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.