [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/56155476@N08/6659976951

George, C. (2012). Cracking 21st Century Schooling [Photograph]. Flickr. https://tinyurl.com/y5f6uphk

Hobbs, R. (2011). Digital and media literacy: Connecting culture and classroom. Corwin/Sage.

Master of Arts in Educational Technology (2022, Fall Semester).Unit 6: 21st Century Learning in Action. Michigan State University, CEP 810: Teaching for Understanding with Technology. http://d2l.msu.edu

YouTube. (2022, October 2). 【what it means to be a 21st century learner?】21世纪学习者该有的品质|首个全英文视频. YouTube. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iooL1MXxpRI&t=15s&ab_channel=LucyLovesTeaching%E7%BE%8E%E5%9B%BD%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%87%E6%B2%89%E6%B5%B8

在这个视频中，我提到了21世纪学习是关于创造力、文化觉知、和探索精神。但实际上21世纪学习远远不止这三个方面。在书中，Hobb提出5个沟通观念是不管学习任何学科都需要掌握的。其中一个是使用媒体和技术工具查找和共享信息。学生是否能够使用合适的工具查找信息、解决问题、表达自我和沟通交流？老师是否教授学生如何正确高效地使用工具？老师是否创造一个安全、互相尊重的学习环境，让学生们能够自由的表达合适的观点，不论是在网络上还是实际课堂中？我写了一篇课案，或许可以给你一些解答这些问题的思路。

这个课案包含21世纪学习的几个方面：效率、探索、解决问题和沟通。这是在疫情期学生居家学习我使用最多也是最有效率的上课形式。由于我教授的是一年级，学生需要先跟着老师一起学，才能够自主完成任务。我的课案有两个部分。Zoom的线上教学主要是跟着老师学习重点内容——10的合成。通过老师带领学生一步步地做hands on的活动，学生可以快速掌握相关知识。练习巩固的部分就留到课下的虚拟教室来完成。如果学生已经听懂并掌握了，就可以直接在Seesaw上提交作业；如果学生觉得还需要巩固，一个视频一个练习就可以帮助他及时巩固，再来做作业。老师通过Seesaw查看每一个学生的掌握情况，知识有欠缺的学生，老师可以直接通过语音给出反馈和指导。第一，这极大地提高了老师的教学效率。第二，虚拟教室当中的资源成为学生可以自由探索的学习资源。第三，通过Seesaw老师和学生可以做及时的沟通。第四，学生未掌握到位的知识在第二天的Zoom课上老师可以集中解答，帮助老师及时解决问题。这是21世纪学习最理想的样子。

对于问题老师是否示范给学生如何高效地查找信息，一年级的学生可能还不具备自己上网搜索信息的能力，但是老师依然要示范给学生看，如何登录Zoom，打卡麦克风和摄像头，以及如何在虚拟教室观看教学影片和在Seesaw上传作业。这些都是示范给学生如何使用技术工具来完成学习任务，找到自己需要的信息。对于问题老师怎样创造包容度高的课堂环境，不管是线上还是实体课堂，对于低小的学生来说，我认为老师首先要做的是建立课堂规则：举手讲话、别人说话的时候眼睛要看他耳朵要听、说好听的话、友善的提出不同的看法等等。通过在学校的训练，等他们长大了，自然会知道怎样做才是尊重别人的。

在设计这样的课堂的时候，我也遇到了困难和挑战：家里没有电脑或是iPad的学生怎么办？由于各种原因学生本人或家长不同意打开摄像头，我无法追踪学生学习进度怎么办？家长既不懂中文也不懂英文，无法帮助学生完成作业该怎么办？日复一日同样的教学模式，学生失去兴趣该怎么办？这些问题在我设计课的时候方方面面都要考虑到。这也是我觉得21世纪学习的弊端，它似乎让那些家里有经济条件购买电脑或iPad的学生完成线上学习，让家里说英语或中文的学生没有阻碍的完成家庭功课，但是对于没有电子设备、有语言困难的家庭没有办法享受相应的教育福利。