21C Learning that Works?
By Paul McMahon on May 20, 2008 in Appropriate Hardware for Education, Learning for a Flat World and tagged integration, leadership, vision
In a lot of recent workshops that I have presented, I have referred to the wonderful Marzarno wiki on Classroom Instruction that Works. I like the way that it tries to reference the Web2.0 tools that might support the Instructional strategies mentioned. In all of the reading and discussing that I am doing about the use of 21st Century Technologies with students, I am finding it difficult to extract the “21st Century Learning Technology Approaches that Work”.
I often see schools madly wanting to adopt 1:1 programs or put a Smartboard in every classroom with no more consideration for looking at the nature of the school, the staff or the students than simply saying that the neighbors did it so it must work.
In my experience of schools in Australia and several in Hong Kong, the success of any sort of program of this scale depends upon leadership and the champions of technology use in the school.
Look at any school that promotes its success in the use of 21st Century Learning and I will guarantee that you will find strong leaders and champions.
Why then, do we think that we can just put in the technology and hope for the best?
This has to be another compelling reason for schools to work on creating and supporting leaders and champions from within their ranks.
1 Comment(s)
I teach in Australia and agree with your comments. So many schools here in Victoria are putting money into IWBs and using them simply to show videos. The teachers who are promoting flat classrooms are leaders and strong champions, risk takers into the bargain. My classroom walls are flattening and my staffroom definitely is. I have taught a class in Canada, with the most basic of equipment and software, so the latest in gadgets is not necessary, but people willing to push the web2.0 tools for improved learning outcomes are.