It seems as though a lot of teachers are taking some flak for calling their techniques "21st Century" since we've been in this century for nearly 14 years now (or is it 15?)! Regardless of semantics, I contend that teachers should be using many of these techniques in their teaching & call it what you want! The following is a T-Chart breaking down how I used to teach and how I teach today:
How I Have Taught in the Past Focused my lessons entirely on content objectives Tests & quizzes were the most important aspect of a unit Summative assessments determined my students' success or failure Worksheets & packets were differentiated to increase rigor I tried to add "fun" lessons to spice up our learning Students predominantly worked in isolation or as a whole group Once an assignment was turned in, it was graded and returned, ending the learning process As soon as we finished an objective or task, we quickly moved on We used technology for word processing and research Students would write & create for pretend audiences or myself I spent most of my time lecturing, explaining directions, working with small groups, giving information, & answering questions Formal programs and handed-down lesson plans dominated my instruction Students spent most of their time "consuming information" from me or other resources Nearly 100% of students' questions were directed towards me My students often came to class with homework incomplete or missing My students only chance to investigate their personal interests while in school was in writing assignments Students spent most of their time sitting at their desks I spent way too much time at the Xerox machine every weekend Students were never asked to self-assess or set goals | How I Teach Today Focus my lessons on 21st Century skills, Big Ideas, Enduring Understandings, and Essential Questions. The learning process is the most important aspect of a unit Formative assessment is used to provide feedback so all students improve throughout the learning process Critical thinking scenarios & real-world problems are used to increase rigor "Fun" is embedded into our everyday activities Students predominantly work collaboratively with their peers Once an assignment is turned in, students are allowed (& encouraged) to improve it indefinitely As soon as we finish an objective or task, we take time to reflect and synthesize our learning We use technology to create, collaborate, & reflect Students write & create for authentic audiences such as classes around the world & famous authors I spend most of my time setting up lessons, observing & praising, providing immediate feedback, & encouraging collaboration PBL, Simulations, and other self-made 21st Century units dominate my instruction Students spend most of their time "creating" based on information they gather Nearly 100% of students' questions are directed towards fellow students My students often come to school early or stay after school so they can finish their homework on time My students spend 90+ minutes in school every week exploring their personal interests in Passion Time Students are encouraged to sit anywhere in the room In general, the only things I Xerox today are math & Time For Kids worksheets Students set goals each trimester & assess their progress towards those goals |
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