Principal’s Corner
By David, Village School Principal
Meeting Students in Their Media-Saturated Environment
Our children are naturally curious. They engage actively and directly in their discovery of the world. They are also “natives” to technology, using these tools purposefully and with ease.
Thanks to these skills and natural inclinations, our students are well positioned for success in today’s schools. Big shifts are happening in education, from a focus on “being smart” to trying hard; from teacher-centered to student-centered learning; from fear of mistakes to a fundamental understanding that mistakes help us learn. No longer is the teacher expected to be the “sage on the stage” or all-knowing lecturer.
The “what” questions are no longer enough in this environment: students must now be encouraged to ask “why,” and to persevere in their exploration of new understandings. Success in the global workplace (and adherence our new Common Core Standards) requires this deeper, more meaningful level of thinking.
As students are empowered to actively participate in their learning, tools they use by choice best facilitate their new discoveries. In our media saturated environment, students can have infinite questions answered immediately, infinite processes demonstrated and explained online through text or video. Now, students who might not respond well to traditional means (such as writing pencil-and-paper reports and presenting them in class) have endless opportunities and access points for learning and sharing through technology. They can work at their own pace and communicate with the teacher and each other in many ways, even after the school day is over.
Using all forms of media in the classroom also empowers our teachers to foster the “Five Cs” of Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Connection. These first four are 21st century skills emphasized in the Common Core standards, with Connection noted last year by district administrators as a common “5th C” consistently used by Village teachers (see also Village Voice Fall 2014 Principal’s Corner).
Learning doesn’t stop when the bell sounds. In today’s media saturated environment, student learning and sharing can exceed these traditional boundaries. Our Village teachers understand this shift. They are embracing the tools and strategies necessary to foster and grow Self Organized Learning Environment (SOLE) classrooms, where students will have opportunities to use various technologies as jumping points for self-directed work.
The links below provide interesting perspectives on these shifts:
School in the Cloud- Sugata Mitra
What happens when 5th graders run the classroom: A SOLE in action