I just returned from FETC where not only did I attend several sessions on 1:1 programs like our own, but also spoke with individuals – teachers, techs, and administration on the nature of 21st Century Learning. Needless to say everyone has a different opinion on how a 21st century classroom should look like. But the main concern that I have is that these schools are so concerned on acquiring the technology and implementing it they don’t take a step back to see how are they going to support their teachers. Yes that is right, those of us on the front line.

Although teaching comes naturally to many of us, teaching with objects in our hands and the ability to create more than what we see does not. Many administrators and techs simply said, well they will have to just “buck up” and get on board. I don’t know about others but when I board a mode of transportation, I would like to know a general direction in which we are heading. The same should be said for creating and implementing a 21st century environment. My comment here is that everyone has a different view of this, the goal is to figure out what works for both your teachers and your students. FIND A COMMON GROUND, and work from there.

Too many schools what to play the tech game, but they really have no idea what they are in for. Planning is the key to anything. Yes you have to plan the expansion of your infrastructure, but also you need to plan for your Professional Development, plan for desired and non-desired outcomes from both your teachers and students. And just like when learn with shocking sound effects that students and teachers do not learn the same. I attended a workshop where at one school in Florida they conducted a survey, the result – teachers who hearted stated they hate to be lectured to and they like to learn hands-on. REALLY we had to do a survey for this. However when the administration took a look at their classes, this is exactly what their students were being given, lectures with little to no hands-on experience.

My summary, teachers and students DO in fact learn in similar ways. They dislike to be lectured to and they enjoy being involved in their own learning. It was an interesting session in which I hope other teachers and such who were in attendance realize that people ALL people learn similarly. No one likes to sit in a room and experience what I like to say is the Charlie Brown phenomenon. People are learners, we like to get involved. If we as learners are investing our time then we want to make it worth it. This really goes across the board. Do I have a solution, of course. I always had a rule of thumb I taught by when I was full-time in the classroom. Teach as though I was sitting in my own class. If I get board teaching something, then the passion is not being shown. I know that not all the students like to learn the same way, however if I develop a learning spectrum of alternative experiences for each subset of learners then hopefully I am not only guiding but inspiring these students to be LIFELONG LEARNERS …. In all honesty I think that was a requirement somewhere in my contract, but it was just a thought.