21st Century Learning Environments
Posted on: September 26, 2008
Image above is linked to the original. Used under CC license attribution 2.0 generic.
This week marked the start of my introduction to my preservice teachers to what I call 21st Century Learning Environments.
They will be exploring Second Life* as a multiuser virtual environment and NIE’s very own Classroom of the Future as physical realisation of what learning environments might look like in the not-too-distant future. I am also requiring them to watch the iN2015 video, the vision of what Singapore might look in seven years time. Then they must read one of Prensky’s articles on digital natives.
Why do this? I’ll cite the example that our Education Minister gave today. A child born today will enter the primary school system in 2014 and probably the work force around 2030. What was the context for his example? We are preparing our future and we cannot use irrelevant strategies from the past.
I want my trainees to look into the crystal ball, fuzzy as it may be, so that they can prepare themselves now for the future. To do this, they must visualise what the future holds and they must understand the ways that digital natives might think. They must fulfil the needs of their learners, not the need to complete syllabi or their need to teach the way they are comfortable.
*I am looking forward to the videos that they might find about the educational possibilities of Second Life. It is serendipitous that Karl Kapp attempted to answer some common questions about the educational aspects of Second Life. I couldn’t agree more with his answers!
4 Responses to "21st Century Learning Environments"
2 | ashleytan
September 30, 2008 at 12:27 am
@Vincent: Thanks for the resource. I have scanned it and it looks very promising. I like their title, “Why bother?” and their honesty that they don’t have all the answers. No one does.
What are your thoughts on the podcast or the write-up provided by the speakers?
3 | Vincent Tang Chee Wai
October 2, 2008 at 9:34 pm
They cautioned on educators using technology simply for the technology or the “wow” factor. Yes, there may be times old-fashioned ways are more cost-effective and time-efficient.
This is what I highlighted in my blog previously; are we getting “more bangs for our bucks”? How to justify investment on Nintendos for example? What’s the side-effect? Will parents complain on game addiction?
However, somehow, I think the “wow” factor is important.
Students need to see something refreshing and technologically amazing (eg. game-based learning, second life, etc). I think this boosts morale. For example, at NIE, we are using graphics software that is 10 years old (Corel Draw V8).
Surely, we are not impressed with the technology.
They mentioned that new technology must not be used by educators to replicate old processes. New technology must be used with new approaches. Eg. allowing students to choose and change their roles, and virtual collaboration vs. distant collaboration.
Lesson plan first before choosing technology? Well, I think sometimes it is not wrong to look at the technology available then pick one and mould the lesson. This way, we know the latest “weapons” available and can plan lesson in a refreshing way.
4 | ashleytan
October 4, 2008 at 2:03 pm
@Vincent: The “wow” factor is important only at the beginning because it motivates. But it does not last. You will constantly be fighting the battle to keep your students motivated with different things.
The more important factor is the “ah-ha!” factor. This is when technology enables or transforms teaching and learning. This is when students learn with technology in meaningful and powerful ways. This is when the technology is used to cater to their individual learning needs and they are engaged.
I fully agree with their views that new (or more relevant) pedagogies be employed with technology. If the pedagogy is one of delivery and control, we will be stuck with PowerPoint presentations. If the pedagogy is more game-like, then exploration or learning by failing and trying again are things that students and teachers will do.
I also subscribe to the view that you should put pedagogy, planning and strategy before technology. You may recall me saying this earlier in the semester. But I also said that in reality, you need to know what the technological affordances of a particular tool are. As long as you do not fall into the cool tool trap, I think you will be OK! 
September 29, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Here is an interesting podcast on “why bother?” to use technologies (in particular second life) in education:
http://www.mshs.moe.edu.sg/contentpackaging/10098/htmlviewer/htmlviewer.htm
This podcast is a resource for our other course QLK520 Communication Skills for Teachers.