This document summarizes the objectives and content of a presentation on connecting teaching and learning to 21st century skills and tools. The presentation defines characteristics of 21st century students, explores challenges for teachers, and examines how classrooms and professional development can incorporate 21st century topics and digital tools to engage students.

1. Connecting the Dots Using 21 st Century Tools and Topics Sharon Bowers NIA and Virginia Beach City Public Schools February 13, 2010

2. Today’s Objectives Define our audience Characteristics of 21 st century students Challenges for 21 st century teachers Build a common understanding of 21 st Century teaching and learning Explore and expand common ground Impact on 21 st century PD

3. Don’t worry about taking notes Slide Share Using 21 st Century Tools and Topics This PP will be posted to the Slide Share site. Search for “Using 21 st Century Tools and Topics”

4. The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)

5. Digital Native or Digital Immigrant? Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Let’s Be “Digital Multipliers” H. Sapiens Digital: From Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives to Digital Wisdom Backup Education The Role of Technology Essential 21 st Century Skills

6. Where do you fit? Digital Immigrants Slow controlled information release – limited sources Singular process and single or limited task Processing order Text  Picture, Video & Sound Linear, logical sequential access Interact/network simultaneously to few Comfortable in real spaces Prefer students to work independently “ Just in case” learners Delayed/differed access, rewards & gratification Learning is to teach to the curriculum guide and standardized tests. Digital Natives Multiple multimedia information sources rapidly Parallel process & multi-task Processing order Picture, Video & Sound  Text Random access to interactive media Interact/network simultaneously to many Comfortable in virtual and real spaces Prefer interactive/network approach to work “ Just in time” learners Instant access, reward & gratification Learning is relevant, instantly useful and fun

7. Digital Native or Digital Immigrant The majority of the people at my table are: Text: 99503 Choices: 45505 45641 45670

8. 21 st Century Students How would you describe today’s students?

9. Text number: 99503 Then … Begin your message with …9177 … your message

10. Today’s students … Ctrl + Alt + Del is as basic as 2+2 = 4. They grew up with virtual pets to feed, water, and play games with, lest they die. Gas has always been unleaded. They are wireless, yet always connected. "Google" has always been a verb. Text has always been hyper. Bert and Ernie are old enough to be their parents. Have always had blue Jell-O. ― Beloit College, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2012

11. When they enter Kindergarten

12. Worlds Collide Baby Boomers TV generation Typewriters Memos Generation X Video games Computers Email Net Gen The Web (now web 2.0) Mobile devices Video mail Texting Online communities

13. Hypertext Minds Qualities Crave interactivity Read visual images Visual-spatial skills Parallel processing Inductive discovery Fast response time Concerns Short attention spans Choose not to pay attention Lack of Reflection Text literacy Source quality ― Prensky, 2001

14. Challenges Teachers Face

15. Did You Know?

16. A new taxonomy … Bloom, et al, 1956 Anderson & Krathwohl, et al, 2000

17. Partnership for 21 st Century 21st Century Framework

18. Teaching Core Subjects and 21 st Century Themes English, reading, language art Mathematics Science Foreign Language Civics and Government Economics Arts History Geography Partnership for 21 st Century Teaching Global Awareness Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy Civic Literacy Health Literacy Environment Literacy STEM

19. Life and Career Skills Flexibility and Adaptability Initiative and Self-Direction Social and Cross-Cultural Skills Productivity and Accountability Partnership for 21 st Century Skills, 2003

20. Learning and Innovation Skills Creativity and Innovation Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Communication and Collaboration The challenge now is to incorporate learning skills into classrooms deliberately, strategically, and broadly.” Partnership for 21 st Century Skills, 2003

21. Information, Media and Technology Skills Information Literacy Media Literacy ICT (Information, Communication, and Technology) The challenge now is to incorporate learning skills into classrooms deliberately, strategically, and broadly.” Partnership for 21 st Century Skills, 2003

22. LoTi – H.E.A.T. Framework H – Higher- order Thinking E – Engaged Learning A – Authentic Learning T – Technology

23. VBCPS Compass to 2015

25. What do 21 st century classrooms look like? “ One can’t believe impossible things.” “ I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

26. Traditional classrooms may look like this … Teacher directed; teacher lecturing Rows of desks Students working alone on assignments Focus of instruction on memorization of facts and concepts All students doing the same assignment No technology usage Focus on getting the right answer Textbooks rule Paper-and-pencil tests, often multiple choice

27. Teacher guidance Focus of instruction is on understanding concepts Students problem-solve, problems are contrived Teacher is using technology Textbooks still the central resource, but hands-on resources are also used Assessments are more problem-solving based, but still summative and mostly paper-and-pencil Transitional classrooms may look like this …

28. Students choose strategies to solve problems Students collaborate on projects and assignments Both students and teachers use technology Focus of instruction on understanding and applying concepts Classroom arranged in clusters to facilitate interaction Students learn facts and concepts in the context of solving relevant, real-world problems (personal, local, national, global) Focus on exploring possibilities and testing hypotheses Focus on producing quality products Focus on communication Assessments are ongoing with feedback throughout 21 st century classrooms may look like this …

29. With 21 st Century Tools Mobile computing (wireless cell phones and PDAs) Learning Management Systems Video Conferencing Virtual Reality/Simulations Multimedia creation tools Collaborative tools ADA software and hardware 3D Modeling Blogs (social text) Alternative Instructional Methodologies Service Learning Problem- or project-based learning Alternative Assessment Methodologies Gaming Partnership for 21 st Century Skills, 2003

31. “ We are innovating the wrong thing. Our instructional practices are what need changing, not the technology. Every learner is unique and has different learning styles, interests, and proficiencies, yet we still teach to the norm and use technology to automate poor instructional practice.” “ Technology should be able to enrich our ability to individualize, extend, and support instructional experiences and connections in ways that would not be possible otherwise. Real innovation also helps students discover that they can develop a personal vision of a future that is far beyond the one their socioeconomic or ethnic backgrounds would normally provide. Technology in the hands of a skillful teacher can remove barriers for all children so they not only see that future, but also embrace it.” “ It is about changing beliefs, values, and cultures, not about just teaching skills and constructing creative projects. When children realize they are part of the global society because they actively participate in it from their classrooms, they know the world of possibilities for themselves is much bigger.” Don Hall, CIO for the Muscogee County School District

32. “ Technology is technology only for someone who was born before it was invented.” A.Kay “ You look at technology as a tool. We look at technology as a foundation – it’s totally integrated into what we do.” “ Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach.” Serious Games Summit 2006

33. “ The role of technology is to support the new teaching paradigm.” Prensky, 2008 “ 21 st century skills should enable students to follow one’s passion(s) as far as one’s abilities allow.” Prensky, 2009

34. 21 st Century Professional Development Illustrates how a deeper understanding of subject matter can enhance problem-solving, critical thinking , and other 21st century skills. Helps teachers develop their abilities to use various strategies (such as formative assessments) to reach diverse students and to create environments that support differentiated teaching and learning. Encourages knowledge sharing among communities of practitioners , using face-to-face, virtual and blended communications Highlights ways teachers can seize opportunities for integrating 21st century skills, tools and teaching strategies into their classroom practice — and help them identify what activities they can replace/de-emphasize. Partnership for 21 st Century Skills, 2003

35. What might this mean for us?

36. Seeing the world mathematically