For me, teaching and learning go hand in hand. According to Learning is Powered by Technology, I found similar themes as far as how students are now learning and what teachers need to be doing to accommodate the changing students. No longer can students sit in the classroom and receive a one-size-fits all lesson, but according to the model, "We must focus what and how we teach to match what people need to know, how they learn, where and when the will learn, and who needs to learn." This is an awesome undertaking as a teacher, but if we truly want students to become innovative 21st century thinkers and problem solvers, then teachers must rise to the occasion.
The plan lays out specifics as to how we, as teachers, can teach better using technology, so our students will be more motivated to learn and increase their problem solving capabilities. Teachers should no longer be teaching in isolation, yet connected with peers down the hall, across the state, and even the country. Technology can help students track their progress in a way that would take the teacher a great deal more time and almost seem impossible. I really liked the idea of the One School in NY that made the individual learning plans for each of the students. It took a lot of work up front, however, the payoff was huge for the students in that what was taught was matched to what they needed to know and how they learned best.
In order for teachers to meet the ever changing demands of the 21st century learner, "Episodic and ineffective professional development is replaced by professional learning that is collaborative, coherent, and continuous and that blends more effective in-person courses and workshops with the expanded opportunities, immediacy, and convenience enabled by online learning." We have all sat in professional development that was ineffective because we were told we had to be there. With the current budget constraints on the system, it is imperative now more than ever that we have professional development that is not wasting our time and that will applied in our classrooms.
Goals
Learning: All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and outside of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society.
Assessment: Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement.
Teaching: Professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners.
Infrastructure: All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it.
Productivity: Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff.
In reviewing the goals stated above, I believe 100% that our educational system needs an overhaul and these goals will definitely help improve the system. I don't believe that we are preparing students as much as we could for the 21st century. I am not "bashing" the way teachers are doing things, but I think it could be done a lot better. Yes, it is going to take work to change our system, but the rewards will be huge. In taking the ILD class and having it repeated over and over that kids are not "one-size-fits-all," I know that my system needs changing and the conversations have already started with my department about how we're doing things and how we should be doing things.
References:
US Department of Education, Technology. (2010). Transforming American education: learning powered by technology
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