Module 7 - Activity 6: Real world collaboration

Real-world applications to classroom learning encourage students to answer a question that is relevant to them and engage them in solving a real problem.  This problem is solved over a period of time and across disciplines (Mathematics, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies) by the students conducting research using the internet or interviewing experts.

Module 7 - Activity 5: Engaging 21st century learners

For the connected classroom to be effective, the element of student engagement must be present.  What caught my attention most from this activity came in the understanding that e-learning in the connected classroom should allow a learner to:

• “relate — through collaboration and social networks
• create — through project-based learning challenges
• donate — through learning that’s grounded in real-world problems”

When combined with technology, engagement is enhanced since it facilitates interaction with others and provides an environment for critical thinking, communication and creativity which are essential for engaging 21^st century learners.

Module 7: Activity 4 - Knowledge Building

From this activity I learned that in a knowledge-building classroom, “learning is a by-product of the creation of new knowledge, but the focus of classroom work is the continual improvement of ideas”.  To engage my students in knowledge building I would

• Present opportunities for students to practice 21^st century skills

• Present them with real world problems

• Provide them with opportunities to create and build knowledge instead of presenting them with predetermined activities

•  Provide opportunities for collaboration and let students decide who they would love to work with

• Provide an online environment for students to record ideas so that they are always preserved and students can use them for self-reflection

• Act as a facilitator of knowledge as students direct their learning, research and create

• Provide an environment where learning is fun and students will want to be in that environment

Module 7: Activity 3 - Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to reasonably and reflectively use cognitive skills while deciding what to believe or do.  During this activity, my creative and collaborative skills were further developed through the mindmeister mind mapping activity.  The elements that caught my attention include purpose, Socratic questioning, self-reflection, evaluation, analysis, interpretation, assumptions, point of view, data, information, evidence, concepts, ideas, drawing conclusions, giving meaning to data, implications and consequences.  Having conducted the analysis of critical thinking in the classroom I noticed that I have been practicing some of these elements without awareness of the fact. 

Module 7: Activity 2 - A vision for my subject in the 21st century

Having completed activity 2, I have noted that as a Language Arts teacher in the 21^st century I should teach my students to read, using written information and to write appropriately in a range of contexts using traditional and new communication technologies.  I should also create wider access to resources and provide the same in adaptable classroom for my students if they are going to be prepared for occupations that do not exist today. 

I have also seen that concerning editing, revising, and publishing, Word processing has revolutionized the way we perceive, teach, and implement the writing process;  the effects have been positive for students as well.

Module 7: Activity 1: Key Elements of 21st Century education

From my reading, I have discovered the following ten key elements of 21st century Education

Ways of Thinking
1. Creativity and innovation
2. Critical thinking, problem solving, decision making
3. Learning to learn, Metacognition
Ways of Working
4. Communication
5. Collaboration (teamwork)
Tools for Working
6. Information literacy
7. ICT literacy
Living in the World
8. Citizenship – local and global
9. Life and career
10. Personal & social responsibility – including cultural awareness and competence 

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Module 7 - Activity 0

Well here I am again, this time looking at elearning in the connected classroom.  I have noted the milestone page and observed that it is really packed but I guess we will have to take our eyes off the whole elephant and "eat the elephant one bite at a time".  I am looking forward to embracing the 21st century skills. Colleagues, let's get to collaborating and communicating!!!