I feel as though there isn't a set structure for all 21st century classrooms. Each teacher brings his or her own sense of teaching style into the classroom; creating a different environment and classroom community. It also depends on the age group of the students being taught. For example, elementary classrooms are usually more cooperative than secondary classrooms. This means that the desks are arranged in pairs or groups where the students are often asked to work together on a given task.
The make-up of classrooms is becoming much more diverse. Students are bringing in their different backgrounds, cultures, socioeconomic classes, thoughts, and abilities. Teachers are instructing at all different levels which often means that more people are coming into the classroom. These people may include parents, aids, and special education teachers. Students are also being pulled out of the classroom for different subjects. This means that often throughout the day, the classroom is constantly changing.
As technology is improving, so are the materials used in the classrooms. Some 21st century classrooms have access to computers for each student. This is usually some sort of projector in a classroom; overheads are beginning to be outdated by computers and smart boards. However, materials such as paper, pencils, markers, paint, crayons, and glue are always a constant.
If you were to visit two classrooms, even in the same building, they may be similar. However, they will have their distinct differences. This is because each classroom is going to have its own unique personality built around the teacher and the students in the class.
This is an excellent post Shalee. I like how you said that each teacher brings his or her own sense of teaching style into the classroom. I completely agree with this because compared to the expectations of the past today's classroom is really up to the teacher. There are few expectations and goals that the teacher must meet - but everything else is up to them. I also like how you brought in the concept of diversity because when many people hear the term "21st Century Classroom" they only think of technology and forget all about the different learning styles and backgrounds of each student. Good job!
ReplyDeleteShalee I feel that all teacher do bring a sense of style and diversity to the whole technology issue in their classrooms. I feel that teachers who learned technology like us will use it more than teachers who weren't brought up using it. So I feel we have an advance over other teachers. I feel like now adays you will be able to just skype or use a blog to be able to put up homework assignments, communicate with other teachers, parents and even students. I think this is a great advantage we are going to have in our future classrooms- we aren't going to have to wait for an email back or even a phone or hand written note. Everything is going to be just a click away. So I totally agree with you, GREAT JOB :)
ReplyDeleteShalee I really enjoyed reading your above blog . I agree about the diversity of classrooms nowadays with different multicultural groups and students with varied ethnic backgrounds. I think technology as you sated in your view of the 21st century classroom will be something that is mandatory for all teachers to use in one form or another.
ReplyDeleteStudents parents and us teachers will be able to communicate more effectively between each other because there will be no more giving notes to take home that get lost from when the teacher gives the note to the student to take home and have the parent sign and it gets lost or the "dog ate it" because Mom and Dad will know that their son or daughter has something that the teacher needs them to sign and have returned.