After reading about the importance of incorporating and assessing 21st century skills in our schools, I realized this is a pretty daunting task for all those digital immigrants out there. I know quite a few people who not only don't embrace change, they run away from it altogether. It got me thinking how I could help ease the anxiety some of my colleagues feel about incorporating change into their curriculum.
Any kind of significant or meaningful change has to be introduced slowly. Too often educators have been thrown a curve ball at the last minute and hear: "This is the new way we are doing things; implement it tomorrow." I truly believe that's one of the reasons some educators balk any any new initiative. They figure they'll ride it out until administration figures out it's not working and introduces something else. Integrating 21st century skills into the curriculum isn't a change that's going away, it's only gaining momentum. This is the new way we are doing things, the way we should be doing things and it's absolutely essential to begin the process of teaching our teachers how to incorporate these skills into their existing curriculum. One of this week's readings stated, "Any organizational change begins with individual change, and any change requires learning." Because I've taken the 21st century skills class, I'm addressing individual change; it's important for me to share what I've learned with the people I work with and the people I work for.
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteI, too, consider myself a digital immigrant. However, I'd like to make the analogy of immigrants who greatly impacted this country when they arrived. This nation is built on immigration; likewise, 21st century skills in schools are built on the backs of digital immigrants like us. Of course, I hear the groans at faculty meetings when new ideas are introduced; I hear lots of "old timers" vow to never change the way we do things. However, I hear more and more people like you who are excited to bring this change to their own classrooms. It takes time, but things WILL change for the better, and you are a poineer!
Jenny - I completely agree with your assessment of educators who "ride it out" when something new comes along. Lots of times they are correct in predicting that administrators will lose interest if they resist long enough. Technology in education is different because technology is also changing everything outside of school. We will all get there eventually, and I'm glad to be on the front end of it.
ReplyDeleteI think modeling is also a powerful tool to use to slowly start the change. By showing other educators how you use it and how the kids react to it, will start (hopfully) a positive outlook on trying it out!
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