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Teachers as Learners

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We have to remember that as teachers and humans, we never stop learning.  We expect students to learn, change and grow, so we need model the same. With the Internet, we are now a global community of teachers who are able to share ideas and strategies that work all across the world! The current shift to the new Common Core State Standards is the perfect impetus to take a closer look at how we currently teach students, and how we can improve our pedagogy to better meet the needs of this era of learners.  We now have high yield engagement strategies and endless technology tools to increase teacher and student achievement and empower them to communicate and collaborate in a new way. We can take teaching and learning to a whole new level!                       Photo by John Haver

History/Rationale

The twenty-first century brings many changes to education and the world.  The demands of our future students in the workplace will require students to think critically, collaborate with others, communicate their thoughts and ideas, and solve problems creatively.  The role of teacher and student are changing.  Students are now expected to pay an active part in their own learning. “Work, learning, and citizenship in the twenty-first century demand that we all know how to think-to reason, analyze, weigh evidence, problem-solve and to communicate effectively.” (Wagner 2008)  Traditional lecture and paper and pencil work does not lend itself to problem solving and critical thinking or communicating (Bernero 2000).  Students need opportunities to discuss problems, share strategies, and work together to solve real world problems.  My goal is to train teachers to train students to do just these things!   The only way that students will be able to accomplish these goals is if we prepare highly effective teachers who understand these new demands and expectations on our students learners, and who continue to guide students in the right direction to achieve these goals.