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Discussion: So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
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azimmer |
So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
Feb 18 2009, 10:07 PM EST
We all have heard the term 21st Century Learners and classrooms but are we moving in that direction? Seeing that we ARE in the 21st Century, shouldn't we be there already? What's stopping us and how can we remove the barriers?
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Keyword tags:
21st Century
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johnsonmaryj |
1. RE: So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
Feb 20 2009, 10:58 AM EST
One of the roadblocks that I have observed is the common belief that 21st century skills are about...and only about...technology. The reasoning goes like this: If we are using lots of technology in our school, we must be a 21st century school. Such shallow thinking misses the complex layers of guided inquiry, learner-centered curriculum, questioning and critical thinking skills, interactive and collaborative learning, and many more aspects of 21st century learning. I think this quick-fix attitude also explains why technology specialists are always invited to the table when the discussions center on 21st century learning and why librarians are not routinely included, even though librarians understand and help students apply the principles and skills of 21st century learning on a daily basis. I would be interested in hearing how ColoradoLearns readers are working to change the simplistic perception that 21st century learning equals technology and only technology.
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lesliekm |
2. RE: So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
Feb 20 2009, 5:45 PM EST
I have found someone who really has integrated what I see as technology and learning and I think the inquiry process too! As I investigate more about this take a minute to go to Mr Mayo's example on the Promising Practices teaching page - He is a middle school LANGUAGE ARTS teacher that is using his 6th & 7th graders use of film to conceptually understand literary concepts such as antagonist, characterization, dialogue, foreshadowing, inference, intro, mood, narrative pt of view, non-fict, plot, resolution, rising action and setting. If you think that is impressive, check out the videos that the students made. I think this is TRUE, integrated, POWERFUL 21st Century learning folks. What do you think?Do you find this valuable? |
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johnsonmaryj |
3. RE: So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
Feb 21 2009, 2:23 PM EST
Leslie, thanks for your suggestion to look at Mr. Mayo's Promising Practices link. I agree that his students are using technology to advance their knowledge as well as to communicate new learning--a perfect convergence of content and skills. My point in my previous post, however, is that many educators EQUATE technology with 21st century learning, and that is a narrow view indeed. Examples like this one should help expand the far too limited, "technology is everything" definition of 21st century learning. These examples also help us to answer a question on many educators' minds--How will I recognize 21st century learning when I see it?
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lesliekm |
4. RE: So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
Feb 21 2009, 4:55 PM EST
Thank you for going and checking these videos out, Mary! You see how Mr Mayo is required to teach literary concepts to his middle school students, but how he chooses to engage them is unique, creative, engaging first! He teaches them how to use technology (film) in meaningful ways as well as creative elements to improve their use of this technology. Furthermore he posts these on his blog to offer them up to the community for comment. So his students get comments about their artistic work from a wide community of viewers. RIght Isn't this what we are looking for in promising practices? Who is doing this here in CO? Let's create a bank of these examples...so that we can help each other rethink what it takes...CHECK OUT MR MAYO everyone! :) And share what great things you are doing! Thanks again, Mary! Do you find this valuable? |
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lesliekm |
5. RE: So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
Mar 19 2009, 11:39 AM EDT
Back to your original question- WHAT ARE THE ROADBLOCKSSome of the roadblocks are the structures in place in schools that make them continue down old wornout paths. We are not centered on learning. We are centered on test taking. So I ask this community...how do we change the structures that are in place that block this learning from happening? And how will the stimulus package help us along that way...or will it? Do you find this valuable? |
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johnsonmaryj |
6. RE: So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
Mar 28 2009, 6:37 PM EDT
I have long believed that school dependence on textbooks is a major roadblock to 21st century learning, but this blog post from Wesley Fryer at "Moving at the Speed of Creativity" puts WORKSHEETS in the same category: <http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2009/03/27/the-thursday-folder-and-worksheet-measured-learning/>. It's a visible reminder that even in a "good school," teachers cling to old ways of assessing learning that desperately need updating through any number of technology-based assessments. How can we replace the "Thursday worksheet folder" with the "Thursday online folder" if we continue to depend on piles of paper as the only evidence of learning?
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lesliekm |
7. RE: So what are the roadblocks AND how do we remove them?
Apr 3 2009, 6:00 PM EDT
I agree Mary! wroksheets and what about testing...seeing the test as the be all and end all of learning has hurt this entire country's educational system to the core. Educators have become afraid to actually teach anything that is not on the test. FEAR. Evidence? Why is it that I think that? It is because when I call a librarian after CSAP is over they are bombarded with people interested in having real learning experiences. WHY would people wait until April to teach this way? Testing and the view that we must teach the test is a MAJOR BLOCKADE. We've GOT to refocus on learning and KNOW in our heart that learning WILL transfer to a testing situation IF the test has anything at all valuable on it.
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