1. What do we mean by the "21st century classroom?"
Traditional classrooms as we know them today began in the 20th century. Schools managed to use these traditional classrooms with very minimal changes for years without much effect on student learning. However, we're over a decade into the 21st century and these traditional classrooms just aren't as effective anymore. Technology is always changing, but classrooms remain the same. As a result, we have 20th century classrooms in the 21st century. It is time to bring our classrooms into the 21st century. Otherwise, we'll continue to leave our students behind in the 20th century.
What is a 21st century classroom? Essentially, a 21st century classroom is one that prepares students for life in the 21st century and how to adapt and utilize new technology as it's developed even if it's after they've graduated. 21st century classrooms focus on these key areas as outlined here: learning and innovation skills; information, media and technology skills and life and career skills.
How can we foster these areas for our students? A very important way to teach our students these 21st century skills is through technology. Technology is the center of our society in the 21st century and should be the center of our classrooms. After all, classrooms are to prepare students for life after they graduate. They should include technology if that's what they'll be working with when they finish school.
Technology in the classroom can be as simple as using a PowerPoint in your lessons. PowerPoint is an effective tool used in presentations that students may in their areas of employment in the future. Of course PowerPoint isn't the only thing that should be used. Using the same technology repeatedly does not help foster creativity in students. Students should be exposed to other types of technology that will allow them to get creative using technologies that they most like. A good example of this would just be me throughout the class. I considered myself the PowerPoint queen. I used it in all of my lesson plans and I took pride in knowing that my PowerPoints were effective for the classroom I was teaching. After I learned about Prezi, I was amazed by it. It was really interesting and I could tell it could really engage others. If I was able to engage my students with PowerPoint, just think how they would respond to Prezi which isn't a monotonic slide show. Then we had the SmartBoard presentation. If I could get students engaged just through a PowerPoint, they could be engaged in Prezi. However, both are teacher based in the way I used them. SmartBoard can be student based if used properly. Students would learn material even more through interaction with the technology!
Technology should be used as an aid for lessons, but not as a crutch. They can make students more engaged and more involved in a lesson, but teachers still need to be knowledgeable of content. Teachers can just extend this knowledge to students through technology. Technology should be used by students so they can develop the 21st century skills needed when they graduate. Technology shouldn't be the same either. You shouldn't just use PowerPoint for every lesson and say "hey, I use technology everyday!" That's not a 21st century classroom. Use different technology throughout the school year. Technology like Skype and iChat can be used for students to communicate with others, Twitter can be used for discussions, videos can be used to teach others and express understanding, etc. Different types of technology help develop different 21st century skills.
Overall, a 21st century classroom is one that prepares students for the 21st century. It fosters skills needed for the new century and is constantly adapting. It prepares students for life in a society that is centered on technology.
2. How do we apply technology tools in ways so that we can more easily achieve meaningful teaching and learning in the 21st century?
The most important way to apply technology tools to achieve meaningful teaching and learning is to do so intentionally. There should be a reason to incorporating this technology, an "intent" to use it to enhance learning.
Using technology just to use it won't produce meaningful teaching and learning. Telling students to find more information about a topic online won't be meaningful for teaching and learning. Guidelines are needed, even if they just specify that the students are free to research whatever they want about a subject. Without these guidelines, the interaction with the technology won't be meaningful for either the teacher or the student.
Another way to apply technology tools to achieve meaningful teaching and learning is by having more projects. Projects help students foster their creativity. Giving students guidelines for the project, but not specifying the medium for presenting the material gives students the opportunity to explore different technologies. They learn how to use that technology and with a presentation to the class and their fellow students are also exposed to that technology. For example, I learned about Prezi after a brief in-class presentation about the tool. I decided to do a Spanish presentation on Prezi and I learned how to use the technology while creating it. After I presented, some of my fellow students asked me questions how to use the technology. I briefly explained and the next group that presented also used Prezi! It's easy to see how others can learn about a technology just by seeing it used.
Overall, don't force the use of technology. Don't use technology just to use it. Use technology as an aid to lessons and not a crutch. Have specific guidelines when having students use technology and give students the opportunity to explore different types of technology. Intentionally and thoughtfully using technology allows meaningful learning and teaching to be achieved more easily in the 21st century.
