What+is+21st+Century+Learning?

=Exactly what is 21st Century Learning? Take a look at the following three videos. = = =

First, an historical perspective of our country's educational model...
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Next, the students perspective...
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Finally, the teachers perspective...
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**So why should you change your way of teaching? **

 * ====**Because that's why you went into teaching in the first place - to change the world. **====
 * ====**Because the only constant in education is change. **====
 * ====**Because you know that you want to do whatever it takes to make a difference in the lives of the children you teach.** ====
 * ====**Because you know that the kids you teach today are not the same as the kids you used to teach and if you can't keep up with what they need in order to learn, then you will lose them somewhere along the way.** ====
 * ====**Because, as a teacher, you are the perfect model for your students to become lifelong learners.** ====
 * ====**Because you understand that learning means growing and to not change means to stop growing.** ====
 * ====**Because you made the commitment when you first became a teacher to contribute what you could to changing the future, one child at a time, and by doing so, you know you are contributing to the overall greatness of the world.** ====
 * ====**Because the world of learning and teaching has changed and by not changing yourself, you will no longer be able to guide your students into the future, and that is too risky to leave to anyone but teachers.** ====
 * ====**Because you know, deep down, that your students need you to teach them, but they want you to teach them in the way that is best for them to learn.** ====

**Our students and our world has changed, so we must change, too.**
===**Contrary to what many people believe, 21st Century Learning** does not take away from the basics of the 3 R's; reading, writing, and arithmetic (remember those?) but simply uses these basics to support and develop the 4C's; creating, collaborating, communicating, and critical thinking. To think that 21st Century Learning is simply using technology misses the point completely - technology is only a tool and it is our responsibility as 21st Century Teachers to find the appropriate use of the appropriate tool to foster the development of the 4C's within our students. In order for our students to fully participate in the global community, we must ensure that they will be ready when they graduate from high school and pursue their lives. The multitude of technology tools available for use is constantly growing and it is my hope that I can help you enter this exciting time for teachers by sharing with you some of these tools. ===

<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**LINKS and LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:**
====<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**If you are interested in reading and learning more about 21st Century Education, here are a 10 great wikis, websites, and blogs to get you started:** ====


 * Steve Hargadon's <span class="wiki_link_ext">EXCELLENT website
 * Partnership for 21st Century Skills
 * Educational Origami - very thorough wiki compilation of resources and information
 * American Association of School Librarians - provides a look at standards, practices, and curriculum links
 * ISTE - **The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®)** is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving learning and teaching by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education.
 * The 21st Century Teacher - an example of what teachers around the world are doing to support and promote new ways of teaching and learning
 * Developing Education - an example of what one teacher is doing and learning about 21st Education
 * Edutopia - George Lucas Educational Foundation
 * //i//NACOL - International Association for K-12 Online Learning
 * t.h.e. Journal - Transforming Learning Through Technology