Friday, November 19, 2010

Chapter 6 21st Century Learning and Teaching

Chapter 6 is all about two of the most powerful learning tools: questions and problems. Throughout time, people have been carefully constructing questions about our natural world and using imagination to search for solutions to these questions. The invention of many of the things we use today started as a simple question. Two areas that thrive on gaining new knowledge and creating new ways of living are science and engineering. “Scientists approach the world with questions… Engineers and inventors on the other hand are motivated by challenging problems… Scientists use experiments to test an explanation or hypothesis, and engineers devise prototypes or create new designs to see how well their solution words.” (Thrilling & Fadel, 2009) Humans are naturally motivated by questions and problems. Even the youngest of students can be heard asking why? Finding the solution to our how and why questions helps to engage our 21st Century skills. The learning based method on the power of question is called inquiry-based learning and has been proven to engage and sustain learning and deepen understanding.

Chapter 7 Powerful Learning

The 21st Century project learning has four project phases: define, plan, do, and review. Define is the step where the question, problem, issue, or challenge is brought about to initiate the learning process. Planning is done by the group completing the project and by the teacher who is facilitating the learning groups. After the planning is done comes the doing. This is where the project is where the learning activities are completed and the results tabulated. The final stage is review where the results are shared with others and feedback is received. What is learned can often be applied to another project or sometimes to a new iteration of the same project. Both the teachers and students work together as a team through the process.

Many other items come into place while the project is being completed. The project should have ongoing assessments occurring on student learning. Pace and timing need to be incorporated to make sure the outcomes are completed on time. The team needs to have balance between the group and how much control the teacher has on the project. The project is successful when students completed most of the researching, planning, analyzing, collaborating, experimenting, evaluating, and communicating and gained a deeper understanding of science content through the hands on work and questioning that arose.

Creativity and innovation will be essential for 21st Century skills and learning. A company called IDEO took the four project phases even further. We must define a real world problem. Plan to understand the users and how real people in real life situations deal with the problem. Brainstorm techniques and designs to solve the problem and look at the positive and negative outcomes of each idea. Finally, review and refine a series of prototypes enhancing the benefits and making the designs better for the future.

Many groups have completed research to show the project learning model does work. Collaborative small-group learning has shown benefits such as better confidence, higher motivation levels, improved social interactions, and improved feeling toward other students. Also, individuals who work in groups tend to score higher on individual assessments. Project learning methods and problem-based learning showed that even though factual learning was equal to or better than traditional classroom teaching methods that students made significantly greater gains in 21st century skills. Design-based learning showed that students understood the topics better. With all the research available about how these learning models work, why are teachers not using more of these models in their classrooms?

With all things there are always obstacles. Making collaborative teams work well requires a careful selection of team members to ensure they are compatible and defining the rules to support collaboration. The activity must be one in such the team will benefit from the differing viewpoints and experiences of each team member and use discussion strategies to support deeper learning for all team members. “However, research also shows that these methods will require changes in curriculum, instruction, assessment practices, the professional development of teachers, and the learning environments that support 21st century learning.” (Trilling & Fadel, 2009)

Will teachers be willing to make the changes necessary to incorporate these models? What will districts have to do to ensure teachers are using these models to help make students not only knowledgeable about content standards but also the 21st century skills?

3 comments:

  1. This all sounds like what we all have been taught. It also all wraps up what the other chapters have said. We need to incorporate group learning projects to increase the social skills and the 21st centruy skills. It also incorporates individualized lessons. Why do teachers not use these teaching ideals when they are proven to work? I think it is becuase many teachers are stuck in the old ways and are unwilling to change their ways. The new ways of teacher are a little more time comsuming and do take more planning for each student. But as teacher we are to do what is best for our students. The past worked but the new is what needs to be done. I feel districts should make it so teachers are accountable for what they teacher. Teachers should have to keep up on the leading teaching idea. They need to use the professional development to help better themself as teachers. The district principles should make sure the teachers are using what they have learned. A change must occur before we can help out students learn better.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I completely agree. The demands being put on teachers is sometimes overwhelming. It seems though every year we get another task piled high on our shoulders. We need to remember like you said, that we must do wht is best for our students.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was excited to give the IDEO project design a try after reading this portion of the book. At first it was scary because of the my changing role in this style of learning. It didn't take long for me to get over this though as I saw the ideas and inquisitiveness of my students bloom. It was interesting to coach them through their research. I find that I am still challenged with technical difficulties, in this case directly related to voicethread, but the students and I are working and learning the technology together. They're very excited to be able to teach me the little tricks they have learned! Project-based learning is very creative. I would choose it over traditional exams any day!

    ReplyDelete