Learning for the 22nd Century

Yesterday, our staff attended a day of professional development with Apple Educators.  

For those of us that “grew up” using Microsoft products like Excel and Powerpoint, it was a big shift to begin to navigate Apple programs like Numbers and Keynote.  However, the more we practised the more comfortable we were, and I am motivated to spend time becoming more proficient.

At times during the day, however, I got a glimpse into the world of the struggling learner.  As I was given new tasks and introduced to unfamiliar language, I sometimes felt uncomfortable, embarrassed, frustrated and tempted to “shut down” and give up.  “This is too hard!”

I thought about our students and wondered who among them might experience these same feelings every day at school and what can we do about it.

Some thoughts for teaching:

Slow down.  We do not need to instantly absorb content and expect instant mastery.  Learning comes from having patience and time.  Give lots of practice time.  Promote experimentation.

Allow students to learn with a classmate. When I was sitting by a supportive colleague, my anxiety lessened and I learned more quickly with their gentle guidance.  Learning is a social process.

Wherever you are, that’s ok. Let’s teach students where they are, not where we think they should be. This means differentiating and personalizing learning.  It’s not a hard thing to do.  It’s just different from what we are used to.  One approach does not fit all.

During the keynote speech, one of the Apple Educators talked about the need for our students to become entrepreneurial in their thinking and habits.  The world is changing at such a rapid pace that we do not really know what future we are preparing them for.

I  looked up the definition of an entrepreneur:

A person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

Personally, I am not really interested in educating a generation of business people.  Not that we don’t need business people, but there are many other ways to make a living that are vital to society, such as teaching.  I want to teach children to make the world a better place, to thrive and flourish in whatever work that they choose. 

We do agree with the Apple Educator who said that the Core Competencies of communication, critical and creative thinking, inter- and intrapersonal skills, and social awareness are the survival skills of the  21st century.  In fact, some of our students will be around to see the advent of the 22nd century.  We need people who are agile, reflective, inventive, and yes, empathetic.

Looking around our school, I see many of the conditions that will help students become citizens of the 22nd century.  We are allowing time, conversation, and personalized learning with an emphasis on kindness and curiosity.  Teaching and learning are not exact sciences: they are hugely contextual.  If we keep an ethic of care and a commitment to seeing each learner as an individual at the core of all we do, we will succeed in our goal of fostering a love of learning in each student, which will certainly help them navigate the rapidly changing world.