In my previous blog i described how I believe that the most important change that needs to take place in schools is the shift from teacher lectures to teacher facilitation. In the article 21st Century Skills, that author(s) mention that kids today need to be provided with more hands on experiences in order to aquire the skills needed to survive in the workplace. These skills include being able to use the latest technology, be ing adaptable to change, taking risks, mastering higher order thinking, communicating with others and planning ahead. Society must recognize that the present way of teaching is out of date and students need to be actively engaged and provided with meaningful work.
One way to engage students is to use technology in the classroom; videos, podcasts, powerpoints, the internet etc. In class we discussed the difference between digital natives and digital immigrants. Its important that all educators and parents become digital natives in order to keep up with students and understand their language. To engage means we must no what our students like and dislike, if we know this then it will be easy to find the materials needed to help increase student intrest. Digital natives also seem to be great at multitaking so teachers should not be afraid to play music while students are working or watching movies/television episodes to teach a lesson.
With the increased use of technology and outside recources in the classroom, copy right law will be important for making lesson plans and planning activities. Copy right laws restrict the use of origional works at the hands of the creator. Before using any sources that are not my own, i must insure that i am aloud to use/repoduce copies of the work in my classroom. Otherwise i will need to find another source or contact the author and ask permission. The fair use policy that is designed to help a person decide if they are able to use the work will help me from spending too much time checking on every outside source. This policy scares me because it can be challenged by the copyright holders. In the beginning of my career i think i will have to take precautions to be sure that i am not doing anything illegal. As time passes i think i will understand the copy right laws better and be able to judge what i can and cannot use. This also may not be such an issue since many teachers are granted access to sources to use in the classroom.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
21st Century Classrooms
I believe that our classrooms today will eventually transform into 21st century classrooms but only after many changes are made in the way teachers present materals and the attitudes of everyone involved in education (including parents and students). As of now no one is positive on what the job market will include in ten years, so teachers must best prepare their students in technology, high order thinking and communication skills. In order for these changes to take place the school environment should move from teacher lectures to a more hands on experience.
In the article Twenty-First Century Skills the authors mention four main skills that must be introduced into the classroom in order for students to be prepared to enter society. They are digital age literacy, inventive thinking, interactive communication, and quality, state-of-the-arts results. I believe that twenty-first centruy classrooms will need to be equiped with computers for each student or every two students. The internet has become a global phenomenom and students can learn from others around the world. The computer can also be useful for students to look up basic facts and evidence-based articles. The classroom will also change in the amount of risk-taking opportunities students will be able to take part in. Teachers must provide students with hand on experiences where they can discover and adapt to different environments and ideals. Another important point that this article makes is that although technology is growing at a rapid pace, students must be able to communicate with others and take part in society.
Other characteristics of classrooms in the twenty-first century include computers over textbooks and linking all major subjects together. Another characteristic is that students will need to be able to solve and answer higher order learning questions. According to Bloom's Taxonomy students and teachers will be focused on comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. More focus will be placed on the later three. Also teachers will evaluate their students with a variety of different assessments.
My fears are that by the time that current teachers, parents, students,educators and politicans realize that change is needed, there will be millons of students that are not prepared for the workplace. A college education doesn't gaurentee anything in this economy. In ten years, even if the economy is better, a college education still not secure a graduate a job. Even with these fears, I believe that many teachers practicing at universities around the world are getting the required education to transform current classrooms into twenty-first century classrooms.
In the article Twenty-First Century Skills the authors mention four main skills that must be introduced into the classroom in order for students to be prepared to enter society. They are digital age literacy, inventive thinking, interactive communication, and quality, state-of-the-arts results. I believe that twenty-first centruy classrooms will need to be equiped with computers for each student or every two students. The internet has become a global phenomenom and students can learn from others around the world. The computer can also be useful for students to look up basic facts and evidence-based articles. The classroom will also change in the amount of risk-taking opportunities students will be able to take part in. Teachers must provide students with hand on experiences where they can discover and adapt to different environments and ideals. Another important point that this article makes is that although technology is growing at a rapid pace, students must be able to communicate with others and take part in society.
Other characteristics of classrooms in the twenty-first century include computers over textbooks and linking all major subjects together. Another characteristic is that students will need to be able to solve and answer higher order learning questions. According to Bloom's Taxonomy students and teachers will be focused on comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. More focus will be placed on the later three. Also teachers will evaluate their students with a variety of different assessments.
My fears are that by the time that current teachers, parents, students,educators and politicans realize that change is needed, there will be millons of students that are not prepared for the workplace. A college education doesn't gaurentee anything in this economy. In ten years, even if the economy is better, a college education still not secure a graduate a job. Even with these fears, I believe that many teachers practicing at universities around the world are getting the required education to transform current classrooms into twenty-first century classrooms.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Introduction
Hi my name is Arlene Rocks and Im a junior at Temple. I am a elementary education/specal education major with a minor in spanish. Im not sure when i will be student teaching, hopefully in a year or so.
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