We live in a world that is becoming more fast paced as the days go by. Our society is ever-changing and technology is becoming more advanced and used throughout the world on a daily basis. Educational technology is the way of the present but most importantly the future.
As teachers, we need to understand that our students aren't the same as the ones 20, 10, and even 5 years ago. So why treat them like they are? Doesn't it make sense to make sure their education fits their needs? Today's students need certain skills to be able to thrive in society. Those skills students need are called 21st century skills-- skills needed in order to be successful in the 21st century.
So, how do we teach students these skills? One word comes to mind-- partnering. Just as students are changing, teachers should also. We should not only change the way we view our students, we should also change the way we teach. Yes, I said it! NEWS FLASH! It's no longer the 1970s or 1980s. Students don't want to sit for a whole class and listen to a teacher lecture the whole entire time. In fact, teachers who do nothing but solely lecture and have students take notes have a negative effect on students.
21st Century Skills Infographic
21st Century Skills Infographic
Constructivism...
There are various teaching strategies or partnering pedagogies that can be used in the classroom. They are learner or student centered, and most are based upon Constructivism. Learn more about Constructivism here.
- What is Constructivism?
- What are the differences between Constructivism & the Traditional Approach?
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Check out some partnering pedagogies!
SPOTLIGHT: Partnering Pedagogy
Inquiry-Based Learning
Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) is a partnering pedagogy that values inquiry in the classroom. "Inquiry" is defined as "a seeking for truth, information, or knowledge -- seeking information by questioning." Through the process of inquiry, individuals construct much of their understanding of the natural and human-designed worlds. Inquiry implies a "need or want to know" premise. Inquiry is not so much seeking the right answer -- because often there is none -- but rather seeking appropriate resolutions to questions and issues. For educators, inquiry implies emphasis on the development of inquiry skills and the nurturing of inquiring attitudes or habits of mind that will enable individuals to continue the quest for knowledge throughout life.
Learn more about:
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Learn about more partnering pedagogies...
Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry LearningPOGIL uses guided inquiry – a learning cycle of exploration, concept invention and application is the basis for many of the carefully designed materials that students use to guide them to construct new knowledge. POGIL is a student-centered strategy; students work in small groups with individual roles to ensure that all students are fully engaged in the learning process.
Learn more about POGIL here. |
Problem-Based Learning
Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge.
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Challenge Based LearningChallenge Based Learning is an engaging multidisciplinary approach to teaching and learning that encourages learners to leverage the technology they use in their daily lives to solve real-world problems. Challenge Based Learning is collaborative and hands-on, asking students to work with peers, teachers, and experts in their communities and around the world to ask good questions, develop deep subject area knowledge, identify and solve challenges, take action, and share their experience.
Learn more about Challenge Based Learning here.
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The Flipped Classroom Approach
The flipped classroom approach can be considered a teaching strategy to help integrate technology into the learning process. In a flipped classroom, the teacher assigns students virtual lessons, videos, etc. to watch at home. Classroom time is dedicated solely to working through problems, working collaboratively, and working hands-on to learn the concepts rather than listening to the teacher lecture the entire time.
In a flipped classroom, teachers have more time to spend working with students instead of lecturing to them. Students get their lecture at home (or get introduced to the lesson at home) so that class time can be spent applying key concepts and working on activities that reinforce the concepts learned at home.
Learn more about the flipped classroom here.
In a flipped classroom, teachers have more time to spend working with students instead of lecturing to them. Students get their lecture at home (or get introduced to the lesson at home) so that class time can be spent applying key concepts and working on activities that reinforce the concepts learned at home.
Learn more about the flipped classroom here.
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Teaching Digital Natives: Partnering for Real Learning
Teaching Digital Natives by Marc Prensky is a book that is a must read for anyone wanting to know what partnering is and how to implement it into the classroom. Buy the book here or read a chapter by chapter summary below.
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We are the children of a technological age. We have found streamlined ways of doing much of our routine work. Printing is no longer the only way of reproducing books. Reading them, however, has not changed.
-Lawrence Clark Powell