A Pedagogy for 21st Century Learning
In our view, while much is being said about 21st century learning, little has been done to help administrators turn this talk
into systemic, classroom reality.
This is where SchoolKiT’s products can contribute. Each will help you to build and deliver a rigorous and relevant curriculum
through which students will develop core subject matter expertise, lifelong learning skills and attitudes, and technology and
information literacy.
Realizing 21st century learning requires a learner-centered pedagogy which, in turn, drives the use of technology.
This is illustrated by the diagram to the right. Adding technology alone may lead to high-tech lectures or technically proficient
students, but that falls short of 21st century learning. Similarly, moving to constructivist pedagogy without access to technology
would deny students powerful learning-productivity tools, and isolate them from the thoughts and current findings of others.
A change in pedagogy that drives uses of technology creates the 21st century learning space. Here learners undertake meaningful
work. The work challenges them to apply essential concepts, and so motivates students to reach for and integrate ideas around their
zones of proximal development. In doing so, they draw upon technology to access and analyze up-to-date information, to be creative
and generative, and to interact with and possibly test their ideas with wider audiences.
Planning for 21st Century Learning
In discussing 21st century learning, we have found that the model we use to underpin our own instructional design processes
is helpful to administrators and teachers alike. It provides leaders with a succinct way to articulate 21st century learning that
builds upon the work they have already done with standards. And it provides teachers with a way to extend what they know about
standards-based lesson planning into the design of 21st century learning experiences.
At the foundation of the model are the rigorous core-subject learning standards that are now well-established in most school districts.
Depending on when they were last revised, your standards may also incorporate modern interdisciplinary concepts such as global awareness,
and civic and financial literacy. These standards are the starting point for unit planning as educators determine how their students will
learn and evidence their understandings of these essential concepts and skills.
In evaluating different approaches, 21st century educators will seek those that simultaneously contribute to the students’ acquisition
of lifelong learning skills such as self-direction, adaptability, and problem solving. These approaches are typically project- or
problem-based. Likewise, the 21st century educator will identify if, how, and where learning technologies might facilitate or
amplify the learning and ensure a modern context. This typically involves students controlling technology to access, analyze or
create with information.
This triangulation of standards, with learning skills and learning technologies leads to 21st century outcomes that are rigorous and
relevant in nature.
Can We Continue This Conversation In Person?
We enjoy discussing 21st century learning and believe that if approached in the right ways, the qualities it
promotes will strengthen (and certainly need not dilute) your curriculum. If you would like us to ‘continue this conversation’ with
the leadership team at your district, please contact us.