Teachers of Today

1. Teachers of Today Unfortunately there are still educators in today’s society that are stuck in the old rote memorisation learning, lecturing, passing on information and not exploring or motivating students to learn. They are stuck in one teaching mode in the same old dull way, with dry lectures, boring worksheets and text books, repetition and drill. This would prove ghastly boring for the students. What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Teachers of the Future • In the future teachers are going to have to wear many different hats and be very flexible. Teachers will need to move away from single subjects and into a greater range of expertise. Jobs, now and in the future, are not for life. Educators are going to have to be diverse in following young people’s interests.  • It’s interesting, yet a staggering set of circumstances that is ahead of us and the children of today.  Contemplating the amount of development and change in the last, nearly 100 years, it’s somewhat scarier, the concept that everything will move faster, be more involved and could quite possibly be less likely to be understood because of the speed of development. Teaching Beyond 2010 • In any society, educators have the ability to make an enormous positive contribution. Making such a contribution is a challenge, and teachers must willingly embrace new teaching and learning opportunities (Shelly et al, 2008). • Today, teachers in K-12 schools are educating students who will spend all of their adult lives in a technology–rich society. Teachers in these classrooms must be prepared to utilise both current and emerging computer technologies. Unfortunately, too many schools are still teaching today using yesterday’s tools. Traditional 20th century educational practices will no longer provide you with the skills you need to teach your students effectively how to become productive citizens in today’s high-tech, global workplace (Shelly et al, 2008).

2. Digital Students Today, the vocabulary of computing is all around you (Shelly et al, 2008). Students today are real time learners using different technology to express themselves. Students who graduate from our schools in the 21st century will have to have the skills needed to be effective workers, citizens, and leaders in the new global economy. What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Today’s students are essentially different from previous generations in the way they think, in the way they access, absorb, interpret, process, and apply information, and above all, in the way they view, interact, and communicate in this technology-rich world. They expect IT to be part of their learning, and to be adding value to the whole student experience. It has been said that students don't see technology as something that is separate from teaching and learning. For example, just by exploring the generational divide between those who have grown up in the computer age and those who haven't we see that digital students are more visual learners and it has been said that today’s youth actually speak digitally. Kindergarten students of today are using magic whiteboards from their first day of school and see connected classrooms as normal learning experiences. Computers support communications beyond classroom walls, thus enabling schools and communities to provide an environment for cooperative learning, for development of higher order thinking skills, and for solving complex problems (Shelly et al, 2008). They can provide unique, effective, and powerful opportunities for many different types of instruction and learning. Apple computer defines these digital students or digital kids as kids a who are (1) hypercommunicators who use multiple tools to communicate, (2) multitaskers who do several things at once with ease, and (3) goal orientated as they pursue multiple goals at the same time (Shelly et al, 2008). Schools and teachers need to adapt to digital technology or risk losing students. Educational technology and digital media can be valuable tools when they are integrated into the curriculum appropriately to achieve learning gains, particularly when they are combined with a 21st century curriculum.

3. Theories of teaching and learningTeaching and learning are two of the most fundamental components of the educational process, and both topics have long been of interest to a variety of individuals concerned with education, from philosophers to educational psychologists. Within an educational context, the two phenomena are so inextricably intertwined that it often is difficult to imagine one without the other. Few individuals would deny that learning (or some closely related concept to learning) is the primary purpose of education and that teaching (in one form or another) is the foremost means by which that goal is accomplished (Schuell, T., 1993) If we are to meet the challenges of the 21st Century then we need to be constantly learning,communicating and reflecting.We live in a world which is “changing faster than ever in our history” (The Element, Ken Robinson). This requires diverse and complex training and development requirements, managed through a combination of formal and informal learning experiences.  What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... • 21st CENTURY STATEMENT OF TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES: • In order to adequately prepare today's students for their future, teachers must effectively participate in professional learning networks, share and model the use of current internet tools, lead authentic, integrated project-based learning activities, assist students as they establish their own learning networks and digital footprint, learn alongside our students as they create, collaborate, and share, provide sufficient learning opportunities for students to become digitally literate and fluent, while also inspiring each child to be quality, digital, global citizens.

4. The 21st Century Learner What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... We have heard a lot about the 21st Century Learner. We know that they are: Immediate & Instant Collaborative Adaptive Require Instant Gratification Information, Media & Technology Savvy Communicators Creators and Adaptors

5. The 21st Century Teacher What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... What about the 21st Century Teacher? What are the characteristics we would expect to see in a 21st Century Educator? We know they are student centric, holistic, they are teaching about how to learn as much as teaching about the subject area. We know too, that they must be 21st Century learners as well. But teachers are more than this. Characteristics of the 21st Century Teacher are: The Adaptor The Communicator The Model The Learner The Leader The Visionary The Collaborator The Risk Taker

6. Effective Motivational Theories What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Influence on Motivation and Learning A long line of research indicates that students need to feel physically and emotionally safe in order to be motivated to learn, and orderly classrooms contribute to these feelings of safety (Brophy 2006b; Watson & Ecken, 2003; Wessler, 2003).

7. Effective Classroom Management What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... • Principles of Planning for Classroom Mangaement • Developmental differences • Management and instruction are interdependant • Organization is essential • Rules and procedures are the cornerstone of an effective management system • The first days of school set the tone for the year • An effective teacher possesses skills in classroom management and organisation along with providing a positive classroom environment. Considerations in effectively managing and organising the classroom involve the teaching of routines and rules for understanding of goal behaviours and a consistent, enthusiastic approach by the teacher to maintain a positive, calm working environment. • Development Differences Influence Classroom Management • Students think, act and feel differently at different stages of development, and teachers need to resond to these differences when they plan (Emmer et al., 2006; Everston et al., 2006). Info in Sarah’s word doc to be pasted • Classroom Organization is Essential for Classroom Management • Preparing materials in advance • Starting classes and activities on time • Making transitions quickly and smoothly • Creating well established routines (all info in sarah’s research to attach). Page will include Hyperlink to a word doc or Inspiration doc of classroom layout. Sarah has done a layout will attach for suggestions or changes

8. Professional Knowledge Base What it takes to be an effective teacher in the year 2010 and beyond.... Teachers must recognise the professional and ethical dimensions of their role and give proper attention to the values which should guide their decisions and actions. Professionalism and ethical behaviour in education is based on a broad range of responsibilities towards students, their families and colleagues. Classroom management and organisation along with creating a positive classroom environment are also paramount in being an effective teacher. To effectively manage and organise the classroom the teacher must consider a range of factors such as physical, physcological, social and pedagogical factors. It is important to create a positive classroom environment where self esteem can be enhanced and maintained. This along with a well organised consistent classroom is beneficial towards students feeling motivated. Another element in being an effective teacher is the use of a variety of teaching and learning strategies. One such strategy is the use of a constructivist approach to teaching. When used as an instructional approach to teaching the approach works alongside other strategies such as collaborative learning. As discussed by Groundwater-Smith, (2007, p334), “as professional’s, teachers need to update and improve their expertise and practice continually through formal and informal professional development”. Professional development can be achieved through in-service training days held at the school and informal training days can take place during staff development days. An understanding of new technologies in education and the ongoing training in these technologies is a requirement of teachers. The commitment to lifelong learning involves keeping up with technologies used in learning and being able to implement them into the classroom to support the age of digital learners. As said by Groundwater-Smith, (2007, p334) teachers should “involve themselves in research to strengthen and expand the knowledge base of teaching” and “be advocates for students and the teaching profession”. The effective teacher’s knowledge needs to cover the social, cultural and learning needs of all students and knowledge of developmental characteristics of each individual student.