In this blog post I will identify two issues/trends that are influencing and shaping our education system. Once identified, I will talk about how I might address these issues within the context of my professional community.
1) Economy and Technology
It's not hard to see how technology is a big driver on our economy today. Just look at Google, they are developing a robot that will perform household chores, they have developed a Driverless car and they're even looking at elevators going into outer space (Mack, 2015). The world wide web connects everyone and creates a sense of real time purchase with the click of a button, you don't even have to leave your couch. Companies are now creating technologies that can do jobs a human could e.g Retail Assistance and Checkout Operators. How does this effect education? We now live in a society that is highly connected and globalised. We are preparing children for a future that we know nothing about, but want to equip them with skills to face what may come. Dr. David Parsons (Elearning.tki.org.nz, 2015) says that we live in a world where remembering information isn't as important because we have it at our finger tips. He mentions that we want to develop students that can think critically, synthesis and analyse information, can work in teams, understand others points of view and use their power effectively to create change in the world (Elearning.tki.org.nz, 2015). I can see that my current students might be having to create their own opportunities in the future due to fast pace technological growth. One of the biggest problems I have found when exploring 21st century learning is to try and understand something you know nothing about. It is important to have a team around you to support what you are wanting to achieve. I would utilise skills of teacher friends from other schools, friends skills, community skills and colleagues skills. It is important to provide parents with information and updates about what is happening when implementing something new. One thing I found that helps is to explain the 'why' behind doing something e.g Project Based Learning lends itself to teaching key competencies. Then providing constant support to others around, having professional discussions around what's working and what isn't. Constantly reflecting allows you to grow and identify things that work and things that don't.
2) Culture and Diversity
New Zealand is a diverse country where children need to learn skills that will prepare them for a multi-cultural society (Nzcurriculum.tki.org.nza, 2015). As mentioned above, one key skill Dr. Parsons mentioned was understanding other's points of view and TKI (Nzcurriculum.tki.org.nza, 2015) mentions that teaching cultural diversity is about understanding others view points. Rae Si'ilata says that schools need to understand the funds of knowledge the children are coming to school with and are represented in the school curriculum (Nzcurriculum.tki.org.nzb, 2015). She says that we need to make sure we are adding to this school wide kete of knowledge as opposed to replacing it (Nzcurriculum.tki.org.nzb, 2015). Children need to know that what they bring to a class environment is valuable and worth something, that their identity is something to be celebrated and not disregarded. Discussed by Maori students who have been through the Te Kotahitanga program (Tekotahitanga.tki.org.nz, 2015), as Maori students, they felt the expectation of them to fail was high. Some things that were evident were that these students felt empowered by the high expectations set on them and the relationships built with teachers and whanau were strong. As teachers we need to ensure that classroom environment needs to reflect the cultures represented e.g learning to be connected to students cultures, classroom treaty etc. As senior management, they need to make sure the school vision and school curriculum reflects the schools diversity to account for the knowledge funds brought in by the community. Parents should be encouraged to get involved with their children's learning. Workshops could be run by teachers to give parents resources to do things at home and invite parents into the school to take cultural groups.
Elearning.tki.org.nz,. (2015). Teaching for 21st century learners / Future focused learning / Innovative learning environments / Teaching / enabling e-Learning - enabling eLearning. Retrieved 5 November 2015, from http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Teaching/Innovative-learning-environments/Future-focused-learning/Teaching-for-21st-century-learners
Mack, E. (2015). Google Future Tech: 10 Coolest Google R&D Projects. CIO. Retrieved 5 November 2015, from http://www.cio.com/article/2401997/internet/google-future-tech--10-coolest-google-r-d-projects.html
Nzcurriculum.tki.org.nza,. (2015). Cultural diversity / Principles / Kia ora - NZ Curriculum Online. Retrieved 5 November 2015, from http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Principles/Cultural-diversity
Nzcurriculum.tki.org.nzb,. (2015). Cultural diversity in the classroom / Cultural diversity / Media gallery / Curriculum stories / Kia ora - NZ Curriculum Online. Retrieved 5 November 2015, from http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-stories/Media-gallery/Cultural-diversity/Cultural-diversity-in-the-classroom
Tekotahitanga.tki.org.nz,. (2015). Student voices / Interviews / Videos / Te Kotahitanga - Home - Te Kotahitanga. Retrieved 5 November 2015, from http://tekotahitanga.tki.org.nz/Videos/Interviews/Student-voices
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