the Teacher 1 model to the Teacher 2 model? Even in this forum, where I
am guessing we are all strong technology users, we have users that seem
to feel the Teacher 1 model is what still needs to be happening. I am
afraid that 10 years from now, we will still be asking this same
question.
Renee Ramig
Seven Hills School
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Kevin McAllister
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 7:19 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: 21st Century Computer Skills
This is a fascinating strand. One of the most passionate in years!
I see a collision of topics-
1. What tools are needed in the 21st century (and which are headed for =20
the museum)
2. How/what should we be teaching to prepare students with the right =20
skills for the 21st century
3. How does my school get from where we are to where we need to go =20
(wherever that is)
The thread seems to be (passionately) weaving pieces of all three.
In honor of this national American holiday, let me offer 2 use cases.
Teacher 1: Assigns her class to submit an 8 page essay on "Lincoln and =20
the Emancipation Proclamation".
In the strand, it has been argued that simply blogging or creating a =20
wiki entry on such a topic is not the same as crafting a well formed =20
essay using a word processor. Then there has been discussion about =20
open source word processor or Pages or MSWord is best. To my mind, =20
this misses the point.
Teacher 2: Assign her class:
a. Use whatever tools at your disposal to learn about:
- Abraham Lincoln, the man and the president and the conditions that =20
led him to write "The Emancipation Proclamation"
- The civil rights movement of the 50/60's
- The election of Barack Obama
b. Present in a form that you choose, a synthesis of how the struggle =20
for freedom by one people, is a model and symbol of struggle for your =20
particular race, nationality, or religion.
Teacher 2 can allow her students to use Mac, Ubuntu or Windows =20
computers to search the internet for articles, video clips, essays, =20
blogs, podcasts, scholarly material, songs, poems or whatever.
Teacher 2 can allow her students to create podcasts of interviews with =20
their own relatives, blog with/about interesting members of their =20
faith, nationality or race, write a formal essay on a word processor, =20
create a music video, assemble a photo montage, or anything else...
The important goal for the students in Teacher 2's class in order to =20
receive a high grade:
1. Demonstrate that you actually know facts - dates, people, =20
quotations, issues, events
2. Demonstrate that you have come to some conclusion about these =20
events - a synthesis or important factors
3. Demonstrate how your conclusion is illustrated in the struggle of =20
your own "people" to be treated with equality
--------------------------------------
In the case of Teacher 1, I would hope that every student would go to =20
the internet and forward to the teacher 15-20 "term papers" of varying =20
grades on the topic. Every student should know how to do that. That is =20
a 21st century skill.
Teacher 1 can "save" herself, however, by taking this to the next =20
step. She should not report the students to the Dean for plagiarism.
Students could each read 5-10 of these term papers and compare and =20
critique them. Why is one an "A" and the next a "C". Which one makes a =20
compelling argument and defends it? Which one is just wandering drivel =20
presented in a haphazard fashion? Scramble them up and let the =20
student guess the grade. Have students "fix" the bad ones. ( I =20
actually used to do this in my classes.)
The right 21st century tools are those used with different educational =20
practices. The hard question for school leaders are #2 & 3 above - how =20
do I move my institution from Teacher 1 to Teacher 2?
My 2 cents
Kevin
Kevin J. McAllister | President, CEO
inRESONANCE ... Solutions that resonate
kevin@inresonance.com | 413.587.0236 | www.inresonance.com
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