On Monday of this week (6/23), I began my trek in to Kenan Fellowshipdom, and by Friday, my brain had turned to mush.

Read up on the Kenan Fellowship Program so that you can get a little background. As part of the KFP, fellows spend two weeks in a summer institute receiving professional development that will aid in curriculum and leadership development. Week 1 was held from June 23-27 at NC State University.

I arrived at the McKimmon Center at NCSU early Monday morning feeling blessed, nervous, anxious, and happy. While the day proved to be filled with a plethora of program information, we also received brand new laptops, stipend checks, and “getting to know you” opportunities, as well as the promise of a week full of exciting opportunities.

On Tuesday, Fran Riddick of the Triangle Leadership Academy came in to talk about technology, ethics, and 21st Century Skills, while John Dornan, president and executive director of the NC Public School Forum, spoke about education systems around the world.

On Wednesday, we visited MCNC in the Research Triangle Park and listened to a few presentations about cutting-edge educational technology. In the afternoon, we listened with awe as Billy Ray Hall president of the NC Rural Economic Development Center spoke about the impact of globalization on rural North Carolina, and as Carolyn McKinney discussed professional teaching standards and the teacher working conditions survey.

On Thursday, Dave Walbert and company schooled us on Learn NC. In the afternoon, we traveled in passenger vans to the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science to learn about exhibit design and educational programs.

Finally, on Friday, we visited MeadWestVaco Corp located on NCSU’s Centennial Campus to understand the climate and culture of innovative organizations, spent some time with the esteemed Dr. Denis O. Gray discussing the social science involved in industry-university partnerships, and toured the brand spanking new Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) at NCSU with Winnell Newman, manager of student programs. While at BTEC, we also went through a series of simple experiments with Dr. Driss Elhanafi that he designed to show how biomanufacturing (at its simplest) works.

And that was the end of week 1. So why am I telling you all this? Well, I wanted to recount what I did and to highlight the diversity of my experiences. AND to speak on the thread that ran through all the presentations: PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Hold on a minute! Isn’t the 21st century here…like right now? Anyway..this is a summary of my thoughts on all I heard and saw this week.

Today’s world is very different from what I ever imagined it to be. I must say that my teachers, not really knowing what I would face, prepared me fairly well. Yet, I must also say that I had exceptionally great educators. Does everyone?

The truth is that K-12 teachers today are preparing a different type of child. A child bombarded by information. Teachers today are competing for attention and losing. You can hear them complaining, “Johnny doesn’t listen. Heather can’t focus. Michael doesn’t stay on task. Lisa can’t work in groups. Juan can’t work independently. Shenika can’t read. Nguyen can’t write. Who can compete with video games?” TEACHERS CAN!!!

The thread running through my week was the need for education that will prepare students to work in a technology-rich, collaborative, innovative, progressive environment. An environment that will call upon them to apply skills, analyze and evaluate information, synthesize, forecast, create, invent, and innovate all while working cooperatively with others. How many teachers do you know are doing this? REALLY DOING THIS? I know it’s hard: testing, standards, parents, testing, poverty, nutrition, testing, NCLB, language issues, lack of resources, testing… But if I and a bunch of others can do it, so can you. Reach out and ask for help if you need it.

We are not preparing students for our past, but for their futures. So for the sake of our future, teachers, start doing your job!!
Stop letting the textbook do your teaching. Stop letting your students sit in silence all day long. Stop test prepping. Stop making excuses. Stop making YOUR life easier. Stop, stop, stop, stop!

Do what you know is right, if you know is right. I understand ignorance abounds in education, especially among teachers, but it’s not for lack of information. It’s out there for the taking. But you must go get it! You can start by:

1. Being a lifelong learner.
If you don’t seek out information, how can you expect your students to seek? If you don’t learn from your mistakes, how can you expect your students to learn? If you don’t stay on top of research, how can you expect students to find it relevant? If you don’t learn, you can’t teach.

2. Taking action in the classroom.
Engage your students in active learning, authentic learning, real-life stuff. Put them to work together to solve a problem, complete a task, or plan a learning experience. Become a facilitator of learning, not a giver of information. Visit corporations and model your classroom after a successful one. Forget the egalitarianism that is teaching and stick your neck out. Show others how it should be done. Set an example.

3. Differentiate!
Every learner is different. Meet each child where he or she is at. Work with their strengths in order to pump up weaknessess. Let students help each other. Assess, assess, assess and then plan instruction accordingly. Respect differences, be tolerant, and accepting. Why should a child that can’t read be forced to read a novel? How would you like it if someone did this to you?

4. Collaborate
You don’t know everything so ask someone for help. Put brains together for the benefit of your students. Research proves the power of collaboration. Stop being hard headed and full of pride! It’s not about you…

5. Choose to be Great
Being a great teacher starts from the inside. Choose to believe that you are a great educator, that your students can learn, that your colleagues are valuable, that parents mean well, that the world is a good place. You CAN choose - but will you?

Teaching is no longer about giving information. In the 21st century, the age of advanced technology, abundance, automation, and working parents, it is about teaching students how to analyze and evaluate the unsurmountable loads of information available. It is about teaching students HOW to learn, WHERE to get resources, and WHY it is necessary. It’s about teaching how to use technology tools for “good and not evil”, how to innovate and create, how to collaborate and succeed. It is also about character education and ethics - teaching how to be productive and positive citizens.

TEACHERS, LISTEN UP! Get your head out of the 20th century and tune in. Students need you - Remember you too are competing for their attention.