The 21st Century Classroom
Today's students are nothing like the students we were teaching twenty years ago, in fact they are nothing like the students who sat before us ten years ago. These students have grown up in a world of technology that is hard to keep up with. Think about it:
Computing technology for the general public has taken off at a breath taking pace over the last 12 years and will continue. As educators, we cannot expect to keep up with technology, but we must find ways to incorporate technology into our teaching if we are going to meet the needs of the 21st Century student, and most importantly, keep them engaged in their own education.
For most teachers using technology in the classroom becomes a question of time, validity, and cost. There is a learning curve for including high tech into instruction, however when chosen with care technology opens up new, valuable, and innovative ways for students to learn. While cost for technology is a factor, it does not have to be a stumbling block towards creating a 21st Century classroom. Many students own portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops that make bringing technology into the classroom easy and affordable. All educators need to do is begin incorporating the available tools into their lessons thoughtfully. Now is the time to begin. This Web site is a good starting place. On these pages you will find ideas for technology inclusion in Language Arts and other subject areas that will meet the new Common Core Standards of education. Once started, you will find all kinds of innovative and interesting ways to teach curriculum you will enjoy as much as your students.
- the first computer was developed in 1822,
- the first computers designed for home use were introduced in 1977,
- the first Smartphone was developed in the 1970's and released to the general public in 1994 by Bell South,
- the first MP3 player was introduced in Asia in 1998,
- Steve Jobs introduced the first iPod in October 2001, and the iPod Touch in September 2006,
- Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone in 2007,
- Hewlett Packard introduced the first tablet computer in 2001, and
- Steve Jobs introduced the iPad in September 2010.
Computing technology for the general public has taken off at a breath taking pace over the last 12 years and will continue. As educators, we cannot expect to keep up with technology, but we must find ways to incorporate technology into our teaching if we are going to meet the needs of the 21st Century student, and most importantly, keep them engaged in their own education.
For most teachers using technology in the classroom becomes a question of time, validity, and cost. There is a learning curve for including high tech into instruction, however when chosen with care technology opens up new, valuable, and innovative ways for students to learn. While cost for technology is a factor, it does not have to be a stumbling block towards creating a 21st Century classroom. Many students own portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops that make bringing technology into the classroom easy and affordable. All educators need to do is begin incorporating the available tools into their lessons thoughtfully. Now is the time to begin. This Web site is a good starting place. On these pages you will find ideas for technology inclusion in Language Arts and other subject areas that will meet the new Common Core Standards of education. Once started, you will find all kinds of innovative and interesting ways to teach curriculum you will enjoy as much as your students.
