The 20^th century was a knowledge based era in which

• remembering and reproducing information was the main focus
• it was not so much about how or why, but concerned with what = content 
• our teaching encouraged left brain linear thinking with little emphasis on patterning or discovering connections to create new understandings

 

The 21^st century is a conceptual age, all about creativity and making connections and seeing patterns

• the net is the new paradigm for learning; to quote Mark Treadwell, “we can ignore it, but it won’t go away”
• our teaching needs to encourage right brain thinking to foster innovative ideas
• linking thinking and learning to build deeply rich understandings

 

George and Lisa Otero from New Mexico, have pioneered new pedagogies which engage students called “Relational Learning”

• it’s about teaching that encourages students to use both the left and right sides of their brains
• time spent investigating their work will enhance both student engagement and learning outcomes.

 

Some ideas to integrate into learning and teaching that will help our pedagogies move from traditional 20^th to contemporary 21^st century include 

• students framing their own questions through thinking tools such as KWHL, PMI, Six Hats, Y diagram etc. Replacing students answering questions from us
• students expanding their understanding through shared dialogue of their experiences, replacing building knowledge banks through individual study
• students being encouraged to use their individual multiple and emotional intelligences and learning styles. Replacing the belief that IQ fits all
• students linking their thinking and learning through habits of the mind and thinking tools. Replacing a dominance of left brain thinking that focuses on remembering.

 

Information and knowledge is being created at an astonishing rate and our students have excellent filters on what they are prepared to take in

• it is an overload situation and we must be discerning and creative on the “what “ we teach; it must be relevant in their worlds or their brains will disregard it
• personalised education is what we must strive for; it has chaos written all over it and pushes us outside our comfort zones, but it’s essential for us to role model 21^st century creative right brain thinking

 

The key is to nurture a learning environment in which students can learn different things in different ways in different places at different times from different people; replacing learning the same things in the same ways in the same places at the same times from the same people.

 

“The future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed” Prakash Nair