TEST YOURSELF!
By Guest Author Kathleen Duhl, Curriki Review Team
Recently, I led a seminar for intern teachers, all of whom graduated from outstanding colleges or universities. As second year teaching interns, they are embarking on their job search for the fall of 2012. We have been working on resume building, and practicing interviews.
I asked them how they would respond to two questions in an interview:
- How do you define 21st century learning?
- What specific 21st century skills have you incorporated into your teaching?
The room went silent. They looked dumbfounded. Everyone looked at each other, then at me, then each other. Finally, one of them asked nervously, “Well what is the right answer?”
Ugh! Here we are, almost 12 years into the new millennium, with recent college graduates on their way to become our next generation of teachers, and they have not been taught how to incorporate technology in the elementary classroom.
What does this mean? Why is it so difficult? Why do school districts continue to purchase the same spelling workbooks, handwriting workbooks, or math workbooks? What will it take to bridge the integration of 21st century learning?
Curriki would love to hear how your college or university prepared you to be a 21st century teacher and learner. Please share in the comment section below.
Characteristics of 21st Century Teacher
