After watching McLeod’s video “Did You Know” and reading Hrannar’s article 14 Things That Are Obsolete in 21st Century Schools, I can honestly say that I had no idea how far behind the United States is with incorporating 21st century skills and technology in education. The statistics provided in McLeod’s video were eye-opening because it showed how fast technology is changing. “We are teaching and preparing our students for jobs that don’t even exist” (Fisch, McLeod, 2007).
According to Gunter and Gunter (2015), “today’s youth are much more media-centric than previous generations. It has also been said that today’s youth actually speak digitally” (p. 15). As an educator, I feel that it is my duty to deliver instruction and prepare my students to help them be successful in their future. This means integrating the appropriate skills and up-to-date technology into my classroom instruction.
I agree with most of the comments that Hrannar makes in his article 14 Things That Are Obsolete In 21st Century Schools. The following is a list of my reaction to Hrannar’s comments:
· First, I agree that isolated classrooms where children are not exposed to knowledge outside the classroom’s 4 walls are obsolete. Students should be able to apply their knowledge outside the classroom and feel that their learning should be shared with their parents and friends.
· I agree that all schools should have WiFi and students should be allowed to use their phones or tablets in the classroom when appropriate to support their learning.
· I think it is important that teachers have a class website or blog to share ideas with other educators as well as with their students and students’ parents.
· I agree that schools should have a Facebook page or twitter account to keep parents notified of upcoming events.
· I agree that unhealthy cafeteria food is obsolete. Students should have access to nutritional meals at schools to support healthy growth.
· I agree that student should be involved in the design process as much as possible. Instead of buying a design service from somewhere else, have students create the design through an art project, incorporating technology when appropriate.
· Traditional libraries are obsolete because students have access to many of their resources online. It is important that libraries in the 21st century be used effectively and provide teachers and students with multiple devices where they can use and access important information.
· I agree that education should be individualized and focused primarily on the learning needs of each student in the classroom. All students learning the same thing at the same time is obsolete. Educators need to differentiate instruction based on the learning styles and unique needs of their classrooms.
· I agree based on personal experience that professional development for educators should not be viewed as one-fits-all. Every teacher has their own strengths and areas for improvement in the classroom. Personalizing professional development is a more effective strategy.
· I agree somewhat with Hranner’s views on standardized testing. I agree that standardized tests only measure a small part of student knowledge; however, I feel that it is important to assess our students with a test that can be used to compare these students to other students in the state or nation.
· The only idea that I disagree with is that school should start later. Schools starting after 9:00 would interfere with bus schedules, parent work schedules, and extracurricular activities. I agree with a woman who commented on Hranner’s blog. She states “As a parent, I would not want my kids to be hanging around school from 7:00 – 9:00am each morning after I drop them off for work. “
All in all, I feel that Hranner’s article highlights the direction that schools in the 21st century need to go based on the statistics in McLeod’s “Did You Know” video to improve education for students in the digital age.
References
Fisch, K. & McLeod, S. (2007, February 8). Did you know? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
Gunter, G., & Gunter, R. (2015). Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology in a changing world. (8th ed.). S.l.: Thompson Publishing.
Hrannar, I. (2014, February 26). 14 things that are obsolete in 21st century schools. Retrieved August 24, 2014, from http://ingvihrannar.com/14-things-that-are-obsolete-in-21st-century-schools/
According to Gunter and Gunter (2015), “today’s youth are much more media-centric than previous generations. It has also been said that today’s youth actually speak digitally” (p. 15). As an educator, I feel that it is my duty to deliver instruction and prepare my students to help them be successful in their future. This means integrating the appropriate skills and up-to-date technology into my classroom instruction.
I agree with most of the comments that Hrannar makes in his article 14 Things That Are Obsolete In 21st Century Schools. The following is a list of my reaction to Hrannar’s comments:
· First, I agree that isolated classrooms where children are not exposed to knowledge outside the classroom’s 4 walls are obsolete. Students should be able to apply their knowledge outside the classroom and feel that their learning should be shared with their parents and friends.
· I agree that all schools should have WiFi and students should be allowed to use their phones or tablets in the classroom when appropriate to support their learning.
· I think it is important that teachers have a class website or blog to share ideas with other educators as well as with their students and students’ parents.
· I agree that schools should have a Facebook page or twitter account to keep parents notified of upcoming events.
· I agree that unhealthy cafeteria food is obsolete. Students should have access to nutritional meals at schools to support healthy growth.
· I agree that student should be involved in the design process as much as possible. Instead of buying a design service from somewhere else, have students create the design through an art project, incorporating technology when appropriate.
· Traditional libraries are obsolete because students have access to many of their resources online. It is important that libraries in the 21st century be used effectively and provide teachers and students with multiple devices where they can use and access important information.
· I agree that education should be individualized and focused primarily on the learning needs of each student in the classroom. All students learning the same thing at the same time is obsolete. Educators need to differentiate instruction based on the learning styles and unique needs of their classrooms.
· I agree based on personal experience that professional development for educators should not be viewed as one-fits-all. Every teacher has their own strengths and areas for improvement in the classroom. Personalizing professional development is a more effective strategy.
· I agree somewhat with Hranner’s views on standardized testing. I agree that standardized tests only measure a small part of student knowledge; however, I feel that it is important to assess our students with a test that can be used to compare these students to other students in the state or nation.
· The only idea that I disagree with is that school should start later. Schools starting after 9:00 would interfere with bus schedules, parent work schedules, and extracurricular activities. I agree with a woman who commented on Hranner’s blog. She states “As a parent, I would not want my kids to be hanging around school from 7:00 – 9:00am each morning after I drop them off for work. “
All in all, I feel that Hranner’s article highlights the direction that schools in the 21st century need to go based on the statistics in McLeod’s “Did You Know” video to improve education for students in the digital age.
References
Fisch, K. & McLeod, S. (2007, February 8). Did you know? Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
Gunter, G., & Gunter, R. (2015). Teachers discovering computers: Integrating technology in a changing world. (8th ed.). S.l.: Thompson Publishing.
Hrannar, I. (2014, February 26). 14 things that are obsolete in 21st century schools. Retrieved August 24, 2014, from http://ingvihrannar.com/14-things-that-are-obsolete-in-21st-century-schools/