21st Century Classrooms

It is a sad thing to think that the contemporary teacher has fallen to the way-side as the instructor in the classroom of the modern day. Anything that a teacher might have learned throughout their days in school, and during their long careers as instructors, can almost always be found at any given moment, simply through the click of a mouse. Though information is readily accessible in today's society, the teacher remains an important factor in the learning process. As the article "Characteristics of a 21st Century Classroom" states, teachers have become the "facilitators of student learning," and the "creators of productive classroom environments". As prospective teachers, it has become absolutely necessary for Education Students - and even those who have already established a career in education - to become aware of the technology of the modern day, and think of new and exciting ways to integrate such materials into the classroom.

In my past experience, subjects were studied independently from one another. There was Math, English, History, and Science. Today, these different subjects have evolved and have begun to merge together in an attempt to encourage cooperative learning, a skill which is becoming increasingly essential in the outside world, and most importantly, in the workforce. Another aspect of the ever changing classroom is the disappearance of the textbook. Information is available in many different forms, and students are no longer required to gain knowledge from the ancient textbooks of yesteryear, but instead are able to find subject topics online or on television. Knowledge is literally at the fingertips of the younger generations, and with only a little enthusiasm, they need only to seek it out to obtain it.

Aside from the extensive use of technology in today's classrooms, teachers are also able to utilize an plethora of instructional methods which allow for students to learn in many different ways. Teachers are able to point out what sort of learners their students are, and, in turn, bring new instructional methods into the classroom to allow students to learn in what ever way is most acceptable to them. These new instructional methods allow students to not only memorize and regurgitate information, but also to show their mastery of the material through different forms of assessment, chosen by their teachers.

It is interesting to think of the changes that have taken place in the educational field over only a few years. Technology has replaced the teacher as the cornerstone of the classroom, and instead must act as guides, helping these young students to learn to work together, seek out information, and to give them the skills to mold the students into productive future members of the workforce. Teachers are still, however, expected to take on new responsibilities. They are now expected to provide students with several different instructional methods, allowing for more effective learning, something which would not have been considered a few years ago. Teachers are also expected to establish an environment in the classroom where students will feel safe and free to share their ideas with their peers. For all of this to be accomplished, it is not only necessary for teachers to gain the trust and understanding of their students, but to master these skills themselves and be able to emulate them and pass them on to their students, bringing them out of the 20th century classroom, and into that of the 21st century.