There are many trends impacting on our education system and they are linked in different ways to various extents. As professionals we must look not only at local and national trends but at global trends to be able to keep up with our ever changing world. With the digital age in full flight and new technologies enabling communication and collaboration with anyone, anywhere, anytime, we are no longer limited by our local environment. The world is our oyster.
Because we are now able to connect and network so easily on a global scale, we must allow our children to develop the 21st century skills necessary to do this appropriately and effectively. According to the Education Minister Hekia Parata (2012);
We need an education system that equips all our young people with the knowledge, skills and values to be successful in a world that is increasingly complex, fluid and uncertain.
What is the best way that schools can foster an innovative environment where these 21st Century skills are able to be developed? This is the question that has been at the forefront of my teaching practice over the past few years partially due to my role as the Digital Leader at my school but mostly through my interest and studies around how to use technology and space effectively to enhance the classroom programme.
ILE is the current trend when it comes to space innovation and teacher collaboration. Redesigning the learning spaces so that they are more flexible, interactive and encouraging of active learning are important aspects of an ILE space. There is a school of thought that the ‘space’ is not an important factor in being able to effectively implement 21st century practices but the pedagogy of the teacher. I agree with this to a certain extent but from my own experience, having a purpose-built or thoughtfully decorated and arranged space does in fact enhance mood and the type of activity that is encouraged or expected in that space. It can set up the atmosphere and environment for the innovative practices to occur more smoothly and successfully.
Collaboration between teachers in an ILE is key to successful delivery of a 21st century style curriculum. The ‘style’ of teaching does not have to be the same but teacher’s pedagogy must align so that children are given many opportunities to use 21st century skills in a variety of situations and platforms. Much more can be achieved and potentially gained when engaged in meaningful collaboration.
It takes a village to raise a child. Many people collaborating contribute to the successful educational outcomes and experiences of each learner. New kinds of partnerships and relationships with the community should be developed as teachers encourage learners work with real challenges in a range of real world contexts. In fact the roles of learners and teachers change as they work together to apply knowledge from a range of curriculum areas to generate new solutions to complex problems. Rethinking the role of teachers from the front of the room expert to the constructor of learning environments that help students gain 21st century skills through inquiry and exploration.
Current and emerging technologies play an important enabling role in creating new learning opportunities and ways of learning. These technologies increase learners’ motivation, engagement and achievement and foster innovative ways of working collaboratively. We live in a knowledge era. Individuals need to connect knowledge in new and different ways to solve future problems. Students as creators, should be encouraged to create content rather than be a passive consumer of content. They should be empowered to become the experts. By fostering the 21st Century skills of Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity and Communication children can learn how their ideas impact the world around them.
We need teachers to engage students in bold new curricula that prepare them for critical thinking and persuasive argument, that prepares them for the proficiency to set and meet challenges most of which are very ill-structured. Hattie (2003)
References
Bolstad, R., Gilbert, J., McDowall, S., Bull, A., Boyd, S., & Hipkins, R. (2012). Supporting future-oriented learning & teaching: A New Zealand perspective. Wellington: Ministry of Education.
Hattie, J. (2003). New Zealand education snapshot: With specific reference to the Yrs 1-13 years. Knowledge Wave Trust.
OECD (2016), Trends Shaping Education 2016, OECD Publishing, Paris.
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