Straddling the Natural & Digital Worlds

by | Oct 17, 2012 | Making The Shift, Passion Based Learning, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

My daughter’s world and that of my students is dominated by digital media. Within this new world is an abundance of knowledge, networking and possibilities that none of us yet completely understand. I know there is wealth here. Yet sometimes it seems that the screens are blocking our kids’ awareness of natural phenomena, in the same way I become distracted from friends and family when I have an iPad in front of me.

The Flip: End of a Love Affair

by | Oct 8, 2012 | Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

Many teachers who opt for the flipped classroom strategy are not pursuing a student-centered approach to teaching and learning, says Shelley Wright. The traditional model is simply being reversed — not reinvented. The lecture (live or on video) is still front and center. “Learning isn’t simply a matter of passively absorbing new information while watching a lecture on video,” she says. “New knowledge should be actively constructed.”

Deep Learning Isn't about Technology

by | Sep 24, 2012 | Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

Embedded technology is not evidence of a transformational shift in teaching practice. It’s possible to embed technology into every aspect of teaching and learning and still have a completely teacher-centered classroom, with the teacher in control of what is learned, how it’s learned, and for the most part, how students show their learning.

Skills Every 21st-C Teacher Should Know

by | Sep 18, 2012 | Making The Shift, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices, Web Tools That Deepen Learning

Have you mastered the 21st century skills every teacher should know? That means, says teacher Susan Lucille Davis: Being a model learner for your students and fellow educators; stepping up and taking charge of your own learning to gain the skills you need; learning from the best teachers you can find, and, finally, giving back to your professional community by sharing what you learn.