In the 21st century, our current system of education is in crisis. The world is changing at a rapid pace; however, classroom practices and educational philosophy so often lag behind. How can we empower students to be successful at jobs that have not even been created yet? How can we teach students using tools we ourselves do not understand? Can we really afford to cling to archaic methods and expect success?
So often, teachers feel overwhelmed by the amount of information and new technology available to them. They shy away from the unknown for fear of self-failure, student-failure, lack of time, lack of training, and sheer fatigue. But the goals of education have changed, and so must its teachers. With agriculture as our base, students needed to understand subjects, industry required workers, and service created good citizens. Today, we stand in a very different world. This generation, and the ones to follow, have abundant information already at their fingertips. In fact, most of them have it in their back pockets. What they need are the skills to navigate, evaluate, create, and problem solve. Technology is the tool, not the focus.
The top five new-hire skills are 1.) oral communication, 2.) teamwork/collaboration, 3.) professionalism/work ethic, 4.) written communications, and 5.) critical thinking. Employers want professional, articulate problem solvers, not just someone who can create an avatar, podcast, or webpage. Students need to know how to use technology as a tool toward a greater purpose. Therefore, technology should be readily available to students and incorporated as organically as possible. Project-based learning is the most effective way to integrate technology into the instructional process and curriculum. Designed to mirror the workplace through the use of real-world projects, relevant technology, and "professional" interactions, it can, if done effectively, become an engine for academic, economic, and social development.
Project-based learning puts the focus on the student and removes the teacher from the position of “Sage on the Stage.” Teachers create a technology-rich culture where students are respected as fellow learners and problem solvers. Teachers design projects with a real-world context where students are forced to problem solve using the technology readily available to them and formal teaching to achieve success. Students use tools such as Edmodo, Google Docs, wikis, and Voicethreads to collaborate and brainstorm. Research and investigation are aided by the Internet, databases like JSTOR, and primary source sites like The Library of Congress. Technology opens news avenues of exploration and provides endless possibilities to enhance and engage learners. With the proper guidance, producing final products for publication like podcasts, vlogs, blogs, 3-D models, web sites, magazines, and numerous other forms of digital media all become possibilities for even the most technologically challenged student. Gone are the days of lackluster PowerPoints and posters that fail to demonstrate higher level skills, real-world applications, and creativity. In this model, teachers need not fear technology. Often, students become empowered to be the teachers as they collaborate with one another and their mentors on the search for possible solutions. Using this method, students become highly engaged and develop real-world skills rather than simply memorizing material.
Technology enables. Technology empowers. But it is the teacher who provides the framework, the support, and the guidance students need to use technology as a means to achieve academic success. When teachers work together with students and technology to explore ideas, challenge themselves, and strive to make a difference, success can have no limit.
