Group+11

Group 11 thoughts

Question 1: What does it mean to prepare students for the 21st century? Preparing them for an unanticipated, unknown future

Question 2: What skills do students need to survive and thrive in this new era?
 * Collaboration. Synthesis. Exploration.
 * Not just skills but values, especially democracy, ethics, innovation.
 * We need to help them understand how to use technology for learning rather than for social networking. Partially, they don't want to because they prefer it for fun.

Question 3: Is it possible for teacher to be excellent if they don't use technology? A good teacher can teach with technology - and equally, without technology.

Question 4: What implication does this have for our current way of doing things?
 * Teachers need to understand what is required to motivate students. Currently it is based on extrinsic motivation. We need to shift to one that develops and encourages intrinsic motivation.
 * Make technology normal, rather than this big elephant in the room that overwhelms students.
 * We need to provide developmentally appropriate opportunities. Sometimes we are doing abstract techniques that they are not ready for. One size fits all does not lend itself well to learning.
 * Challenge our own preconceptions from previous eras.
 * Aim for seamless education by making best use of ubiquitous technology

WHAT WILL WE DO NEXT? > Set up project blog on Ako Aotearoa website > Transform tertiary teacher training at my university > Providing more adaptable, flexible learning environments > Increasing accessibility of technology to students > Utilize mobile learning > Become more fluent in eLearning > Challenge all people to push their boundaries > To move out of my comfort zone by learning language of technology > Create more flexible assessment opportunity > Be more inviting to any type of technology