What does it take to be a 21st Century
Teacher? Not long ago teachers started
using an interactive whiteboard and thought the advancement was major. We need more than that if we want to continue
teaching not just inside the classroom, but outside as well. As educators, we need to evolve and react as
the scenery changes with new technology.
Who are the 21st students in the classroom and what are the
tools needed to teach these students? In
order for teaching to be effective, we have to captivate our learners by being
adaptive, inventive and learn to use different tools to enhance their learning
experience. For students to reach their
full potential, they should be able to access learning materials “anywhere,
anytime,” as we continue to advance in this digital age.
Our schools need to respond better to these diverse learners
of the 21st century whom are tech savvy and live digitally every day
and want the same in their academic atmosphere. They are multi-tasking
individuals who use the internet, text messaging, and social networking as a
norm in their lives. Today’s students must be prepared to solve many challenges
and as educators it is our job to make learning fun and encourage students to
be creative in as many ways possible. Using blogs and wikis to create online
platforms are just the beginning. Students can work on a report at home and be
able to submit it electronically via email to their teacher. They can create
power points with videos to enhance their project while demonstrating their
creativity. Working on projects in a
group, students can collaborate and communicate by performing different tasks
with their smart phone, wireless, or handheld devices. In this digital age, they
are not limited to the classroom anymore. Technology is a tool that allows us
to enhance learning and should be taught correctly and safely.
Teaching is a job that changes with the currents and we need
to adjust if we want successful students.
As teachers, we need better communication skills and be precise with our
instructions, so that students can excel in this digital age. Unless we equip ourselves and our students
with the appropriate knowledge and skills, they will not be successful citizens. Students today are digitally focused and
teachers are learning new ways of teaching to meet the needs of our “wired”
youth. Even so, each child learns in different ways and we need to be sensitive
of their needs. We can have all the latest programs or apps but if the child is
not learning, how effective are they? Students are motivated to continue to
excel when positive feedback and encouragement is given. There is no substitute for that one on
interaction no matter what age we live in.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “We cannot build the future
for our youth-but we can build our youth for the future.” If students are to be
productive members of the 21st Century workplace, they must be inventive
thinkers and masters of technology. They
need to have an understanding of computer skills and experience to be able to
become members of the global digital society.
Digital literacy must be taught not just be exposed to computers in the
classroom. Schools need teachers who are expected to conquer technology skills
and be able to demonstrate their expertise in the classroom. The characteristic
of the 21st Century classroom is very different from those of classrooms of the
past. Technology has played a significant role in the transformation by focusing
on creating students, who are highly productive, multitasking, and effective
communicators.
<http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/10-teaching-practices-every-21st.html>.
Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd ed. Upper
Saddle River: Pearson, 2014. 3-17. Print.
