21st Century Classrooms

This is a great video about the progression that technology has made in just the past fifteen years. It also asks great wonder questions about the future of technology.

Blogging is a fantastic tool to incorporate in the classroom. The skill of blogging itself is a life skill, but it can be incorporated into any content area from language arts to science to gym. We need to learn to communicate effectively with each other and the Internet is a great way to do this. It also allows us as teachers to educate our students on safe and proper Internet etiquette, or netiquette.

Blogging also adds an engaging level of technology to any activity. Even the most reluctant writer will be excited to type their assignment and post it on a class blog. We can also incorporate other learning styles when we blog. Students can create art to post, take pictures, or find songs. It is not just about writing.

Students can use blogs to connect with other students from all over the country or world. We can also connect with famous authors or actors to hear what their thoughts on school or reading might be. That could be the last little nudge of motivation to get that one student reading.

Below is a link to The American Association of School Librarians Standards for the 21^st Century Learner.  These are skills our students need to know in order to be successful.

http://www.ala.org/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards

Technology is no longer an optional teaching tool. Any educator refusing to incorporate technology in their classroom is doing a severe disservice to their students. These students will emerge from their class without the knowledge of how to be a successful student in a 21^st century classroom, and in life.

This is a website that explains the importance of incorporating 21^st Century Skills in classrooms.

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/10/the-21st-century-learning-and-teaching.html

Below is a teacher’s blog meant for other teachers to read and share ideas.  This particular blog post is about starting blogs in your classroom. There are so many of these sites to help any teacher, no matter their technology background, get started.

http://www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com/2011/08/tutorials.html