The 21st century is here . It is in our world , our state , our community , and our schools . All around us , innovations abound ; we have numerous devices in our homes and workplaces , there is “ an app ” for everything , and robotics are no longer something we see in “ sci-fi ” movies . All of these innovations provide us with renewed experiences . Yet each day , as the lights illuminate the halls of our schools , tradition and the past dominate our education experience . The fact is our students may not be experiencing the best this century has to offer . We , the educators and administrators , are working to improve but the improvement process is slow compared to the pace of change and may not be fast enough for our students who desire and need 21st century learning experiences .
The term “ innovation ” ushers in thoughts of being creative , transformative , or inventive ; our schools should epitomize innovation ! Such innovations in our schools are required , not simply for efficiency , but because they are imperative to meet the demands of the world in which our children will be living . Classrooms should have an equipped teacher and sufficient technology to prepare students for enhanced thinking and learning .
Eric Hoffer stated in his book , Blended , “ In a time of drastic change , it is the learners who inherit the future . The learned usually find themselves beautifully equipped to live in a world that no longer exists .” ( 2015 ). To that end , I believe our schools should innovate our practices and our mindset to ensure we effectively equip our students !
“ Equip them for what ?” you might ask , and for that I answer , “ for being a healthy , productive , and value-added member of their community .” Whether it be for continuing education , work and careers , or community service , I believe the school system should strive to prepare the student .
The future demands our students to have knowledge in the basics , of course . However , it also dictates more advanced problem solving skills , creativity , adaptation , and resilience . Regardless of the path our students choose after they leave the school system , they will experience a world that is technologically advanced and dependent upon their individual ability to comprehend , conclude , and collaborate . That being said , it is my hope that our teachers can effectively teach and model the 21st century technology , collaboration , and sharing paramount to their students ’ future success .
“ In a time of drastic change , it is the learners who inherit the future . The learned usually find themselves beautifully equipped to live in a world that no longer exists .”
– Eric Hoffer
There is a saying about traditional education and educators ; we have been the “ sage on the stage .” In this model , the teacher is the vessel of knowledge and “ gives ” that knowledge to the student . This transmission assumes a fairly passive student simply awaiting to be fed information to regurgitate it on an exam , homework , or other assessment . I refer to this as “ pushing in ” content .
However , the 21st century is filled with students who want to be active , participative learners ; therefore , the “ sage on the stage ” model is not aligned .
There exists another approach . The “ guide on the side ” refers to a concept in which the educator , whether it be a teacher , advisor , mentor or administrator , has the knowledge and / or information and helps facilitate the acquisition of such by the student ( s ). I am inspired by this concept because it more closely reflects the Latin roots of the word “ education .” “ Educare ” means to “ draw out .” This model also resonates with me because it reflects the collaborative and sharing of competencies this century demands of our students . In addition , it encourages the educator to “ pull out ” the learning and comprehension ; it motivates students to take responsibility for their own learning and development , which is paramount to their success as adults .
My vision for the Anchorage School District is to develop both our educators and our students using the “ guide on the side ” model . I trust in the knowledge , expertise , and commitment from our staff . I believe in and commit to the willingness and abilities of our students as well as their support systems .
The “ 3Rs ” ( Reading , ‘ Riting , and ‘ Rithmatic ) will remain as mainstays in our learning . Nevertheless , they must expand to meet the critical thinking and creative design required for 21st century learning . As 21st century work involves technology , we must change the manner in which we educate
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