Preparing Our Students for the 21st Century

Preparing students for the 21st Century is going to look a little different for teacher then it has in the past. "Teachers must willingly embrace new teaching and learning opportunities" and technology plays a large role in that. With all of the new technology that is available to teachers and students, the classroom is going to change. Teachers must "provide students with the skills they will need to excel in a technology-rich society"(p.11). These skills include "creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, and communications and collaboration"(p.14).
Schools know how important it is to keep their students up to speed with new technology. This is shown through the addition of technology standards for students, teachers, and administrators. So, in order for students to stay on the cutting edge of technology, the teachers will have to as well.
Schools are seeing that students today are "digital students." Their brains have "become rewired to accommodate the thousands of hours they spend in front of computer screens..."(p.15). Therefore, the students of the 21st century will need to be prepared for a world of technological advances and learn how to use that to their advantages.

Shelly, G.B., Cashman, T.J., Gunter, R.E., & Gunter, G.A.(2008)Integrating technology and digital media in the classroom (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Thomson Course Technology.


If you would like to listen to this...here it is.

Gabcast! Tech class #2