Abstract:

An unprecedented level of discussion about 21st Century learning and its impact on teachers’ work has taken place in the Teacher Leaders Network discussion group recently. It began before the winter holidays and has persisted through the January Bounce and the February Blues (teachers will know what we mean). Each time our conversation about digital technologies, the Internet, new-millennium skills and the impact of all this on the teaching profession begins to ebb, a new conversation thread seems to catch fire. These popular email subject lines help tell the tale:

• What are 21st Century skills?
• Are you technologically illiterate?
• Growing up online
• Technology snafus
• Anyone twittering?
• Instant Access – Students’ changing expectations
• 21st Century learning help
• The road to (teacher) irrelevance
• Are firewalls frustrating your teaching?
• What about cyberbullying?
• Web overload: Take 2.0 and call me in the morning!
• Life of a tech-starved teacher
• What’s the 21st century elevator speech?

To get some sense of the breadth and intensity of our discussion about web tools and digitally-infused learning, consider that each of these subject lines generated from 10 to as many as 30 messages.

We think these are important conversations, and they are taking place more and more frequently in our Network, in other online teacher communities and, most importantly, in schools across the nation. If they are not taking place, they should be. The rise of the Internet, Web 2.0 tools and instant global communication – and the demand by powerful lobbying groups for more focus on “new skills” – is going to change teaching and learning in profound ways.

John Norton, moderator
Teacher Leaders Network
norton@teacherleaders.org
 

Citation: Teacher Leaders Network Forum (2007). Teachers and 21st century learning: A conversation from the teacher leaders network forum.

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