21st Century Teaching and Learning

Three years ago, on February 12, 2007, a group of Adams 14 thinkers started the Global Learners blog to coincide with the launch of the Global Learners project in our schools. At that point, Adams 14 was in the midst of transforming its philosophy about the value of technology integration in the classroom. We had improved student and teacher technology access through a Districtwide technology replacement plan, and the next step was to begin training teachers in the effective use of this technology. The Global Learners project was one method of sparking innovation in the classroom. The goal was to provide a select group of teachers with the technology tools (laptops, interactive white boards, projectors, digital cameras) and the necessary training to begin transforming teaching and learning in our schools. Then those teachers would become resident experts in their schools.

The Global Learners teachers became contributors to the blog, and they began sharing their classroom experiences with the world. Truly, the blog has been watched by people all over the globe (see this map of their followers), and many of our Global Learners teachers have become respected sources for best practices in student centered learning, collaboration, risk taking, and effective classroom technology integration. In fact, the Global Learners have been featured presenters at several statewide and national conferences.

The blog has allowed our Global Learners to collaborate with a worldwide community of educators. From the early posts in February 2007, it was clear that Adams 14 was embarking on a journey to improve student engagement and student learning through improved teacher practices around technology use.

Today I want to celebrate the anniversary of this project by sharing some of the thinking that has lead to strong results in our classrooms.

From Kelly Berry at Alsup Elementary:
This year I have taken a new approach with my students. With all the changes we have in our district (education in general) I had to choose the best and most usable technology tools for my class. Thus, I have chosen the SmartBoard. I have been creating weekly Notebook's with 45 pages each! Every page has it's objective and I'd say about 75% of the pages are interactive - some of them are just reminders to me on what we're working on next.

From Jim Howat at Adams City High School:
I have been trying out a teaching style that is growing in popularity with teachers around the country. It is called Whole Brain Teaching (formerly known as Power Teaching). I must say that so far I am very impressed and overall the students LOVE it. The best part is that it so closely aligns with the strategies my district would like me to use (Teach4Success) that it could almost be considered an encompassing method for getting T4S strategies in the classroom – if you properly implement it.
The basic idea behind WBT is that it gives students a chance to use their voice and their actions in classroom situations that were typically reserved for only writing and listening – hence the “whole brain”.

From Michelle Waheed at Central Elementary:
Tonight for the first time I created my own math geometry lesson to use on my SMARTBoard. So I am just celebrating making small steps and branching out to different subjects and appreciating all that I have learned so far. I'm looking forward to learning more the last half of the year and creating new ways to engage my students!

From Kristen Edwards at Adams City Middle School:
I challenged my AVID students to read a book outside of class and create an advertisement Glogster so other students may read and choose new books for themselves. I was really nervous about asking them to do this outside of class as I did not know how many of them would be able to avail themselves to computers. I was pleasantly surprised! Not only did 90% of them complete the assignment on their own, but they were excited and anxious to do another. This really cemented my ideas that our students are truly ready to be 21st Century learners; all we need to do is challenge them.

And finally, from Tom Ciolek at Kearney Middle School:
As we progress through the year I have seen the students become more comfortable using the technology. I remember the first glogster project we did and it felt like I was being pulled in every direction trying to provide assistance to everyone; however, during the last glogster activity very few students required my help and in fact any problems that we did encounter we worked through them together. I feel like as adults we are scared to try new things sometimes, but it seems like kids are always willing to try something new and many of them do not have any fear about failing. It is this attitude that makes students good problem solvers which in turn benefits everyone as we all learn of new ways to do things.

As you plan for instruction for the rest of this year, think about how you can integrate technology tools into your lessons. Our students are naturally engaged with the tools, and you can provide content-rich lessons to help them understand the value of using technology for productivitiy. Network with your colleagues, collaborate and search online for ideas that inspire you, and then apply those ideas in your classroom.

While we have emphasized Teach for Success (T4S) strategies and best practices this year, we still want to encourage you to take risks in the classroom. T4S provides us with a framework for our classrooms. Take it further by infusing your classroom with your innovation, your creativity and your distinct personality. As classroom teachers, you have the ability to inspire, educate and empower children. Use technology as a tool for engaging students in their learning in a way that is relevant to their lives in the 21st Century.

Congratulations to all of the Global Learners for three years of great thinking, collaboration and innovation in Adams 14!