We pick up our cell phone, which can literally find us ANYthing we want to know about. Our phone can get someone to give us a ride across town without us even talking! We can chat with our friends and send them money for half the pizza last night. We can play video games with graphics so detailed, we think we are looking at real life. What is this sorcery?!
John Seely Brown from the University of Southern California, made it clear that our school system should be based on students being collaborative thinkers. He told a story of a teen who dreamed of being a professional surfer. Although his family didn't think that was a sound decision, the teen made it his life work. He began researching everything about surfing. He recruited his surfing friends with the same dream, to collaborate and analyze their surfing techniques. They spent their time outside of the water watching and analyzing similar sports to surfing. They began creating their own surf moves. Soon, everyone in the surfing community took notice. All four of the teens turned into young men who are now world-renowned professional surfers.
Brown said that teachers have to change the curriculum. We have to be in the 21st century and lead our students into it as well. He said new media has changed the way we "play the game." This is EXACTLY why I am in the Touro master's program. With the pandemic, it has made it abundantly clear that overall, our teachers and district leaders were behind the times. I don't consider myself behind the times. And I want to make sure that my teaching is reflecting what is current.
Dan Pink tells us that focusing on extrinsic rewards can limit our abilities to see all the possibilities. He used the candle problem to demonstrate that when people are focused on the value of time and money, they lose sight of the task at hand. I find it fascinating because I give my students a "daily stumper" to do while I take roll every morning. Today's stumper was, "Mt. Everest is the world's tallest mountain. Before it was discovered, which mountain was the tallest?" Students were thinking of other mountains. They were so focused on sending me their answer "first" (even though I am the only one who can see their response in the Zoom chat), they didn't stop to really think about it. Did Mt. Everest not exist before it was discovered? No, but the idea of being first outweighed their ability to think logically.
21st Century learning must foster critical thinking. Teachers must challenge themselves to be interested in what the students are interested in outside of school. We must give students the chance to learn from each other using current trends. In closing, we need to be more mindful of the "old ways" and gear up and get out for the new and current ways.